Recommended Axle Oil Change Intervals after Service

Oil is the lifeblood of any axle. Regular oil changes are essential to keeping your fleet running at peak performance. Whether your off-highway axle is a Funk, ZF, Dana Spicer, Carraro or some other manufacturer you should have a regular service plan in place for oil changes and lubrication. Repairs are costly and oil is the key to avoiding unnecessary down time and costly major repairs. To ensure that your equipment is working well for hours to come, consider the following guidelines for oil changes after any major service.

Palmer Johnson Power Systems makes the following recommendations on all axles we service.

Axles with internal wet brakes

Recommended oil change interval after Service Repair and Test:

• 200 hours of service - change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 500 hours of service - change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends
• Continue on with a normal axle oil service interval of 500 hours.
• Lubricate the grease points monthly for normal service and weekly for extreme service conditions.

Recommended oil change interval after Service Repair and NO TEST:

• 50 hours of service - change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 200 hours of service - change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 500 hours of service - change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• Continue on with a normal axle service interval of 500 hours.
• Lubricate the grease points monthly for normal service and weekly for extreme service conditions.

Axles without internal brakes

Recommended oil change intervals after Service Repair and Test:

• 200 hours of service – change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 500 hours of service – change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• Proceed with a normal axle oil service of 1000 hours.
• Lubricate the grease points monthly for normal service and weekly for extreme service conditions.

Recommended oil change interval after Service Repair and NO TEST:

• 50 hours of service – change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 200 hours of service – change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• 500 hours of service – change oil in the center section and planetary wheel ends.
• Proceed with a normal axle oil service of 1000 hours.
• Lubricate the grease points monthly for normal service and weekly for extreme service conditions.

NOTE:

Axles equipped with internal wet brakes, differential lock or limited slip options, it may require that a FRICTION MODIFIER is added to the oil to prevent "wheel hop" and " brake squeal"

It is our belief that axles equipped with internal wet brakes greatly benefit from a more frequent oil change interval. Most all OEM's recommend a 1000 hour axle oil change interval. A more frequent oil change of 500 hours or less will help to remove harmful contaminates from the axle oil and help to reduce abrasive wear to the axle internal components and extend the axles life.

Feel free to contact the off-highway axle experts here at Palmer Johnson Power Systems for any additional axle questions you may have.

Originally published 10/11/2016