I was just wondering what's up with the info. the dealer has about the diff. fluid in the 04' pumpkins. I took my truck in to the dealer because it looked like the diff. was leaking. Since it was there, I asked them to check the level (I already did), but I wanted them to have it on record themselves. I also brought my own (Royal Purp.) for them to dump in (since they were going to check it anyways). However, they told me that the diff. was fine and that when they looked up their recommendations for the fluid, it says that there is already synthetic 75w140w in there. What's up with that! I thought that all the 04's had the regular dino 75w90w in them. The guy that takes care of me at the dealer has always helped me and owns a Titan himself, so I am inclined to listen to him. He also showed me a print out that they had that specifically said that the diff. comes from the factory wiht 75-140w synthetic. After seeing this, I decided to save my fluid (being a bit pricy and all). I don't do much towing right now, and mostly do a lot to sand wheelin'. When I checked the flud myself it looked like honey and smelled fine. What do you guys think about the info. the dealer has? And, what do you guys think I should do about the fluid already in there (change or not)? I also was wondering if there was any difference in the color of the diff. fluid (synthetic or regular dino), just trying to see what I may have, besides what the dealer tells me. Sorry for the long post.

mahalo, Derrick

Do you have the aluminum finned differential cover? Some late production 04 and the 05 have them. If you do, you have the synthetic oil, if not I highly doubt it.

Do to most of us finding significant build up on the magnetic plug on itial diff fluid change, I would recommend you change out the fluid at 3000 miles.

Thanks for the info. BiXLL. No I don't have the aluminum diff. (missed the production date by a couple of months). Build date is 8/04. I'm at almost 5000mi. and will probably change it out. I figure the rear diff. and later on the front.

mahalo, Derrick

p.s. BiXLL, what do you think about my other post (cleaning mud off the engine)? I would love to hear your, or JetTechs ideas.

Does Nissan have a TSB out concerning the diffs? If so can someone post a link. I just called my service department by chance just in case and they said if I drop in 75w/140 IT WILL VOID the warrenty?! Is he correct? I explained to him that the diff is VERY hot to the touch and covered in rust. He simply stated that this is normal. Come-on pal. Any help would be great. He also stated he isn't ware of any TSBs for the things.

I have never heard that before! You should ask him on what basis is the warranty voided?

Man I swear to the great man he did! I was speechless! Anyways before I call him back I wanted to get a hard copy that says otherwise or something to that matter. STEWART NISSAN of Fayetteville North Carolina

Well the 05 manual calls for for 75w/140 synthetic!

Tell me about it! Im going to give him a call back right now. This aint sitting right with me.

Go figure, I ask Dude A and he says "well sir Im not trained on the 2005s but according to my service mananger if you dont use the recommended fluid it will void it yada yada yada.." So I say ok lemme speak to Dude B and of course I get a machine...Nevermind that he's in the next room. Im fixin to say screw it and slap in my brand new stash of Royal Purple 75/140 in while I still have daylight. :evil:

All I can tell you is I switched to synthetic, and I have an 04.

You should definatly get it in writing or record of what your dealership is telling you. I also called Nissan's customer service and asked them about the diffs. The guy over there told me that most of the problems are because people are not following the first time towing reccomendations. He also told me that even though, they are replacing the ruined parts. If you get this done, you get a new aluminum cover and 75w140w synthetic stuff. I made sure that he knew I had a 04' with the 75w90w originally, but he said they would change it out. So obviously, if Nissan is reccomending the different weight as a fix for the 04', it can't void your warranty! Just the BS dealer giving himself an out if you do change it and the diff. goes out on you. The dealer must always prove that what you did caused the failure. Each dealer is different so make sure you go down there and get things straight! Hell, some dealers are giving warranties for lifted Titan's (lucky bastards)! I told this to the service manager and he laughed in my face (not maliciously), he's a good guy. Good luck, and don't take what they say as a final answer. Call up Nissan and tell them what the dealerrship is telling you, sometimes it is misrepresentation by the dealer.

Mahalo, Derrick

I also have another quick question about the diff. fluid. When I checked the level and shape my diff. fluid was in, it was nice and honey colored with no foul smell at all. This is after almost 5000 miles. I am wondering if there is any way to tell the difference between synthetic and regular dino (color or smell). I would like to believe my dealership, telling me that I already have the synthetic in it already, but I just wanted to make sure. I feel that if the fluid was in such good shape, why change it yet? Has anyone else noticed their fluid to look just like honey, perfect feel, and smell before they changed it out? I know a lot of you have had some pretty funky looking fluid, and I would change my fluid if I found this. I have read another response on TT about a person having his fluid as clean as mine, and didn't want to dump it just yet. Am I being a fool for not changing? I know that you gurus are out there.......JetTech, BiXLL, ect. Please enlighten me!

