My dealer insisted I have it done at 15K to avoid any warranty issues in the future. One maintenance schedule says to inspect the other says to change depends on the use of the vehicle.

 

I meant for all the vehicles I ever drove. I figure if my diff blows up now then the money saved from negelecting this will more than make up for a new diff or rear end. Until this happens I just can't bring myself to spend 30 bucks on oil lol. I've drove several CTD rams that hauled 10-20k loads and the fluid was rarely if ever changed. The only thing this truck hauls is me so I'm not worried about it. I couldn't care less about the warranty, it cost more to keep that thing up than its ever going to pay back. A guy on another forum had his truck serviced with a diff fluid changed and it was like 300 bucks at the dealer. No wonder they have these ridiculous service intervals.

 

I just called to make my appointment for an oil change, 2 recalls, 2 RRTs, One being that K17 thing, the water in the mirror turn signal, the tailgate cover broken, the warped bed lip cover, and I asked about the dif fluid change. He said every 18,000 miles. $175 for both axles. I guess I will be sitting at the dealer for a while....
Normally I would do it but I don;t want any issues with my lifetime warranty to pop up if all these things are already breaking....

 

I don't see how the dealer can insist that you change it at 18K when the maintenance sked doesn't say that. Sounds like you're getting fleeced. If your diff did blow up, I doubt the dealer could easily cite improper maintenance intervals unless they had some indicator that you used your truck for routine towing, in the dirt, etc, etc

I'm sure I'm odd man out, but when the dealer tried to tell me that I HAD to shuck out money when the maintenance sked doesn't call for it, I'd get very suspicious that they had your interests in mind...

 

I agree 100% so I guess you are not the odd man out. I was at the dealer last week for the AC reflash and the service rep tried to sell me everything from a air system cleaning, to axle service to new alignment. She just kept on going and going hoping for me to say yes. My truck only has 14k miles. When I asked where in the maintenance manual it said I had to do any of the work, she said OK and shut up.

Remember, these service advisers get paid a salary but also get a commission for everything they talk you into it.

Even if you have it done elsewhere or do it yourself, keep a record and receipts and they can't refuse to honor the warranty.

 

I put less than 10K miles a year on my truck so changing out the rear end fluid every year and a half isn't that big of a deal. Also my truck is driven mostly stop and go on daily short trips which is harder on it than constant highway driving. Any distance driving I do will normally be towing.

 

My old GMC had a drain plug on the rear axle and I used to do it on a regular basis so to protect my LSD. It was really easy to drain and refill. I think it took about 2 quarts and the total for synthetic with the LSD modifier premixed was, I think about $12 per quart.

What I hate about the dealer is the high pressure sales job for things you don't need. On top of that wasting my Saturday driving there and spending most of the morning for the privilege to be charged 1 hour labor for 15 minute job and pay twice the cost for the fluid - just because the service salesman wants to scare me into thinking that if I do it myself, the warranty will be void.

I can do the job in my garage in about 1/2 hour (I take my sweet time and don't use power tools) and have a beer while I am doing it. Besides, I get to inspect the gears.

 

I agree. Normally I would do my own oil and regular maintenance, but winter is setting in fast up here and I just want to get it done. I won't need anything else done until spring. So I figure while I was getting the flash and recalls taken care of I'd just have them do the stinky rear end fluid. It is like the Toyota dealer wanting $800.00 to change the brakes out on my 2006 Rav4. I did it for less than $200.00 in an hour...Yes an hour...in my driveway. That car has probably the easiest brake pad install I have ever seen in my life. So $800.00? For what? BTW this oil chnage is still free for me. They owe me several for forgetting to put my drain plug in tight and it falling out on the road losing all my fresh oil. They gave me 6 free oil changes for that one!

 

Read the owners manual.If TOWING its 18k if not its just a inspection of fliud level.Not sure when the first change is non towing but you can rest assurd its probely not till 100k. I did change mine at 12k LOL cause I had some Amsoil Severe gear 80w140 that I had a LONG time.I added a bottle of additive I picked up at a auto parts store for under $6.plus I used a machine to add fliud in reverse and SUCKED the fliud out.I know remove the cover.But It got most all out but a film of old.Took all of 10 minutes to change and refill.

 

There is a smiley for that....