- Thread starter
- #41
Good to know Rick, thanks. I followed the FSM, rare for me but I thought it best since it was my first time with the task...
Time for upgrade...
- Thread starter Mtbcoach
- Start date
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31k isn't terrible for some heavy use BUT still makes me wonder. Atleast you caught it when you did, could have ended up in a worse situation.
- Thread starter
- #43
True but they surely should last longer, assuming no abuse.
One contributing factor is that I may not have given this set a "perfect" break-in proceedure. During the initial "heat/cool" cycle, it didn't get a full cool down due to a problem with another part installed at the same time, causing me to return to the installer where it didn't fully cool down before I had to drive it back to where I was staying. This didn't allow it to properly heat treat the gears, according to those pesky experts.
In any event, I'm going with another set of Nitro's, hoping I get a few more miles out of this set...
- Thread starter
- #44
Got back with the fresh 3rd. I called them this morning, they got it done before closing. He had a core on the bench ready to be built, everything in stock.
For those that don't know, ECGS has a system that they guarantee 48 hr turn around when shipping in your core. They called when it was done, I dropped off my ruined 3rd, put the new one in the trunk and away I went (after paying $675).
New set of Nitro 4.88's with a solid spacer, master rebuild kit. First set of contact marks...
Second set of contact marks...
Fresh coat of paint, ready for abuse...
When Chase looked at the ruined 3rd, he called me out for abusing it, said I either ran low on fluid or never changed. He said it was "burnt". He said by looking at the carrier, the color showed it got too hot. Its hard to see in this picture but easy to see side by side...
Old...
New...
But, I had to offer my rebuttal...I've changed the diff oil 4 times, at 15k, when the gears were installed at 30k, 500 miles after that and again at 45k. He looked at me with skepticism until I said I put "purple" fluid in it from the first 15k change. He said, "there you go" and as he dropped the ruined 3rd onto the tech's bench, another "purple" casualty.
He said that he sees FJC's running the purple stuff with gears that look worse than a set out of an '85 pickup that never changed the diff fluids. He pointed out to me that the "coast" side looked fine but the "drive" side looked bad.
Now, I also explained that I didn't give it a "perfect" break-in which could have compromised them from the beginning.
In any event, Lucas oil from now on, just in case...
For those that don't know, ECGS has a system that they guarantee 48 hr turn around when shipping in your core. They called when it was done, I dropped off my ruined 3rd, put the new one in the trunk and away I went (after paying $675).
New set of Nitro 4.88's with a solid spacer, master rebuild kit. First set of contact marks...
Second set of contact marks...
Fresh coat of paint, ready for abuse...
When Chase looked at the ruined 3rd, he called me out for abusing it, said I either ran low on fluid or never changed. He said it was "burnt". He said by looking at the carrier, the color showed it got too hot. Its hard to see in this picture but easy to see side by side...
Old...
New...
But, I had to offer my rebuttal...I've changed the diff oil 4 times, at 15k, when the gears were installed at 30k, 500 miles after that and again at 45k. He looked at me with skepticism until I said I put "purple" fluid in it from the first 15k change. He said, "there you go" and as he dropped the ruined 3rd onto the tech's bench, another "purple" casualty.
He said that he sees FJC's running the purple stuff with gears that look worse than a set out of an '85 pickup that never changed the diff fluids. He pointed out to me that the "coast" side looked fine but the "drive" side looked bad.
Now, I also explained that I didn't give it a "perfect" break-in which could have compromised them from the beginning.
In any event, Lucas oil from now on, just in case...
I have to say that impressive turn around time by them. They seemed to really know what was going on, I'm impressed for sure.
How many have they seen fail because of "purple" oil? I know what I'm not going to run in my rig ever.
How many have they seen fail because of "purple" oil? I know what I'm not going to run in my rig ever.
- Thread starter
- #46
We didn't go in depth. He just said to tell my friends. On one hand, he is a Lucas oil dealer and won't mind the sales. On the other hand, I'd guess he makes more off the sale of a built 3rd. The more that run it, the more 3rd's he could sell. He didn't say just FJC's, he deals with many different brands of vehicles, from daily drivers to hard core buggies.
I switch all fluids to synthetic at my 15k service (Mobil 1 in the engine, purple in the drivetrain components) and am pretty anal about service. In any event, I'm confident that my situation had to do with a combination of heavy use, maybe not the best oil and lack of a full cool down on the first heat cycle during the break-in.
And, Lucas oil is cheaper that what I was paying, so its a no brainer for me...
Hopefully these set will not have any issues! I still need to take a ride in your FJC as it pretty much is jack of all trades for what it could be without heavy changes.
This could have been alot worse that's for sure.
This could have been alot worse that's for sure.
1911
chupacabra
Interesting. I'm an Amsoil Severe Gear guy myself; buy it in 5-gallon buckets.
- Thread starter
- #49
Agreed, surely could have been worse. And, thanks for the compliment, it works quite well for what I do with it...
Yes, I found it interesting also. There are many threads about increased noise using the synthetics, first I've been made aware of anything else. Yet, the number of rear diffs Chase sees, I trust his opinion.
I've used Amsoil in other vehicles, mostly motorcycles, never had any issues using it. Good to look at down the road...
