Help !!! Gear Lube Problem

[red2rebel]

Let me start by describing what I drive:

2000 Dodge Dakota Club Cab 4X4

Engine Specs: 4.7-Liter V8, 287 Cubic Inches
Type: 16-valve SOHC,Compression Ratio: 9.0 : 1

Transmission: 5-Speed (Heavy Duty) Manual With Overdrive
Transfer Case: Shift-On-The-Fly
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Amsoil ... the stuff I used in the transmission is amazing!!!

The notchy shifting went away and it shifts alot better, I highly recommend doing it. I should have done this when I bought the Dak instead of waiting 2.5 years to change the oil.

As for Amsoil in the rearend, I personally don't recommend their stuff. I've been having problems with their gear lube. It's a long story, which in the end result I MAY need a new LSD rearend.

I get chattering on very tight turns.
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When I did the gear lube change I covered the gears with a rag to protect them from the scraping of the rtv sealant. The first attemped I used Amsoil series 2000 75w-90. After I finished the job I went to an empty parking lot to do 7-8 figure 8's to work in the lube for the lsd. While doing these tight turns I was getting chattering (vibration) from the gears. So I wrote an email to Amsoil and they told me that it takes time to work in the lube. Well after 2 months it still chattered, so I went to Dodge to buy a $10 8oz bottle of friction modifier what a rip. I added that stuff and the problem was still there. So I wrote a letter to the president of Amsoil. They sent me a free case of Amsoil 80w-90 which they told me that the chattering will go away.

So again I changed the rearend fluid, this time to 80w-90. After the job was finished i went back to an empty parking lot to do more figure 8's and the problem was still there if not worse. You would think a thicker gear lube would do the trick, not so. Again I wrote an email to Amsoil they sent me a special bottle of friction modifier. I added this stuff did the figure 8's and the chattering seems to be almost gone, but it's still there. So that's where I'm at now, it's been about 2weeks which it seems not to bad.

Oh the gears looked great, the magnet had very fine metal particles which looked fine. Of course I cleaned it before reinstalling the cover.
I'm not going to waste my time to reinstall mopar gear lube for the same cost as synthetic. If that's the case I'll get a new rearend covered under warranty.

Sorry for the long story, but that's what I went and still going through.

I'm Looking for Advice !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Bill J.]

I can't imagine that the problem would be caused by the Amsoil gear lube. I have replaced the gear lube in my three vehicles this year with amazing results, using the series 2000 75-90. Everyone one of the vehicles has a different history. All have high mileage. But none of them had any apparent problems before the drain out and replacement. Have you investigated other possibilities, perhaps someone with more knowledge/experience can offer advice?

Everyone that I bump into at the Amsoil distributor in Bensenville, Illinois, picking up cases of the stuff rave about it. Some of them claim it is their finest product.

My personal favorite is the Universal Synthetic ATF. I haven't ever encountered a better transmission fluid.

P.S. I don't sell their product, I only buy it.

 

[sprintman]

red2rebel
Should have tried Redline. They have an additive that can be added to 'tune' an LSD. My mate in Melbourne reckons it's the go. Talk to Redline tech, they are very helpful and their gear oils are IMHO the best generally available. Sure blow everything else away on a Timken (though I'll qualify that as there's no Schaeffers here)

 

[joee12]

I find it hard to believe that it is the fluid. Did this start right after you changed the fluid? -Joe

 

[red2rebel]

After talking to the Amsoil tech afew times he told me that they sometimes do have problems with their gear lube in LSD rearends.

I'm not the only one with this problem, I've talked to some Ram owners who also experienced roughly the same thing.

I have not investigated this matter further yet, because I would like to solve this matter through Amsoil and get there options.

I do believe they make "many" fine products, as I stated I use their oil for my transmission, which made it shift 10 times better.

But as far as there gear oil, I'm just not satisfied.

I am also hoping that I can get an indication of just how well Amsoil stands behind their product. Don't they have a warranty that states if their oils cause a problem that they will pay to fix it? Lets see how good that warranty really is. I might have a problem since I changed the lube myself.

YES, the chattering started right away... "After I finished the job I went to an empty parking lot to do 7-8 figure 8's to work in the lube for the LSD. While doing these tight turns I was getting chattering (vibration) from the gears."

 

[Dominic]

We need to know a few things to fix it...

What kind of an LSD is being used - Auburn/Eaton/Torsen/Other?

What gears are you running - 4.10, 3.56, stock?

Does it sing, or just chatter? Is this chattering during turning, highspeed/lowspeed, or only when spinning donuts?

(donuts are fun arent they?)

Does the LSD work properly?

When did the chattering start - any ideas why?

 

[MolaKule]

I am not impressed with the later Amsoil 2000 GL4-5 formulation. The earlier formulations were good and kept their viscosities even under severe oxidation and acidity. I had some analyses
done on the Nissan differential and MTL, and I'm getting 65 ppm of wear from both in 3.5k miles. In one case, the viscosity of the later GL went from 75W90 up to an SAE GL 140 in a short time.

I am swithching to Redline as soon as I can find some at a good price.

 

[highmiler]

Congratulations for your post # 1000 !

Thanks for sharing your experience with everybody on this board!

 

[highmiler]

Molakule:

A strange thing happened. I was reading your post # 1000 and replied to it (see above) and suddenly you appear with 1004 posts. Well, congrats anyway.

 

[Paul S]

The strangest clue is that the chattering didn't go away with the "OEM" additive, but switching to 80W-90 quieted it...(I would have been tempted to use the Series 2000 75W-140 from the begining)

I can't say much really other than your differential has a factory nominal issue and really only likes higher viscosity (or less slippery) fluids.