Mahalo, Derrick

Do you have the aluminum finned differential cover? Some late production 04 and the 05 have them. If you do, you have the synthetic oil, if not I highly doubt it.

Do to most of us finding significant build up on the magnetic plug on itial diff fluid change, I would recommend you change out the fluid at 3000 miles.

I have an 05 with the steel diff. cover. Does this mean I don't have the synthetic oil?

I also have another quick question about the diff. fluid. When I checked the level and shape my diff. fluid was in, it was nice and honey colored with no foul smell at all. This is after almost 5000 miles. I am wondering if there is any way to tell the difference between synthetic and regular dino (color or smell). I would like to believe my dealership, telling me that I already have the synthetic in it already, but I just wanted to make sure. I feel that if the fluid was in such good shape, why change it yet? Has anyone else noticed their fluid to look just like honey, perfect feel, and smell before they changed it out? I know a lot of you have had some pretty funky looking fluid, and I would change my fluid if I found this. I have read another response on TT about a person having his fluid as clean as mine, and didn't want to dump it just yet. Am I being a fool for not changing? I know that you gurus are out there.......JetTech, BiXLL, ect. Please enlighten me!Mahalo, Derrick

You're better off to just change it, at least then you'll know for a fact what's in there and you'll also get the break-in shavings out of it.

Do you have the aluminum finned differential cover? Some late production 04 and the 05 have them. If you do, you have the synthetic oil, if not I highly doubt it.

Do to most of us finding significant build up on the magnetic plug on itial diff fluid change, I would recommend you change out the fluid at 3000 miles.

I have an 05 with the steel diff. cover. Does this mean I don't have the synthetic oil?

Now that's an oddity.....All anyone could do is speculate as to what's in there seeing as how you don't even have the correct aluminum cover on it. It might be worth a trip to the dealer and ask them what's up with you not getting the aluminum one. Maybe they'll get one for you..

I also have another quick question about the diff. fluid. When I checked the level and shape my diff. fluid was in, it was nice and honey colored with no foul smell at all. This is after almost 5000 miles. I am wondering if there is any way to tell the difference between synthetic and regular dino (color or smell). I would like to believe my dealership, telling me that I already have the synthetic in it already, but I just wanted to make sure. I feel that if the fluid was in such good shape, why change it yet? Has anyone else noticed their fluid to look just like honey, perfect feel, and smell before they changed it out? I know a lot of you have had some pretty funky looking fluid, and I would change my fluid if I found this. I have read another response on TT about a person having his fluid as clean as mine, and didn't want to dump it just yet. Am I being a fool for not changing? I know that you gurus are out there.......JetTech, BiXLL, ect. Please enlighten me!

Mahalo, Derrick

I am by no means a "guru" but I'll give my opinion. Its a personal call! I have seen so many with tremendous build up on the drain plug, including me with a 3000 mile change, I would change it out. If you really feel yours is ok, and its not worth the 20 or 30 bucks for peace of mind, run it. I can tell you this also. There have been enough problems with the obvious overheating tendencies, that if the new differential cover were available to me, I would change out my synthetic to put it on, even with only 3000 on it! I tend to error on the side of changing my fluids too soon, rather then too late though. A little anal in the preventitive maint. area.

Do you have the aluminum finned differential cover? Some late production 04 and the 05 have them. If you do, you have the synthetic oil, if not I highly doubt it.

Do to most of us finding significant build up on the magnetic plug on itial diff fluid change, I would recommend you change out the fluid at 3000 miles.

I have an 05 with the steel diff. cover. Does this mean I don't have the synthetic oil?

Thats hard to believe considering some late build 04s have the aluminum! Like JT said, a trip to the dealer to find out whats up with that is in order!

