Changed All The Fluids On My 2009 2500 With 10k Miles On It Over The W

[phillyturbosix]

All I can say is I would suggest everyone changes all the fluids in these trucks anytime before 10K miles that's for sure! Seems GM really makes those tolerances tight on the initial break in for the front diff and transfer case at least! I had a friend of mine find the same results on his new Tahoe with about 5K on it. I figured I better dump the fluids and check my truck. I always like to change all the fluids when I buy something new anyhow, but this gave me more incentive for sure! I used a Nappa Gold oil filter along with some Mobil One for the engine. Do they make a bigger oil filter for this engine? That oil filter is tiny!! If anyone has a part number for a longer filter please post! While I'm sure that little oil filter is good for the engine can't go wrong with a longer one!

 

I took the truck into my mechanic ( I don't want my nails to look like his!! lol) to have it all changed. We did the front diff., engine oil, transfer case, and rear diff. You would think the front axle and transfer case would be fine to not even touch till around 50K but from these findings I'm sure a lot of you will change those fluids out!

 

I used all Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 in the front diff. http://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?code=SVGQT-EA

 

Just the color of it scared me!

 

 

Thankfully GM uses a magnet drain plug on it! Look what was on the end of it!

 

 

Now that is a wad of metal!!

 

Here is what it looked like in the drip pan after it was empty...

 

 

Cleaned that drain plug off and pumped in the new Amsoil.

 

Next I moved on to the transfer case... I used Amsoil Synthetic Fuel Efficient Automatic Transmission Fluid. http://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?code=ATLQT-EA

 

While the fluid didn't look too bad. The metal on the end of the magnet drain plug did!

 

 

 

 

Then we moved onto the rear diff. When we popped the rear cover off I found it a little foamy in there. You can tell it was a little low from the factory as well and is usually typical. Was wondering if this foam was normal. The truck was warm still. I drove a few miles on the highway to the shop before. Wasn't red hot but warm. Here is what we found when we popped the cover....

 

 

Some metal on the magnet in the bottom of the rear. This is the reason I took the cover off instead of using the drain plug in the bottom of the pumpkin.

 

 

Cleaned up the magnet and cleaned off the rear for a new gasket. I used one of those lube locker gaskets. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...RK%3AMEWAX%3AIT Really nice dry install gasket. The nice part is I was able to see the drain plug and in the years coming I can just take the drain plug out as it seems you'll get all the fluid out by using the drain plug on these rears. I used the Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 in the rear diff.

 

 

 

Now it could be me, but it really feels like the truck free rolls much more easy. I was out with it most of the day and it sure felt like it moved with less friction but then again could be all in my head. Just nice to know you have all fresh fluids in your truck! Now she is ready for anything! This weekend I'm doing tow mirrors, rear air bags, and getting it flashed for the remote start!

 

So have any of you guys ran into this when changing the fluids on your GMC's? If so how many miles did you change all these fluids and how did your fluids look?

[RyanbabZ71]

Just curious did you do any towing with your truck?

 

The drain plug magnets looked the same as my 2000 did when I changed the front diff fluid around 50K and TC at about 30K.

[phillyturbosix]

Just curious did you do any towing with your truck?

 

The drain plug magnets looked the same as my 2000 did when I changed the front diff fluid around 50K and TC at about 30K.

 

I just bought the truck with 10K on it. Not sure what the last owner did with it but the tow hitch is still virgin back there. No signs ever of it towing. We do have snow here in the winters and last year was really bad with snow so I'm sure it's been in 4x4 several times since new. From what I gather they all make a ton of metal on break in.

[Z45]

I read something somewhere that the front lube color was the result of some set up dye used in the axle plant and it supposedly had no effect on the lubricating qualities.

[uh6tdrvr]

You will have to post if you see any mileage increase from the full synthetic swap

[phillyturbosix]

You will have to post if you see any mileage increase from the full synthetic swap

 

I've heard you get a few more mpg with the full synthetic swap. Seems a little better already. Every little bit helps!

[jro909]

isen't gm full synethic now i know folks that don't touch any of the diffs,trans/transfer case ever and have no issues...needless to say i am not one of those people lol

[05GMCZ71]

Are all those amsoil fluids approved for GM vehicles by GM? Why did you use ATF fluid in the transfer case? Are you not supposed to use a special type of fluid for the transfer case? Do you have the G-80? If so don't you have to use a special type of fluid in the back?

[Black02Silverado]

Just curious as to why you ran AMSOIL in everything but the engine? The OE oil is even less expensive than Mobil 1.

 

The foaming isn't normal, at least not from all the rear diff's that I have opened up and looked into right after driving the vehicle. That is interesting to see. Foam isn't good, no cooling abilities once that starts. The oil can't do it's job.

[RyanbabZ71]

Are you not supposed to use a special type of fluid for the transfer case? Do you have the G-80? If so don't you have to use a special type of fluid in the back?

 

Not in the GMT-900's, they use ATF in the transfer case now. The GMT-800's used autotrac II fluid (blue stuff)

 

Rear end fluid is 75W-90 synthetic

[mhenshaw]

This is a great post. Can someone list how much the diffs and transfer case holds. Then make this a sticky!!!

[20Silverado11]

Excellent and timely post! I've just passed the break-in point for my new truck, and am going to be taking a 500 mile trip this weekend to pick up a new trailer (250 miles empty, 250 miles return pulling 3,200# trailer). At that point, we will have > 1,000 miles on the truck and will be swapping fluids. Thanks for the EXCELLENT information.

 

Also, transfer case takes about 2 qts. (http://www.gm-trucks.com/resources/how-to/2009/01/28/changing-your-transfer-case-fluid/)

Rear differential varies by size (http://www.fixya.com/cars/t4667838-type_gear_oil_rear_end_much)

Third post down here (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1305696) says he uses slightly less than 5 qts for F & R Diff.

 

Marc

[mattymax]

So yes to an additive for G-80 or no ??

 

-matt

[mhenshaw]

So yes to an additive for G-80 or no ??

 

-matt

 

 

No, its not needed

[mhenshaw]

So if we have a GMT900 with a 10 bolt rear end we have to get a different expensive diff cover gasket? Im seeing like 40 bucks for a gasket. Is this correct?