VikingDiesel

32k on my truck and am doing a trans and frontt diff fluid change. I already got the rear diff done. A few Qs:

1. Whats Front diff fluid do I use?
2. Must I remover the whole diff cover or is there a drain plug on my 05?
3. Whats trans fluid should I use?
4. Should I replace the trans filter at only 33k? if not, then when?

Anyone have a DIY on the trans filter??

Its All Good

You can use the same type of oil (weight) that you put in your rear diff. On the front cover there is no drain plug, so you have to remove the whole cover, that way you can inspect the inside for anything unusual. Also the plastic o-ring gasket can be reused if not damaged.
As for the trans. you will have to use ATF+4 or compatible. If you have the stock tranny pan you will have to remove the pan to get most of the oil out. There to will be a reuseable gasket. I would recomend you changing the trans filter while your doing this oil change. Also it would be easier the next time changing out the tranny oil and filter if you buy a tranny pan with a drain plug in it. Trust me it will be a lot cleaner. As for the tranny filter its a simple replacement. When you have the trans pan off you will see the trans filter, its a black plastic piece, just remove and replace. I don't remember the filter part number but do a search on trans filter and you'll get the right part number. Several members have DIY. Hope this helps you out....

67Charger383HP

A B&M drain plug will do as well for the tranny, and it's only 9 bucks or so.

I used Lucus 75w90 syn in both front and rear diffs last week and I swear the truck glides down the road better and is much more

I found that the worst part of the diff lube job was getting the dirt from the top of the cover off the gears etc. And I wish I would have had a torque wrench, but I just kept sucking up the bolts till the re-usable gasket crushed nice and even.

Enjoy and good luck.

VikingDiesel

ok so recap:

1. I absolutly must drop trans pan to do flush?
2. I absolutly must remove whole front diff cover to drain?

Hounddog

To do a trans FLUSH pan does NOT need to be removed.To change the FILTER trans pan does need removal.

Its All Good

No you don't have to remove the whole diff cover, just loosen the bolts (the bottom one's more) and the gear oil will drain.

The tranny yes, if you want to change the filter and get most of the oil out (except for what's left in the T/C).

67Charger383HP

On the diffs;

You dont have to remove the whole cover, but you are going to want to so that you can clean everything up real good. The rubber seal holds a fine line of dirt that falls into the diff once you loosen the diff bolts. Good time as well to check everything out even if you dont know what to look for. I had to take the rubber seal and wash it under soapy water in a sink to get it clean. It holds a lot of dirt around the top of the pumpkin in almost an 1/8 of an inch swath accross upper half.

On the tranny;

I'd pull the trans pan as well, but then again I would check for wear material and put a new filter on. It would also be a good time to install a B&M drain plug so the next change/pan drop goes smooth as glass.

VikingDiesel

Where do I get it and is it easy to install?

67Charger383HP

Any performance shop should have it. Online stores will, as well as some local auto parts stores.

You take the pan off the truck, clean it, find a nice spot and put a 1/2 inch hole in the bottom of the pan. Assemble the drainplug and tighten it all down.

Takes only a couple of minutes of extra work assuming you had the pan down anyway.

Dont be tempted to drill a hole first to make dropping the (empty) pan easier, if you dont know what is where you are drilling and if the plug will fit when you are done.

VikingDiesel

ok, how many quarts of 15W-40 Shell Rotella motor oil does my truck take? and is 10W-40 ok?

torquefan

I would stay away from 10W40. I have never seen one that was diesel-rated. The latest diesel rating is CI-4. Usually you will only find it on a 5W40 or 15W40.

67Charger383HP

Cant answer the weight question, although I only run 15w40 as most everyone else seems to be.

I was under the impression that the truck would take 3 gallons total (11qt in engine, 1qt in filter) with the filter. However, I bought 3 gallons and yet I had to buy a 4th (cheaper by the gallon) to top off just over another 1/2 to 2/3 quart. So mine took 12.5 ish quarts or so last week. I used Delo 400 for my first oil change (the dealer did all till now) and I must say the change was not too tuff at all. I used a 5 gallon bucket that I cut down in height for the drained oil, and I removed the intake tube and did the filter while leaning over the passenger side of the engine bay. I bought Stratapore filters from Geno's and they looked better than the Dodge filter I took off, but then again what do I know about looks of oil filters anyway?

Get you one of them Fomoto or EZ drain plugs and some Stratapore filters from Geno's then go to Checker and get Delo 400 by the gallon (9 bucks each) and I don't think you will go far from right.

Have fun and send some pics of your driveway afterwards.

torquefan

The 3rd gen trucks take 11.5 litres- I think around 12 quarts. After running the engine, the dipstick isn't accurate for hours- so what I usually do is fill up the filter before installing it, then put the rest in the engine. I then check the dipstick BEFORE starting the engine. It should read slightly over full.

Mike Porter

3 1-gallon jugs of oil will do you just right. I have continued to use Valvoline Premium Blue. Checkers sells it for about 9 bucks a gallon. Get your filters from Geno's as 67charger advised. Do not forget to fill the filter with oil before you put the new one on. Changed mine today, it took about 1/2 hour with proper tools.

good luck