The gear oil in the axle that is! I can't see spending $200 for an aftermarket differential cover to get basically a $2 drain plug. How Chrysler could not provide a simple drain plug when they require gear oil changes every 15,000 miles is beyond me. If they make it easy, more owners would actually do it, and they would have less warranty work. Anyway, what do you all think about sucking the oil out through the fill hole with something like this. Anyone actually try it? How do the dealerships do it? Thanks, guys!

PS: Where can I find Valvoline SynPower gear oil? None of the chain stores around here seem to have it.

 

yea that is stupid kinda like the tranny pans. but Ive done it on a 8 3/4 rear out on my GTX. I would shoot for a warm day or but a heater on it for a few hours get it warm . You can get the tool so suck it out at your loal auto parts store there pretty cheap think i paid like 15.00 for mine kinda looks lie a grease gun. Just hafto play with it to get the tube to the bottom of the diff. You could awlays pull your diff cover this time and take it to a wleder and weld a fine thread nut to it and put your own drain plug just make sure its not gonna hit anything on the inside. Hope this helps. have fun

 

I would pull the covers off to not only ensure that all the fluid is drained, but confirm the condition of the gears. I have done that suck it out technique with my old firebird but never could get that very last bit out.

 

The gaskets are reusable, as long as you dont tear it up removing it. I like to pull the cover to inspect the bearings and gears also.

 

also when you pull the cover u can clean everything out real good with brake clean. why change the fluid if u are going to leave all the sludge in the bottom of the housing

 

Haven't done mine yet, but in the past with similar setups, I have just loosened the bolts and let it drain out past the gaskets. Anyone know why that can't be done with the Ram?

 

You will not get it all out.

 

Guys, if you clean bearings with brake clean it takes film from bearings. Possible to gall rollers on taking off, before lube gets back to bearing.

 

I just done it on my wife's 2004 Dakota. The front diff is set-up in a way that it looks like I'd have to pull the steering rack off to get the diff cover off. Not interested! I just drove the truck to the local parts emporium and bought a $11.00 fluid transfer pump. Drove back to the house, pulled the plug, stuck one hose into the diff, the other hose into a milk jug, sucked 'er out and filler 'er back up with Mobile 1 75W-90 full synthetic, the truck that is!

 

My self I like to look the gears over like many other do. Also I hate leaving all the junk in the bottom and you don't get all of the old gear oil out if you use a pump.

JMHO

 

Same here. I like to make sure ALL junk is out.

 

I never had a problem doing this. If there is galling, it would so minimal it would not be a concern. I look at it this way - which is worse, loosing the film, or leaving a film with metal particles ?

 

The whole Idea behind the "aftermarket" diff covers is the increased capacity!
The drain plug and dipstick are just bonus features, which are nice (especially the magnets), but not really the intent.

Oh, and they do look good....

 

That tool in your link is a POS, don't waste your money. I have one, the seal went bad after a few uses.

I might look for a good electric one.

If you do use brake cleaner to clean the gears/bearings, just jack up the axle and spin the wheels before you jump in the truck and lay rubber.

 

i have an air operated fluid evac system that they use im most garages, and it does pretty darn good, i agree theres still some gunk in the bottom of the pumpkin, but get it good and warm and the air evac will suck a golf ball out of there