mr. ed

Hello, guys. I've been quoted $80 by a local lube shop for changing the fluid in both differentials. That seems a little high to me but since I've never had this service performed before I thought I'd ask.

Also, what problems could arise if they use regular fluid rather than synthetic? The reason I ask is that I can't prove that what they use will be synthetic, although they claim it is. Thanks..

CamperAndy

If you can not trust the fluid they say they use then move on. As for using synthetic or not depends some on how much you tow but if the fluid meets GL-5 spec then you are okay.

As for the $80 bucks for both, that is a fair price, $40 for the oil and 1/2 hour labor.

06RAM2500

Pretty much have to use synthetic and it shouldn't take more than 1.5 hours to do the job.

ron b

Did it myself cost $60 just for the oil.

klx650a2

I did both of mine and just the oil cost me $113.00 then the additive was on top of that. I run synthetic as oil turns to glue in the winter.

mr. ed

Thanks for the advice, guys. I guess $80 isn't so bad after all, especially if synthetic is included. I'll have to check that out...

Sgt. Peper

You have to use synthetic if you are under warranty. They charge me $115.00 at my dealer and the other Dodge dealer around here charges $140.00. Chevy changes there fluid every 10000 thousand miles and Dodge every 15000. I can't believe Chevy can make a better rear end than Dodge. Stinks, doesn't it.

PourinDiesel

Wow....$150 to change diff oil?

I use 85w140 and it runs about $30 for both diffs....

espee

Just finished changing both of mine in the driveway today. Searched all over town for Synthetic as per manual. Cost $11 per quart everywhere (no gal jugs avail)... 3.5 quarts in the rear, and about 3 for the front (I still have to double check fluid level when I can sit it in a flat parking lot somewhere). About $80 for fluid alone. Manual says not to use limited slip additives.

Dealer did not have the housing gaskets in stock (and owners are supposed to do this every 15K miles?). With no gasket I discarded the old and used silicone on the rear (Dealer claims that's what they do), later wished I hadn't. So next on the front axle I threw the dice and reused the old gasket since no adhesives were used in the OEM (being soft rubber hope it will make it till the next change)....

Dealer here in Valencia CA quoted $195 per axle, so just under $400 for both! What a rip from what you guys are posting here....

CamperAndy

The gaskets are permanent reusable. Why did you not want to reuse them?

PourinDiesel

Good point...

As far as changing the differential fluid every 15k miles....Maybe if I was towing extremely heavy every day.

After the initial change at 15k you are probably good for another 50k miles or more on the new fluid.

PourinDiesel

Same people make the "rearend".

agalaczy

I believe that Chevy uses the same AAM 11.5 diff that Dodge does.

espee

The dealer lied and said that they discard them and use silicon.... Guess I missed the part about being reusable... my bad.

The manual says you have to change it every 15K... unless you want to waive your waranty...

CamperAndy

Well I did some more research and found that there is two axles that use RTV and does not have a gasket. The 248RBI and C205FD does not have a gasket, my bad if those are the axles you have but since you said there was a gasket there when you took them apart I would guess yours is not a 248RBI or C205FD.