For what it's worth, I dropped by my dealer yesterday to pick up an oil filter. While there, I was talking to the parts guy about rear diff fluid. He mentioned that he thought there was a bulletin out changing the fluid requirement for 04 Titans. So, I strolled over to the service guy. He jumped on the computer and saw a recent change to the service manual advising that 04 Titans should now have 75w-140 synthetic gear oil in the rear diff. The service guy doubted there would be any kind of a recall or "free change". He wanted $105 to make the swap. I plan to do my own.
John

The first # (75w) is the weight of the oil, the second # (85,90,140,etc) is its 'additional' Ability to dissapate heat. No probs.
Yes, there's a Nissan Service Bulletin, but its NOT "under Warranty". This means: You Have to pay for the Gear oil, ANYWAY. :roll:

I have the Service Bulletin in .pdf format, in the "Files" section of my Yahoo group "Gathering_of_The_Titans". (see link below)
Or, PM me, and I can send it to you (can't post it here) :cry:

Do you have the aluminum finned differential cover? Some late production 04 and the 05 have them. If you do, you have the synthetic oil, if not I highly doubt it.

Do to most of us finding significant build up on the magnetic plug on itial diff fluid change, I would recommend you change out the fluid at 3000 miles.

I have an 05 with the steel diff. cover. Does this mean I don't have the synthetic oil?

Now that's an oddity.....All anyone could do is speculate as to what's in there seeing as how you don't even have the correct aluminum cover on it. It might be worth a trip to the dealer and ask them what's up with you not getting the aluminum one. Maybe they'll get one for you..

I hope they would, but I went to the dealership last week and talked to one of the techs and he said that the earliest builds of the 05 didn't have them. Mine was born on 10/05. I looked at the trucks on the lot and sure enough there was a few with no aluminum covers.

Thanks for the words of wisdom Jettech and BiXLL, in my eyes, you guys are gurus and the rest on here more credability than the dealers. I'm going to call my service manager and ask about the new bulletin. I think that Nissan should change the fluid (under warranty). Maybe I'll give Nissan cus. a call and ask them why they won't cover it. I guess it's good to change out the fluid, worth the $20-$30 and peace of mind. After all the responses and feedback I've recieved, I think it's time to say good bye to TT. Keep up the good work guys!

Mahalo, Derrick

m95roadster, you have BUILD DATE OF "10/05"? Thats areally cool trick, howd you do that? I am guessing you meant 10/04? Anyway, some of the late build 04 got them, not all.

Grpape, while I am very glad to see you posting here, there is no reason for you to write off TT! While it is true that the 2 sites have different styles, TT has a lot of very knowledgeable members with valueable info to offer. Take advantage of both sites, I do!

m95roadster, you have BUILD DATE OF "10/05"? Thats areally cool trick, howd you do that? I am guessing you meant 10/04? Anyway, some of the late build 04 got them, not all.

Grpape, while I am very glad to see you posting here, there is no reason for you to write off TT! While it is true that the 2 sites have different styles, TT has a lot of very knowledgeable members with valueable info to offer. Take advantage of both sites, I do!

Ahh, you see I went forward in time and came back with an 06 model w/ 400hp :lol:

HA! Called Nissan warrnties and complained (professionally of course) and was given the run around (of course). So I slept on it. This morning I get a voicemail from my Service Manager and low and behold! "Um Mr. Fletcher, after some extensive research we found that you where in fact correct." HA HA! So morale of the story...DONT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THE ROODY POO TECH ON THE OTHER LINE KNOWS WHAT HE's TALKING ABOUT!

Least he was kind enough to admit his error.

Is there much difference between the Mobil 1 & Royal Purple 75w 140w ? I also noticed AMSOIL has gear oil out there as well.

Is there much difference between the Mobil 1 & Royal Purple 75w 140w ? I also noticed AMSOIL has gear oil out there as well.

Just go to their site and look at the spec sheet on the oils. Usually there's a little difference between them but in reality all of them are better then a non-synthetic gear oil. I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the ones you listed. Redline is also a great choice..

I picked up the Royal Purple today. It cost $11.99 a bottle compared to the Mobil 1 (they wanted $13.99 a bottle for the Mobil 1 8O

Just replaced the fluid ('05 with factory synthetic)in my diff. today and it was a dark silver color. Didn't smell burnt but have never seen that color before. Only had 600 miles on it. The drain plug did not have alot of metallic build up on it.

Glad I didn't much longer.

Well guys, I called the customer service no. to tell them that I heard there is a service bulletin (stating that all 04's should be changed over to syn. 75-140). I also told them what the dealership told me (the fluid in the diff. is already the syn. 75-140). They called the dealership to confirm this (which they did). I just wanted it to be on record that both NA Nissnan and my dealership agree that I had the syn. fluid (just in case something happens). I'm just going to keep checking the diff. periodically.

mahalo, Derrick