I'm gonna change my fluid & need to know how much differential fluid does my truck takes. Its a 4X2 w/ the 3.55 LS

 

About 2.5 qrts worth and change. So you'll need 3 bottles plus a bottle of LS friction modifier.
If you use the 70-140 synth stuff it runs about U$28 bucks a bottle at the dealer. Try Amsoil because it's extremely hard to find in stores. The friction modifier is U$10 at the dealer or U$8 at any descent autostore.
No gasket is required, just the sealant in a tube.

Fritz

 

While this isn't directly responding to your question, it takes over $70 worth -- according to the warranty work that was done on mine when a wheel bearing seal was replaced (remember: the axle cover is removed during the axle shaft removal -- and, lucky for me, they didn't re-use the axle lube -- I hope).

 

I filled my 3.55 LS with Amsoil last month. It took a full 3qts. and I did not add friction modifier. According to my Amsoil rep. and the company's tech. dept., you do not have to add friction modifiers to their gear oil in LS difs. I have been running this way in some very slick conditions and everything seems to be hooking up just fine.

 

Well, according to the Ford dealership doing the service on my truck today, it's $360 to changed the front diff, rear diff, and transfer case fluid on my 02 SCrew 4x4.



Brutal. That sounds VERY high to me, but I've never had it done before. Anyone else think that sounds high? Normal? This is for front and rear diff and transfer case.

66k miles and he says the fluid was NASTY.

It's in the shop for a shorted coil pack. I ran through a mud puddle deep enough to be above the bottom of the doors, and up to my headlights. Luckily none got in the intake, but it went all over the top of the motor (6 hrs cleaning) and messed up one of my COP's. Anyway, the water was above the diff breather hose and I got water in everything. I had the tranny flushed/serviced also.

No more deep mud holes for me.

 

put the gear oil in untill you can touch it thru the hole with your pinkey...
that will suffice


and yes 360$ is a bit much

...zap!

 

what's a normal price? They charged me $120 per axle and $120 for the transfer case. This included fluid and labor.

 

Thats a flat rip off. Assuming that (I can't remeber off hand) the front and rear take syn GL5 and the xfer takes atf, I do that service combo for $50 at my shop. I have never added a friction modifier to any ford diff, and I have never seen one go bad (that I worked on) Fact about the ford 8.8 Its just about indestuctable (2nd only to the 9 inch) and if you just follow what is required by ford, 100K on the older models, 150K on the newer ones and just change and replace with synthtic GL5 you'll never have a problem

 

$50 for both axles and the transfer case? Doesn't it cost more than that just for the fluid?

 

Naw, when you buy it in bulk its still pretty cheap. I buy in Kegs. I usually get 20 for each, but I give 10 off for the purchase of 3

 

Do you realize that you are causing premature wear by not using the friction modifier? Without it the diff will wear out much faster.

 

Here we go again.......

"It's like deja vu all over again" - Yogi Bera