Truck: 2005 model, 2500 diesel 2 wheel drive, 41K miles

talked with service manager today at my local dodge dealership

I schedule a trans service and differential service for next week.

They do a flush of the transmission and replace all fluid, they do not break the transmission pan seal, so they must not change the filter screen????
is this called a back flush???


also suck fluid out of differential and pump new in without breaking differential cover seal.

Is this type service acceptable??????

I ask about adjusting trans bands, they did not want to touch the bands unless the trans was giving trouble, it seems to me to be shifting properly.

Bought the truck used, no mention of trans or differential service on car fax so i assume it has not been done, that's why i wanted to start a proper maintenance baseline record.

Any suggestions to do different than this method of maintenance.

 

I'd look elsewhere if the dealer of all people didnt want to "break the seals" (??) to do a service. Adjusting the bands is just part of it in my opinion...even if it isnt giving you any trouble.
Sure, flushing the cooler and all is fine but if you dont change the filter, how do you know the internals will be getting a full flow of volume. (?) The whole purpose of the fluid filter is to remove the small contaminents, like particles of clutch material that just naturally get removed from the plates... so without a filter change they arent doing anything except ripping you off royal. Who guarentees a "service" like that anyway?
The rear end? How you going to check the backlash without removing the cover? I consider a quick B.L. check mandatory when I do an inspection...true it only happens every 30K miles or so but still.

 

i can't tell you if all dealerships do it the same.

i understand not doing it yourself. but you or the mechanic are missing a valuable opportunity to see the condition on the components.

i hope you take the time to check out this thread i started.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...s-t281028.html

happened completely by chance. i had no hints anything was wrong. if i hadn't opened up the differential i would have never known the problem brewing in my truck.

as for the transmission. i don't know about you but i have never done a regular tranny service and not cleaned "stuff" off the bottom of the pan. also i would worry myself silly if i didn't change the filter.

 

As far as the differential goes, I'm perfectly happy to suck out the fluid without removing the cover. Sure there could be disaster hiding there (like anywhere) that you would miss, but by that logic you should be removing your oil pan every time you change your engine oil.

Regarding the transmission, I believe firmly that setting the bands and changing the filter is the most important part of the service. They don't seem to lose adjustment badly after they are set once, but I always like to give the band-apply levers a little shake when I'm in there, to see what the clearance is. It only takes a second while the pan's off, but most technicians can't seem to go the extra mile, I guess. I always tried to sell a flush in conjunction with a service, then you know you're well covered.

 

For the trans always have the filter changed when having it serviced, as for the bands I have never in 30 years of owing Dodge auto transmissions ever had them adjusted ( know of several rebuilders who said not to adjust them unless its needed) at every service and to date have not had any trans problems. I would only have them adjusted if the trans was starting to slip then I would take it in ASAP have them adjusted.

For the diffs I like to do it my self and let the gear oil drains out for several hours to make sure 99.9% of the old oil is drained out. Oh the gasket is reusable if you take care when taking off the cover, just wipe it off and its good to reuse and don't over tighten the bolt as they could break.

 

Thanks for the replys,

I had the trans pan dropped, changed the filter, tech said the pan was clean and the fluid looked and smelled good 41K miles. So they just put it back together and refilled
truck runs and shifts fine.

I will have the differential serviced at 50K.

 

I happen to have a oil filter cutter, so i cut the oil filter open after every change and look at whats inside.

 

I alternate services, and on a "new to me" truck I'd definitely drop the pan and install a filter and check for proper band adjustment. I've seen on more than a few occasions where the front band was too loose and the strut rod fell out of place rendering the kickdown band inop. Often in those cases you'll find the band fried from not being able to hold properly.

 

When I had my trans serviced at the dearlership not to long ago they stated specifically not to flush those transmission's. And I dont see any reason not to adjust the bands better safe than sorry right. I did my diff's not to long ago and got most of the oil out by taking the cover off. When I reinstalled the cover I used the gasket and a thin layer of RTV no leaks since and peace of mind seeing the gears. Didnt check the backlash whats the spec?