Rear differential capacity on a 2004 Chevy 1500?

Answer 1

The capicity is approx. 2 quarts. You drain the oil by removing the 10 bolt cover. Remember, on a rear end without a drain plug allways remove the fill plug first. If you remove the rear cover and the fill plug is "frozen" you're hosed! No way to refill. NOTE: The "punkin" has a boss on the casting where the drain plug should be. GM cheaped out and didn't put one in. You can. Simply drill and tap for whatever size pipe plug you want. Usually 3/4" NPT. This needs to be a pipe thread. A bolt thread will leak.

Added to reply:

From Jimb2,

"Remember, on a rear end without a drain plug allways remove the fill plug first. If you remove the rear cover and the fill plug is "frozen" you're hosed! "

Very very good point, this happened to me. I had already drained the rear differential and put the cover back on. I struggled for several hours trying to remove the fill plug (drilling, chiseling, hammering, etc.), but the plug kept getting worse.

I improvised: (Idea from 13 year old nephew who heard me cursing up a storm.)

My 1996 Chevy truck comes with a breather hose on top of the rear differential housing. I disconnected the hose on top and filled it back up via a 1/8" hole, than reconnected the hose. Note: The oil bottles come with a pointed cap. Make sure to cut a very small opening at the end. It must fit into the 1/8" hole.