Adventures in gear oil

[Spike555]

Since my truck is new to me I've been going through it top to bottom.
A few weeks ago I changed the gear oil with el cheapo gear oil, removing the fill plug on the front diff was a no go, had to have it removed.
So I bought new diff plugs from Australia, 8 plugs with gaskets.
They came in the mail so I went about buying the gear oil I wanted in my truck, Castrol full synthetic, $10/at at Autozone.
First Autozone had 4qts, next one 2. Then another had none, finally the fourth Autozone had the last 2qts I needed.

Today I set out to do the fluid change, I tipped over 1qt while moving my fluid pump, then the pump hose came out of the fill on the front diff and got fluid everywhere.
Then I finally got smart and filled a gallon motor oil jug with the gear oil, because of the larger footprint and weight of the gear oil it didn't tip over everytime I blinked.

Next up will be the transmission fluid.

 

[ponytl]

IF you had purchased online at advanceautoparts.com you could have reached the $50 mark and used coupon code trt30 and gotten 30% off... you would have also gotten $5 in speed perks (basically a $5 gift card) if you spend $100 use coupon code trt41 and get 40% off... just say'n

OH and for ease of filling things like you just did... a $10 1 gallon pump up garden sprayer works really well.. use just the hose (do not use the spray wand) and a simple on/ off 1/4" barbed valve... in the hose to control flow if you want... I also use a piece of bent copper tube at the end so it will stay hands free in the fill hole...

 

[Spike555]

AdvancedAuto doesn't sell Castrol full syn gear oil.

That is a great idea about the garden sprayer.
I have a hand pump and I route the hose over a cross member or whatever and then into the fill hole, but that's still not always the best and the pump takes two hands so the hose can pop out of the fill hole.

I think I'm going to pick up one of those garden sprayers for when I do the trans fluid, it'll also work on my wife's van for trans fluid, even though her van has a dip stick (and I don't mean me) it takes forever for it to drain through the funnel and down the tube.

 

[ponytl]

Mobil1 Synthetic Gear Lubricant LS 75W-90 is what i get from them $12.99 if you buy 4 gets you past $50 - trt30 coupon code = about $33 then you get $5 speed perks to use on next order that you can combine with coupon code so next 4 you buy cost you $28 and you get another $5 speed perks I know it's not a huge deal $$ wise but I spend several hundred dollars a month there so if i can cut my bill by 40+ % I save a few grand a year...

 

[mattafact]

Watch autozone for deals too. They had Delo full synthetic gear oil on sale for $4.99 a quart a few months back and I stocked up. For the Mobil 1 atf I bought it 2 quarts at a time whenever I passed by to get my rewards points. Every 5 $20 purchase gets you $20 off your next purchase.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Big jugs are the way to go.

 

[Spike555]

I am not a fan of Mobil 1, it is not actually a full synthetic and you're paying for the name.
Valvoline Syn Power would've been my next choice.
After that would've been buying it online. Which I did look into the Castrol gear oil online but you had to buy it by the case, it was more expensive and I didn't need 12qts.

 

[SWUtah]

Since my truck is new to me I've been going through it top to bottom.
A few weeks ago I changed the gear oil with el cheapo gear oil, removing the fill plug on the front diff was a no go, had to have it removed.
So I bought new diff plugs from Australia, 8 plugs with gaskets.
They came in the mail so I went about buying the gear oil I wanted in my truck, Castrol full synthetic, $10/at at Autozone.
First Autozone had 4qts, next one 2. Then another had none, finally the fourth Autozone had the last 2qts I needed.

Today I set out to do the fluid change, I tipped over 1qt while moving my fluid pump, then the pump hose came out of the fill on the front diff and got fluid everywhere.
Then I finally got smart and filled a gallon motor oil jug with the gear oil, because of the larger footprint and weight of the gear oil it didn't tip over everytime I blinked.

Next up will be the transmission fluid.

Looks like your having a lot of fun keep us posted on your adventure.

 

[Spike555]

Thanks. I am having fun. I'm almost done with my "baseline". Just need to do the trans fluid, then she'll be as close to new as I can get.

 

[planomateo]

I am not a fan of Mobil 1, it is not actually a full synthetic and you're paying for the name.
Valvoline Syn Power would've been my next choice.
After that would've been buying it online. Which I did look into the Castrol gear oil online but you had to buy it by the case, it was more expensive and I didn't need 12qts.

Sure it is, but the term full synthetic is very misleading. Several companies got together to get Group III oils classified as Full Synthetic (aka hydrocracked). Better to look at the type of oil vs the branding on the front.

 

[Spike555]

Sure it is, but the term full synthetic is very misleading. Several companies got together to get Group III oils classified as Full Synthetic (aka hydrocracked). Better to look at the type of oil vs the branding on the front.

Exactly, that's why I choose a oil I'm happy with in quality, price and availability.