OK, after I got my Air Filter cleaned and re-oiled I headed down to E-Z Lube to get my 3000 mile oil change. 5-20 Mobil One Synthetic. Other than an oil change I really wouldn't have them do anything else... but they pull the plug on the diff. and it has shavings in it and the color is somewhat silver and the fluid is thick like grease.

My Lightning is only 9 months old and has 9000 miles on it. The E-Z lube dude says to change the diff. fluid at 10,000 miles. Tells me I must really step on the pedal a lot to have this much shavings.

What do you guys think? BS?

I do have a FTVB, but I figure if that was causing damage that would show up in the tranny fluid.

So I turn to the Lightning Forum for advice... once again

Thanks In Advance!
Jeff

 

I as well as anyone else probably won't be able to give you any advice without seeing the fluid with our own eyes.
I would suggest taking the truck to a transmission/drivetrain shop and having them take a look at the fluid and its condition. If they feel there is a problem take it to the dealer as you have a warranty.
FINE metal shavings will come from normal wear and tear. Are you saying the fluid is silver in color or the shavings are>??? Silver or gray fluid may have me a little worried. -Mat-

 

I managed a Valvoline Instant Oil Change for 3 years and I can tell you that all the quick lube places are all about high pressure sales. You can pull the diff plug on any truck and find a wad of shavings on it. Especially a newer one as the gear is breaking in for the first few thousand miles. Differential flush & fills were always an easy sell. All you had to do was show the customer the diff plug with shavings caked all over it and basically it would scare them into buying the service. The plug has a built in magnet designed to pick up any shavings in the oil. Being as Ford uses a synthetic gear oil in our diffs, I would say 20-25k miles would be a good interval depending on how hard you drive your truck.

 

There were shavings, but the fluid was on the thick side and silver/grey in color...

I think I will be paying a visit to the dealer this week and have them take a look.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Diff lube is not like engine oil -- it will get cruddy. The tolerances is a diff are many times greater than those in the engine. Havving fine metal shavings in the lube is normal. Unless you found a lot of actual chunks, I wouldn't give it another thought.

 

The factory synthetic fluid is gray.

 

Well... I'm not going to give it another thought. Thanks guys! Your answers pretty much explained everything.

Jeff

 

yes that is normal
i worked on big rigs for 5 years and the plugs always came out looking like that. no matter how much you change your fluid your plug will look like that because its supposed to, the mag plug is doing its job

 

You said it. Everyone is right. First...the diff fluid Ford uses is a grey'ish color (or some I've seen). Second, on a newer vechicle (yours is 2004), you will see some shavings...very normal. Third, diff fluid is a bit thicker than engine oil.

I just changed mine Saturday (Royal Purple 75W 90) and I still had a few shavings in it (very little) I put about 20,000 since my last change and still looked the same color as when I put it in....WOO HOO!!!