Fluids

[slingshot]

What are some of you running for fluids in your trucks, as far as motor oil, automatic trans fluid, manual trans, transfer case, differentials?

[Richie O]

We buy Rotella by the 55 gallon drum for all our diesels. The rest is usually store brand fluids.

[slingshot]

I run these:
Engine-Rotella/ lucas
Getrag-Mystic 15w-50/ lucas
NP-205-Mystic 15w-50/ lucas
front and rear differentials-SAE90 lucas

[dpuckett]

I run store brand stuff in everything, unless I find a closeout on the big name stuff.

Engine- 5000mi- 15w40 of some sort. Prefer CI4 rated vs the new CJ4 rated, which means farm store brand now days.
Getrag- 15-20K mi- same as the engine, except no prejudice toward API rating.
A518- 15K/ yearly- AT+4. Might be slight overkill, but beats me having to R&R the auto tranny (I will never do another one again).
T-case- 25K mi/ yearly- 80w90 gear oil.
Rear diff- same, with 2 bottle of Mopar friction modifier if I have a limited slip. I've had the results of not enough FM, and will take a little one wheel peel vs rebuilding the rear diff.

Gear boxes get synthetic if I dont have any leak issues. Figure the engine will go a million miles with cheap oil and filters, I'll put my money in protecting the drivetrain behind it.

Radiator- Wal Mart brand antifreeze mixed with distilled water. DO NOT add any coolant additives for cavitation erosion- our engines do not need it, and the silicates will just gunk stuff up. Change every other year or 30K.

Brake fluid- Store brand, flush every 2 years, mileage irrelevant.

PS fluid- same as brake fluid. NO ATF!!

[PToombs]

Mobil brand 15-40 in the engine, same in the Getrag. (what we have at work ) Change the oil every 2 years or so, I only put about 5k on it in that time. Maybe more this year, as I have been actually driving it and not overhauling so much.
Diff, 85-140, also Mobil.
Brake fluid when it blows a line.
Steering, ATF.

DP, why no ATF in the steering?

[Crossy's son]

Universal tractor fluid (15-40) in the engines and Genuine Mopar filters on all cummins around here

Auto trannies get ATF+4 because don't want to take the chance with Dexron Mercon.

Coolant is recylced coolant from the local auto wreckers, filtered.

power steering fluid is whatever, i think dollar general brand or something.
brake fluid is STP

rears get 80-90

[dpuckett]

Pete- I read somewhere that it wasnt good for the pumps. My personal experience with ATF and P/S pumps backs that up- they either leak or just flat quit after a little while. Could be coincidence, but about 3 of my 1stGens have gotten new P/S pumps through the years. After the last one, I started using Wally World Super Tech P/S fluid, and have done ok so far.

DP

[PToombs]

OK, thanks. It's all I've ever run, so I wondered.