DODGE 3500 Diesel 30K servicing???

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Just talked to my dealership, they want $850 to do the 30K mile servicing?  Can that be real?  Change fuel filter, differentials and tranny fluids?  Seriously $850?  ANyone know a cheaper place...? 

[Woodchuck]

Cheaper is not always better  Contact Jackelope, he is a good source on this.

[toothfangclaw]

You could read up on how to do it and do it your self. But if you figure the price of a tech at min $70 hr probably a lot higher at,a dealer plus a few gallons of lube + their markup(and we all knowhow expensive oil is now), then the price of the filters+markup. It adds up in a hurry!

X2 on jackelope, good guy too.

[Buckmark]

Look at the service interval in your manual and ask for an estimate of the service's in that schedule only, nothing more. That is what is required for your warranty.
Dealers sell mileage (30/60/90k) service's as a package with alot of fluff in them always for more than what the required services are...

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I think its ridiculous, waiting for Jackelope...

[JohnVH]

stealerships are $100+ per hour, so almost 3/4 of a day, plus marked up materials and bam! Your hiney hurts for a month.

[jackelope]

Dodge says they want..........

When prompted by the Engine Oil Indicator System, the engine oil and filter must be changed. If not prompted by the Engine Oil Indicator System within 7,500 miles (12 000 km) or six months since the last oil and filter change, change the engine oil and engine oil filter. Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 7,500 miles (12 000 km) or six months, whichever comes first.
Rotate tires.
Replace fuel filter element.
Lubricate front drive shaft fitting (4x4).
Lubricate outer tie rod ends.
Inspect the wheel bearings.
Inspect the front suspension, tie rod ends and boot seals for cracks or leaks and all parts for damage, wear, improper looseness or end play; replace if necessary.
Inspect the front (4x4) and rear axle fluid, change if using your vehicle for police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer towing.
Check the transfer case fluid (4x4).
Change automatic transmission fluid (Chassis Cab Only).

About $500 at my shop.
No diff services.

stealerships are $100+ per hour, so almost 3/4 of a day, plus marked up materials and bam! Your hiney hurts for a month.

We are $125 an hour, our parts are all sold at the manufacturers suggested retail price.
.
3/4 of a day to do a transmission service, oil change, rotate and a fuel filter? You might want to find another shop.
Maybe the "stealership" can help you out a little quicker.

[JohnVH]

We are $125 an hour, our parts are all sold at the manufacturers suggested retail price.
.
3/4 of a day to do a transmission service, oil change, rotate and a fuel filter? You might want to find another shop.
Maybe the "stealership" can help you out a little quicker.

Just trying to figure out how his local place came up with 800 bucks. I do everything myself, I cant afford the shops unfortunately.

[jackelope]

His local place added in a bunch of "dealer recommendations" is my guess.


I copy and pasted right off of my Chrysler dealer website. Basically straight out of the owners manual.
That job would pay my techs 2.5 hours total.

A guy wouldn't get robbed by the shops with maintenance stuff  if they took a minute to look in their manuals at what they needed versus what they were getting sold. Half of the non-dealer shops are just pulling stuff out of their hind quarters too...I know because I've shopped them. So indy shops are no better than dealerships.

If you do your own service and you have a vehicle with a warranty on it, the only thing you need to do is keep a record of what was done when. Keep the dates and the miles and if possible, the receipts for the oil filters, fuel filters, transmission service kits, etc you get the idea, and you're good to go.  This is for Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge stuff. Thats all I will speak for because thats what I know.   Pretty sure the same requirements hold for GM but that was a while ago.

[Special T]

NWWAbowhunter If you talked to Skagit Dodge in burlington DON'T LET THEM TOUCH IT! I have been screwed by them too many times... There are some good dealerships out there, but you DO NOT have to have your service done by them to keep the warrenty.

[Rick]

Do it yourself. But 7qts of Mobil 1 75w-90 for the diffs,a case of ATF+4 for the tranny (if its an auto),and transfer case, and a fuel filter.

