Great News You guys are not going to believe this. I called the 800 number for GM thinking I would get no where fast. A girl named megan got on the line and I told her the story about the dealer putting the wrong oil in. In five mins she had talked with the dealer and delphi and extended my warrantie from 3 yr 36,000 mile to a 5 yr 60,000 mile just to make sure if they did mess something up I would be coverd.

That was some cool service from GM!

Excellent! Couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

Now just make sure they are prepared to do the flush if necessary.

There is no other automotive application I can think of other than the Quadrasteer axle where using the exact fluid (not just the specification, but down to the brand and bottle) that the manufacture recommends is vital to the performance and longevity of the part.

If there is one application where one should not deviate, the Quadrasteer axle is it.

Kevin L, of the Quadrasteer program at Delphi, who claims to have been working with Quadrasteer for nearly a decade (some 5 years prior to it's introduction to market) has said it repeatedly on these forums, and in interviews elsewhere. "Be sure to only use the GM Quadrasteer fluid."

Many members here have learned (the hard way, by way of whines, chatter, error codes, downtime, needless part replacement with used parts, etc) that using the GM Quadrasteering fluid is best.

Mobil 1 is great stuff. I use it often in other vehicles. I run Redline synthetic gear oil and friction modifier in my (non Quadrasteering) class 5 truck axle. I hear that Amsoil is good stuff as well, despite it's Amway style Tupperware party Avon lady marketing.

But in the single isolated case of the Quadrasteering axle, it has been proven to me beyond any doubt or desire for experimentation that the $35.00 per quart for the correct GM branded fluid is a bargain, compared to the inconvenice of losing the use of the vehicle for however much time it takes to diagnois, repair, and resolve all the problems people have experienced when deviating from the factory specification with their own concoctions of synthetic gear lubes and friction modifiers.

Let's keep up the resale values of our Quadrasteers high while keeping the Quadrasteer fleet running trouble free by following the book on this one fluid change.

Facts, do you think this applies to the front diff as well?

quote:

Originally posted by Oddball:
Facts, do you think this applies to the front diff as well?

Not like with the rear steering axle.

While front differential on your 1500HD, and on my 2500, were filled with synthetic fluid at the factory, these same front differentials were formally filled with dino oil prior to 2005.

So, to me, that indicates a certain flexibility in fluid bases (mineral or synthetic) for the front differential, even while any and all fluids used should still conform to the properties specifications (viscosity, temperature, shearing, TBD, etc) set forth by GM for the front differential.

The same is not true for the Quadrasteering axle, which from the very outset used a specifically formulated synthetic based fluid, which to my knowlege has not changed since the axle's market introduction.

On the other hand, the front differential fluid stock has changed relatively recently. In fact, there was a GM service bulletin that was issued not quite two years ago that instructed dealerships in very cold northern climates (like Alaska and Canada) to drain the factory dino fill prior to delivery to the retail customer, and refill it with the synthetic fluid (that is now currently specified).

Here is a copy of the text of that bulletin:

Info - Use of Synthetic Front Axle Lubricant For 4WD Vehicles Sold in Cold Weather Climates #03-04-19-001B - (Sep 3, 2004)
Use of Synthetic Front Axle Lubricant for 4WD Vehicles Sold in Cold Weather Climates
2002-2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban 2500

2002-2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD

2002-2004 GMC Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon XL 2500

2002-2003 GMC Sierra 1500HD

with Four-Wheel Drive and 9.25" Front Axle Assemblies and Built Prior to April 1, 2004

This bulletin is being revised to update vehicle applications, part numbers and fluid fill information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 03-04-19-001A (Section 04 -- Driveline/Axle).


Important
This bulletin is intended for vehicles sold in very cold weather climates, especially those in Alaska and certain regions of Canada.



Important
This bulletin DOES NOT apply to vehicles built after April 1, 2004. Vehicles referenced above that were built after April 1, 2004 were manufactured with front axles containing synthetic axle lubricant and do not need to have the front axle fluid inspected or changed.


Front axles in the above-listed vehicles built before April 1, 2004 are manufactured with mineral-oil base axle fluid. Because of the 9.25" front axle assembly's internal design characteristics, there may be insufficient lubrication flow at very low ambient temperatures (-24°C (-12°F) or below). This may contribute to premature pinion bearing wear if a vehicle is driven extensively in very low ambient temperatures.


Important
Please be certain that PDI personnel know to perform the drain/refill procedure all year round (not just in the cold weather months).


New vehicles that are expected to operate extensively in 4WD in temperatures below -24°C (-12°F) should have their front axle fluid drained and refilled with synthetic axle lubricant during PDI or before delivery to the first retail customer.

Follow the Front Drive Axle Lubricant Replacement procedure found in the Service Manual (SI Document ID #673354). It is not necessary to flush the front axle assembly. Use Synthetic Axle Lubricant, P/N 12378261 or P/N 89021677 (Canadian P/N 10953455 or P/N 89021678 ). Each of these part numbers is the same axle lubricant, with differences in packaging only. Fill to a level between 6 and 9 mm (0.25 in to 0.375 in) below the bottom of the fill plug.

For vehicles that have the axle lubricant changed, the front axle vent hose connector assembly will need to be inspected.


Important
Front axle assemblies with a vent hose connector assembly that is white in color do not need to be changed.


If the vent hose connector is black in color, it will need to be changed so that the O-ring seal is compatible with the synthetic lubricant. Install vent connector, P/N 12479390 . Follow the Front Drive Axle Vent Hose Connector Replacement procedure in the Service Manual (SI Document ID #843184).


Of course, my personal preference is to always use the exact fluids the manufacturer recommends/specifies/sells, especially when they are synthetic.

Doing so is worth the look I anticipate on a service writer's face after he attempts to squirm some customer pay dollars into the RO with warranty reducing accusations that I may have used the wrong fluid. NOT. Out comes my dealership parts receipts with the manufacturer part number of the fluid. Next excuse please.

(The above scenario hasn't happened to me with GM yet, but it had with another brand years ago. Shut him up right quick, too. I swear that you could still see that he had a tail, even though it was well tucked between his legs as he scurried back to the manager's office.)

Dont know if this is it, but I have an 03 GMC Sierra Denali with QS. Had the read diff fluid changed a while back, strange rear end noise started shortly after. Noise only apparent after long highway trips at high speeds.

Took to dealership, wrong fluid had been utilized. The read diff takes a synthetic like most others, but there is a special read diff fluid that says Quadrasteer on the front label. According to them this fluid has additional additives beacause quadrasteer is harder on the rear diff. Hopefully this helps.