35-032

Detroit Drive Axle Lubrication
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia
122SD and Coronado

Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance Axles with Active Lube
Management
Detroit has launched its New Final Drive Top Performance axles with the active lube management (ALM)
system. This new axle requires different amounts of oil than previous Detroit axles and standard performance
axles. The oil fill and check-hole location is located on the carrier of the axle, and not on the back of the axle
housing. The new fill location is only on the Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance axles with ALM.

NOTICE
Standard and Top Performance axles use the same axle housing, however, on Top Performance axles
the plug in the back of the center section of the axle housing is factory-installed from the inside to
prevent using it as a check and fill point. Changing this configuration may lead to improper lubrication
of the axle, axle damage, or loss of performance.

Identifying Detroit Performance Axles
There are two ways to identify with which axle a vehicle is equipped.
1. Access ServicePro or PartsPro by VIN to get the correct axle model for the vehicle being serviced. Table 1
lists the model number designation for standard and top performance axles.
2. Inspect the axle. Go to "Oil Fill Location, Top Performance Axles with ALM System" below.
Detroit Performance Axle Identification
Axle Designation
Model Number Example
Standard Performance
DART400-4S
Top Performance
DART400-4T
Table 1, Detroit Performance Axle Identification

Oil Fill Location, Top Performance Axles with ALM System
The oil fill location for Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance Axles with Active Lube Management is located
on the axle carrier. The forward drive axle fill and check location is on the right hand side of the carrier. See
Fig. 1. The rear drive axle oil fill and check location is on the left hand side of the carrier. See Fig. 2.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, January 2017

Page 1

35-032
Freightliner
Service Bulletin

12/14/2016

Detroit Drive Axle Lubrication
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia
122SD and Coronado

Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

f350604a

The upper is the fill plug, the lower plug is the drain.
Fig. 1, Forward Detroit New Final Drive Top
Performance Axles with ALM — Oil Check and Fill
Location

12/15/2016

f350627

Fig. 2, Rear Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance
Axles with ALM — Oil Check and Fill Location

Where NOT to Check and Fill Top Performance Axles
On Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance Axles with ALM, the plug in the back of the center section of the
axle housing is factory-installed from the inside to prevent using it as a check and fill point. Do not remove this
plug. The plug location is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 below.

12/14/2016

f350622

Plug is factory installed from inside. Do not remove.
Fig. 3, Plug on back of axle housings of axle with ALM
system.

Page 2

12/14/2016

f350623

Plug is factory installed from inside. Do not remove.
Fig. 4, Plugs on back of axle housings of axle with
ALM system.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, January 2017

35-032

Detroit Drive Axle Lubrication
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia
122SD and Coronado

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

Oil Fill Procedure
The oil check and fill procedure is the same for all axles. See Fig. 5. Only the check and fill location is different
for Detroit Top Performance Axles. It is now located on the axle carrier for those axle equipped with the ALM
system.

A

B

10/05/2016

f350061a

A. Correct (lube level at bottom of fill hole)
B. Incorrect (lube level below fill hole)
Fig. 5, Axle Lubricant Level Check

Axle oil volumes for Detroit New Final Drive Top Performance Axles with ALM system are shown in Table 2.
The oil volume must be checked after filling the axle. The correct oil volume is when oil is level with fill hole as
seen in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. Only approved 75W-85 oil can be used in Detroit New Final Drive Standard
Performance Axles, and Top Performance Axles with ALM system. The oil must meet DFS 93K219.03.

NFD
NFD
NFD
NFD
NFD
NFD

Oil Fill Volumes for Detroit Top Performance Axles with ALM System
Axle Type
Oil in Hubs (2 hubs)
Oil in Axle
Model 4 Forward Axle TP
1.8 L
9L
Model 4 Rear Rear Axle TP
1.8 L
7.5 L
Model 4 Forward Axle SP
1.8 L
14 L
Model 4 Rear Rear Axle SP
1.8 L
11 L
Model 6 TP
1.8 L
9.5 L
Model 6 SP
1.8 L
11 L
Table 2, Oil Fill Volumes for Detroit Axles with ALM System

for more information, go to: Detroit Fluids Specification (DFS) Axle Gear Oil Approval List.

All Other Detroit Axles
The following Detroit axles have the same check and fill locations as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.
• New Final Drive Standard Performance
• Model 4
• Model 6
• Model 2

Freightliner Service Bulletin, January 2017

Page 3

35-032
Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Detroit Drive Axle Lubrication
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

12/14/2016

f350625

Fig. 6, Forward Rear Axle Fill Location

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia
122SD and Coronado

Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD
> New Cascadia

12/14/2016

f350626

Fig. 7, Rear Rear Axle Fill Location

Follow the instructions in the vehicle’s maintenance manual when servicing these axles.

Warranty
This bulletin is informational only. Warranty does not apply.

Page 4

Freightliner Service Bulletin, January 2017