Gear lube price!!!!!!!

[Dmaxin]

I was thinking about changing my rear diff fluid and wanted to run what was stock in it so went to the dealer last to see if they had any. Oh they had some, but they wanted $25 a quart! Holly Crap! So i talked to a service manager and he told me that i did not need to be changed for at least 50k under hard conditions or 100k with light duty. Anyone else find a better price on factory synthetic?

[LanduytG]

Why use the factory fill? It is nothing special. I would go buy Mobile or Amsoil and not worry. Plus you will save about $18 a quart.
Greg

[chuntag95]

Ditto! You should go and change them as when I did mine at 15K, there were plenty of metal chips and breakin compounds that I am glad are out.

[JackDmax]

If you want to stay with the factory stuff, which I did, go to GMpartsdirect and you can get it for about $15/qt plus shipping. There has been much discussion on this subject.

Jack

[LanduytG]

There is a chance in he!! that I would give $15 a quart for Castrol Syntroq. Mobile or Amsoil is half the cost and both are far better.
Greg

[D MAXIMUS]

I asked this question of the folks at Eaton, manufacturer of the G80 differential. Their recommendation was to stick with the GM oil.

John

[huntindog]

I asked this question at Chevrolet in regaurds to antifreeze, motor oil, and chassis lube. Their recommendation- use GM products
FDOTFLMAO.

[LanduytG]

Of course the dealer is going to say use GM parts because this is a very big mark up for them.
Greg

[huntindog]

LanduytG, That was sarcasm on my part.
FDOTFLMAO = falling down on the floor laughing my a$$ off.
Cheers

[Colorado Kid]

"Of course the dealer is going to say use GM parts because this is a very big mark up for them.
Greg"

And similarly... of course Greg is going to recommend Amsoil, because there is a big mark up for him.

Rich :rolleyes:

[millietom]

Bought Quaker State Synquest gear lub for $7.15 a quart at local bulk plant.

Tom

[srubrn]

The Mobli I syn oil is the same as GM. They make it for them and I bought it at Autozone for $7 a quart.

[LanduytG]

If I had the mark up the dealer does I would be in hog heaven. I don't think I recommended only Amsoil. I think I remember saying something about Mobile as well.
Greg

[Colorado Kid]

Actually Texaco makes the GM part, and only sells it directly to GM, as has been discussed here before.
Only the GM Lube claims to meet the GM spec. I chose to buck up and spend the price, since I only need to do it once...pretty trivial compared to the price of the truck, or even just a rear end.

On the other hand you are extremely unlikely to have rear end problems within the warranty period no matter what you choose to use, and you are unlikely to ever wear the sucker out with any decent lube in it...after the initial break in and the initial towing have established wear patterns the synthetic probably is not even necessary, as the temperatures will never again be nearly as high.

Mine's still going to have the atomic grape juice in it.

Greg, you know I'm just giving you a hard time, don't you? I know we don't have the same opinion on this subject, but that doesn't mean I don't respect yours...your advice is well thought out, and I don't have a problem with you or with the products you are selling. I think we all know that you don't have the same margins as the stealer...I just thought you were the pot calling the kettle black, and I'd call you on it.

:D

[Stage 1]

Just changed mine at 1500 miles, glad I did, lots of sludge in their which is normal. I needed a new gasket, old one could not be saved. Suggest purchasing gasket before changing rear dif. lub. Dealer indicated that 03' 3500 rear cover gasket is new this year. Had to order mine. I paid about $12 per quart for GM lub, which was 10% over cost. Will check receipt which is in the truck. Also, did not have drain plug, had to remove rear cover.

[mdrag]

Stage 1,

I haven't seen an '03, but there are drain plugs on the '01 and '02....

[ 11-27-2002: Message edited by: mdrag ]</p>

[DmaxMaverick]

The '03 I looked at had a drain plug, same as my '01 and brother's '02. Same r/e housing in the '03 Dodge didn't have one. No reason to pull the cover unless upgrading it. Cheers.

[Stage 1]

NO expert here, but w/cover off I was able to remove hand fulls of sludge. I just put my hand in there and scoped out that used grape smelling lub. Again do not know if this is necessary but there was sludge at 1800 miles as expected. Noticed that this is a big rear end 11.5 " w/clutches (3500 w/locking rear). Used about four qts. of GM 12378261 gear oil, paid $17.68 per bottle plus a gasket.