I have a 2010 Ram 1500 Hemi and my stealer called to say my 30k service is due and in it he wants to do a front and rear differential oil change and says he needs to do the seals also. Is this standard practice or is he just padding his bill? Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

Which seals? If he is talking about the diff cover seals - there arn't any just permatex. If he is talking about the pinion seals then that would be a warranty item is they really needed to be done - only if they are leaking.

 

My first rear diff change was at 1500miles and will be every 15kmi thereafter. My truck has 10kmi and the front will get done this summer.
If you do any towing/hauling, you want to change the fluid out regularly. You might get away with 50kmi of highway driving, but 30kmi is when they say it's due.

I'd ask them to do your Transfercase as well. It's only a couple qts of ATF+4. There's a plug to drain and plug to fill.

Now, let's think if you were to have 4:56's installed. You would be told to do a 500mile break-in and change the fluid every 15-30kmi thereafter. Did you change your diff fluid on the truck when it had 500miles? ALL the same metal fibers from initial wear are still in there. I'd change the fluid. Synthetic fluid is required so even buying the fluid yourself will require 3 bottles of 75w-140 @$20 each. $60.

As for the seals. No. The pan gasket is only RTV sealant as well. I'd make sure they aren't just sucking the fluid out and re-filling through the rubber peek hole. Atleast my 2008 has a rubber peek hole on the cover.

 

Thanks for the info it all sounds good, I will talk to them,