Well....

All 3 vehicles are switched to M1 now but the guy at the local shop told me I should change out the other fluids now on the durango.

I know the Transmission fluid needs changed at 140,000 so I was already planning to do it soon but the shop tech advised me to change out the front and rear differentials and the Transfer Case oil at the same time.

I wanted to do the trany service myself and guess I might as well do the others while i'm under the truck but I need to find out the correct weight of oil to put in the diffs. I figure the Transfer case is ATF+4 like the trans but what is the recommended diff oil?

I don't have the owners manual so can't look there and the net has been little help in searching for a fluid chart for the durango. Also, just to check my head here... it is Front Axle, Rear Axle and Transfer case correct? Any other plugs I need to pull?? lol

 

My transfer case says I can use dexron III or atf+3, but why? ATF+4 is better and the current recommended fluid by chrysler, besides then you can't mix them up when working on your trans. Valvoline makes a full synthetic ATF+4 that is licensed by chrysler, that seems to be the favorite on this forum. I used and am quite happy with it. 80w-90, or even better 75w-90 synthetic for the front and rear diffs. I pulled the covers when I did my diffs just to have a peek in there since I had never looked before. I also thought I had and lsd but I don't as shown by senior members on here. If you have and lsd make sure to get the additive in there.

 

Thanks much Adukart!

I'l pick up the +4 and 75W90. I'll have to figure out how much fluid goes in each. the last time I changed fluid on a rear end, I just took the cover off to drain, then replaced the cover and refilled till oil came out the drain plug. That was on a 1977 Nova so yea...i'ts been a while

 

The oil should be about 1/2 inch below the plug..IIRC

 

Thanks for the added info.

I'll be getting these things done here next week then its back to the shop to be looked over. I pulled the oil fill cap off today out of curiosity and there was a LOT of creamy white sludge in the cap and down the fill tube and the sludge just dripped with water. I havn't noticed any coolant loss and Uncle says it never used coolant but it sure looked like the tell tail signs of a blown head gasket. I'm still researching this one as I have seen quite a few posts about 4.7's and oil sludge. I know the oil was always changed at 3k so its not bad maintenance. and 80% of his driving was highway miles in excess of 60 miles one way so it's not like the engine didn't get up to full temp to keep condensation from forming. Hoping that it is just a minor issue but will know when the valve covers are pulled...crossing fingers

 

Ok, let me stop you there, I didn't finish reading your post as I felt I needed to correct you.

I DOUBT YOUR ENGINE HAS SLUDGE, AND 95% OF SLUDGE CLAIMS ON HERE ARE FALSE! The 4.7 is no more a sludge engine than any other engine. People who say that cannot support it with pictures...now, let me go back to reading your post...

Is it still driven this distance? If it is driven short trips now, probably condensation, especially when you say it just dripped with water.

Again, if the oil was changed every 3k miles, its not sludge, promise :-)

 

Yup nothing more than condensation.

 

WHEWWWWW....'

That's the reply I was hoping for!

Makes perfect sence (sp) too. I'v only put 200 miles on it in the past month and a half and its been cold/ice and rain ever since i got the truck.
1 trip was about 60 miles round trip mostly in town stop and go, a few 10 min up the road and backs of about 5 miles both ways and a few 30 mile one way highway and a few hours stop and go.

I found a TSB on doing a mod that was originally geared towards the Dakota but was still a 4.7 issue of oil emulsion. I may look more into doing the recommended TSB found it here
http://www.wjjeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wj_090100a.pdf

 

Yup thats the tsb. Ive also seen a few regarding a pcv valve relocation kit. This ive been told also helps with this problem.

 

Otgarza,

I found that one too...'
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2006/25-001-06.htm

wasn't sure if this could be applied on the 2000, the tsb lists 2002 up but didn't mention the 2000