Front and Rear Diff Fluid

[Maximus Gladius]

So if anyone wonders if the quote above from the parts department is correct or not OR if one puts in an LS gear oil would cause the diff to slip, blow up or do weird things… I went with the recommendation (made in error) from the parts guy to use LS oil in the back for my non LS required locker diff 30k kms ago and I’m about to do another change and I had zero issues with the LS oil.

Lockers engaged and disengaged quickly (because I cleaned the locker magnet off and potted the sensor), no leaks, no gear noises, nothing to cause me any concern. So is it a thing that will cause issue?? When I do my change either tonight or tomorrow, I’ll run a sample of it to the lab and take a look and post the results.

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[RobbertCole]

tru loc and track loc are different things

you need LS oil in the track loc
regualr synthetic in the tru loc

 

[bleda2002]

So, I thought I’d just call another dealership and they said it doesn’t matter if you end up putting LS oil in a non LS diff. “The additive is cheap insurance and won’t do any harm if it’s used”.
@ShadowsPapa might want to chime in

The additive wont harm anything. Many(maybe even most) gear oils like royal purple and valvoline and even amsoil all have the additive in it anyways. Amsoil is the main one I know of that sells an extra additive and they say you only need it with their oils if you hear chattering from the LSD as their standard oils already have friction modifiers.

 

[bd100]

Please let us know if you see a lot of metal glitter in the 17,000 mile diff oil when it comes out.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I changed t

Please let us know if you see a lot of metal glitter in the 17,000 mile diff oil when it comes out.

i did the change today on both diffs starting with the rear that had the LS fluid in it when the diff didn’t call for it and I was extremely impressed with how clean the oil looked coming out. The magnet had next to nothing on it and I’m running the oil sample to the lab tomorrow.

I filled it with non LS 75/90 this time and we’ll check again in another 30k kms. I took a photo of the front diff drain plug magnet which also had next to nothing on it too. The rear magnet looked just like the front.

 

[bd100]

Be glad! Mine had a mound of filings on the magnet and tons of glitter in the fluid, and failed soon after. Around 20,000 miles.

 

[Dick]

Trac-Lok, offered as option on all DRZ,DRE and DRF(non Rubicon/Mojave) rear axles is limited slip- needs additives for clutch pack
Tru-Lok, standard on Rubicon/Mojave DRF rear axles and Rubicon DJF front axle is electronic locker- no additives

 

[jac04]

...
I filled it with non LS 75/90 this time ...

What oil did you use?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

What oil did you use?

Motul Gear 300 - 75/90 for both diffs.
Motul VI ATF for the transfer case

 

[Jobofly]

Please let us know if you see a lot of metal glitter in the 17,000 mile diff oil when it comes out.

will do!

 

[JTGuy]

I installed ARB diff covers at 10K miles and everything linked perfect. I installed Torco RGL 85-140 GL6 oil in both. It's better than GL5. Torco also makes a Full synthetic but the non synthetic is a GL6 and really good lube, and I have a lot of it. I don't tow but I am sure it would easily work..

 

[Jobofly]

75W-140 in the rear if you tow a lot.

I don’t see that in the owners manual. Where did you find that info?

 

[Hootbro]

I don’t see that in the owners manual. Where did you find that info?

It is not in the owners manual. The dealership MOPAR Tech Authority gives guidance to use 75W-140 if you have the tow package. Dana also list that grade on the aftermarket sold Advantek axles and rebuild info.

Some people seemed miffed that if it is not in the owners manual, that you cannot use it but there is supporting documentation with the dealership servicing and OEM supplier saying you can use the heavier grade gear oil.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/gear-oil-weight-clarification.71969/#post-1174825

 

[Maximus Gladius]

So if anyone wonders if the quote above from the parts department is correct or not OR if one puts in an LS gear oil would cause the diff to slip, blow up or do weird things… I went with the recommendation (made in error) from the parts guy to use LS oil in the back for my non LS required locker diff 30k kms ago and I’m about to do another change and I had zero issues with the LS oil.

Lockers engaged and disengaged quickly (because I cleaned the locker magnet off and potted the sensor), no leaks, no gear noises, nothing to cause me any concern. So is it a thing that will cause issue?? When I do my change either tonight or tomorrow, I’ll run a sample of it to the lab and take a look and post the results.

Results are in and I couldn’t be happier with the results of the wear metals using the Motul Gear 300 LS in the rear and non LS in the front.

I had used Amsoil 75/90 sever gear for the first two oil changes (9k, 21k kms) and the iron levels are significantly high, 259ppm and 209ppm. I then made the switch to Mopar 75/90 and the iron wear dropped to 74ppm in 10k km. I then switched to Motul Gear 300 75/90 LS and at 26,500k kms on the oil, the iron dropped to 60ppm and magnet didn’t have much on it.

So even though I made the mistake of using the LS fluid in a non LS differential, there was no damage done. It actually performed very well. I made the change this time for the non LS fluid and will check again at 26,500 kms to see how well it does.

The front diff was very different, main reason is it doesn’t work as hard as the rear.
The first two changes on the front was with Amsoil sever gear 75/90 @ 9k and 21k kms on the oil and the iron wear shows 42ppm for both. I did not do the third oil analysis like I did the rear but after that and another 26,500k kms on the oil later, the iron wear is just 15ppm using Motul gear 300 (non LS).

 

[Geoarch]

75W-140 in the rear if you tow a lot.

I usually do mine, but the dealer put 75W140 in although I don't two, but use off road a lot. They saw the dings in my skid plate over the diffs and offered to do it. The mechanic is a good one, but I said yes. My only concern would be in the winter here in central New Mexico. We get down to the single digits a couple times a winter. We'll see.

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