2500HD rear axle fluid capacity

[bart1978]

Can anyone help me with the amount of fluid needed to refill the rear axle. I do medium duty towing and thought it seemed like a good idea to change the fluid. I can't find any information in the owners man. Thanks

[Shaners]

I see that they reccommend SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 12378261) but there is no mention of capacity in the HD rear ends...  hmmm...

[pennscapes]

Hello,

 

I can't remember where, but I recall reading somewhere that they suggest changing the rear axle fluid at 7k if you do any kind of trailering.

 

I say this because to my luck, at around exactly 7k on my truck, my mechanic pointed out a leak on the inside of the left rear tire.......took it in, and it turned out that GM seemed to have forgotten a rear axle seal on that side.

 

Anyways, I have a invoice around here somewhere for the work, and I want to say they used 7 quarts.....but not sure.  If I see it, I will report back.

 

steve

[RyanbabZ71]

7 qts??? HOLY CRAP

 

In my half ton i used 2.28 (estimated) quarts

 

I think the HDS are like between 3 and 4

[BIG BLUE]

What size is the rear end in your truck?  That will help to clarify the amount of fluid needed.  If memory serves the 8 1/2's get 2.5qts and the 11 1/2's get 3.27qts.  You most likely have the larger carrier on the HD and would be just shy of 4qts I believe. 

 

Regards,

BIG BLUE

[RyanbabZ71]

if its 7 qts and you pay $26 a qt that would be $182 for a rear diff change.  STEEP!

 

It should say on our rear diff the level to fill it.  I think mine was 6mm below.  I know i didnt put in 2.5 qts it was more like 2.25 and the level is fine

 

Plan on buying 4 qts and not using them all for your HD

[bart1978]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll purchase 7 qts. to be sure. I'll post later  the exact amount used. By the way I am new on this board and have enjoyed the many post. Thanks Again, Bart

[RyanbabZ71]

BART

 

DONT BUY 7!!!!!!!

 

ITS DOESNT TAKE SEVEN QTS I CAN TELL YOU THAT

 

Go to your local dealer and at the service counter have him input your style truck itll say how many qts it takes.  

[bart1978]

Quote from RyanbabZ71, posted on Sep. 25 2001,11:18

if its 7 qts and you pay $26 a qt that would be $182 for a rear diff change.  STEEP!

 

It should say on our rear diff the level to fill it.  I think mine was 6mm below.  I know i didnt put in 2.5 qts it was more like 2.25 and the level is fine

 

Plan on buying 4 qts and not using them all for your HD

 

I was planning on using Mobil 1. What is the $26. a quart fluid you mentioned?

[RyanbabZ71]

$26 stuff is the gm lube

 

GM Part No. 12378261

(posted by shaners)

 

Only thing with the mobil 1 fluid is it doesnt meet all the gm specs (some people will say it does but it actually doesnt).  If i change the fluid in the rear of my truck again i think ill go with mobil 1.  Just wanted to let you know this info

[bart1978]

I was going by the owner's manual where it said use only fully syn.lube. I figured the Mobil meet all specs.Thanks,  bart

[jeb]

I just changed my fluid on Sunday. I used 4 qts of Mobil 1 and it was just a bit below the fill hole. On a different GM truck forum, it was recently posted that the capacity is 3.88 qts and it should about .4" below the fill hole. Just over 3 qts came out of it.

[Garmat]

Hey Bart,

  You need to read this before you go buy 7 quarts..

http://www.62-65-dieselpage.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001629.html

 

There has been so much info posted on this subject on that website, you could read till your eyes bleed.  Be careful about the Mobil.  Nothing wrong with it, except that it doesn't meet all the GM specs and would be a loophole for them if something went wrong with your diff.  Somebody over there has found the GM lube for $18 a quart.  Still WAY too high, but it's the ONLY stuff that GM recommends.  Oh, and 4 quarts should get the job done.

[David Modine]

Ok, my turn.

I went to the dealer & bought 4 quarts of the magic grape lube (12378261).

The list price was $26.05.

My truck was purchased as a company vehicle, & my business name is in the computer at the dealer. I quess because we are a business, they reduced the price to $19.50 per quart.

Still pretty steep

Anyway, My 2500HD with a 6.0 & 410 rear took just about 2 1/2 qts.

There was absolutely no detectable metal on the magnetic center of the drain plug.

The truck has just under 7200 miles.

BTW, the old oil did stink a bit

David