I now have 15K on my truck and wondering if anyone could send pictures showing how to change the fluid. Is there a detailed manual with pictures that shows how to do all of this? I thought I read somewhere that I could buy a computer version of the DC shop manual. Anyone heard about this?

 

Geno's has the CDs - http://www.genosgarage.com/

As far as instructions - do a search in this section - you'll find all kinds of instructions.

 

There's not a lot to it. Take the bolts out and the fluid falls out. (Might want to have a bucket under it to catch the stuff) Clean out the housing, replace the cover and refill with new fluid. That's it, honest.

 

There have been lots of posts and discussion about changing differential fluids. My '04 owner's manual says that fluid DOES NOT require periodic changes unless you tow heavy regularly or off road lots. I do neither, so only changed at 30K just in case. Not planning on doing it again until I pull out the race car trailer again (if ever!).

 

i used a suction tool to suck it out, made it quite easy.

Then amsoil

 

There was an article in a recent Amsoil propaganda magazine talking about diff fluid and how almost all wear that produces metal into the fluid occurs within the first 5000? miles.

Anyway, when I did my PSD at 100,000 miles(first recomended interval) the rear only had a little metal in the fluid. The front was just heavy with it.

So it is wise to do it early if for no other reason than to see how it is "wearing in".

I mention this just because it seems like good practice, not because Amsoil wants to sell more difff fluid. The basic premise in the article seemed sound and based on my own experience, limited as it is.

Jimmy

 

I read something recently that said it wasn't a bad idea to do it between 3500-5000 miles and then don't worry about it for a very long time after that. That gets the break-in metal out of the fluid.