I have a 2011 Ram 1500 and I am planning to change the differential oil. When I look at the back there is a plug on the bottom and then one on the top. Can I just drain it out the bottom and add oil in the top? Not sure if I need to take the cover off and clean it out or not?

 

Yes. Drain and refill using the plugs.

 

Thanks for the reply. So you don’t think it’s necessary to take the cover off to clean out? Just drain and add?

 

Personally I wouldn’t.

 

I always remove the cover and clean everything out when I do a gear oil change.

 

depends on the mileage.. 80 to 100K I would pick up a gasket and do the cover, wipe out the diff with rags and brake clean.. should be a magnet in bottom .. clean metal off of that
and good to go less than that I would get it good and hot on a drive and just pull the plug

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I plan to change the transfer case fluid as well. I have 150k on the truck and mostly use it for hunting. I cant say I put a lot of hard miles on it. Do you think I need to change the transmission fluid and filters as well?

 

Definitely, i would do the transmission every 40k miles. I have a 2011 and been going by the manual for intervals. It's my wife's truck and it normally goes to the dealer for everything but I did the rear end myself. I did the fluid only since it only had 45k.

 

Changed the rear differential oil and it was a pretty smooth process. I ended taking the cover off and cleaning everything out. Took a little to clean the old gasket up, but wasn’t bad. I had a paper replacement gasket, but didn’t feel confident in it when I was putting the cover on so I used the red gasket maker. Next up is the transfer case fluid and transmission fluid and filters.