The fuel filter will take 10 minutes. The diff covers have re-usable gaskets, they may take an hour to drain and fill. Don't torque the cover bolts too tight or you'll snap them off.

The only thing I'd have a shop do is the transmission if its an auto. The bands will need to be adjusted. If its a manual its a matter of draining and refilling the trans.

My '07 Ram 3500 was tall enough that I could slide my fat ass under it,and never even had to break out a jack or jack stands.

 

[Buckmark]

Do it yourself. But 7qts of Mobil 1 75w-90 for the diffs,a case of ATF+4 for the tranny (if its an auto),and transfer case, and a fuel filter.

The fuel filter will take 10 minutes. The diff covers have re-usable gaskets, they may take an hour to drain and fill. Don't torque the cover bolts too tight or you'll snap them off.

The only thing I'd have a shop do is the transmission if its an auto. The bands will need to be adjusted. If its a manual its a matter of draining and refilling the trans.

My '07 Ram 3500 was tall enough that I could slide my fat ass under it,and never even had to break out a jack or jack stands.

 

Uh there is no "band adjustment" on this transmission. so no dont take this advice...... if you do not know exactly what your are doing and or the correct fluids for your vehicle don't do it yourself, it may cost more in the end... Don't get me wrong do it yourself if you feel like you can, but do it right......

[Rick]

Do it yourself. But 7qts of Mobil 1 75w-90 for the diffs,a case of ATF+4 for the tranny (if its an auto),and transfer case, and a fuel filter.

The fuel filter will take 10 minutes. The diff covers have re-usable gaskets, they may take an hour to drain and fill. Don't torque the cover bolts too tight or you'll snap them off.

The only thing I'd have a shop do is the transmission if its an auto. The bands will need to be adjusted. If its a manual its a matter of draining and refilling the trans.

My '07 Ram 3500 was tall enough that I could slide my fat ass under it,and never even had to break out a jack or jack stands.

 

Uh there is no "band adjustment" on this transmission. so no dont take this advice...... if you do not know exactly what your are doing and or the correct fluids for your vehicle don't do it yourself, it may cost more in the end... Don't get me wrong do it yourself if you feel like you can, but do it right......

If there are no bands,its a 68RFE. Its got a 60K mile service recomendation,so the trans service wouldn't apply here anyways.

Carry on...

[jackelope]

His truck, per Chrysler, has a 30k transmission service interval. I'm out of town so cant look to see which trans it is...but it wouldnt be the 1st time my guys have adjusted bands in  a truck trans.

[elkoholic1]

where are you located?? im a dodge factory tech certified on diesels i do alot of side work might be able to hook ya up a little cheaper if your interested i work with jackolope in kirkland, you can PM me if youd like if you found something better great just thought i might be able to hook ya up a little cheaper 

[toothfangclaw]

where are you located?? im a dodge factory tech certified on diesels i do alot of side work might be able to hook ya up a little cheaper if your interested i work with jackolope in kirkland, you can PM me if youd like if you found something better great just thought i might be able to hook ya up a little cheaper 

Love this fourm, just saying!  :-)

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I would like to thank Jackelope. I am going to call my local (Oak HArbor) service manager and talk to him.  I do all my other vehicles servicing, but none of them are under warranty.  I also have never messed with a diesel.  I called 2 other dealerships in the area, and all are within $50 of each other.  Jackelope you have a PM also.

[KFhunter]

man
 
the more you can do yourself the better - I like to think I'm making 100 bucks/hr when I do my own wrenching
 
well, a tad more auctually because you purchase parts cheaper on your own.
 
but then I screw stuff up now and then, so really I make about .50c / hr 
 
 

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Fuel filter is a no brainer, oil change and filter... sure.  Tranny service and tightening the bands... well not me.  Heck if I can grease Navy Jets, (yes Travis in my younger days).... then I guess I can grease tie rods and a drive shaft... only part of the 30K mile service I see being an issue is the tranny and I guess I am good with paying for that to be done right.  As Jackelope said, I am keeping all my reciepts.