Not ATF looking oil that drained out of my transfer case.

[miller_wb]

I have a 2003 with the electric shift transfer case. The stuff that drained out looks like motor or gear oil. No hint of red coloring. I filled with ATF+4 per the manual. Just curious to know if the factory is using some sort of plain looking ATF+4.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

It gets brown and nasty after a lot of miles. I suggest changing it every 15,000 miles.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I changed mine in my '01 for the first time at 106K miles. Came out looking brown and UGLY. 11k miles and $1700 later I had a bunch of new gears. Lesson learned. Man that ws nasty lookin' stuff.



Manual on the 04. 5 says 60K, but I might change it here in a week or so at 35k and then every 30k after that. Checked it at 30k and it was still up to level and nice red color, but ATF ain't that spendy...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I'm ashamed to say I just changed it for the first time in my 2004 at 28K. It was getting brown. I changed the 97's every 15k or more often. It still worked perfectly at 133K. At this point, I'd rather put Dexron in my 04 like I did in the 97 than wait so long again. I don't know why DC now spec's +4 in a transfer case when +3 or Dexron was good enough before. But, I used +4 and it only took 2 1/2 qt in the NV271; the NV241 took 3 qt.

 

[DFrank]

I've read conflicting reports on how much it should take. I have the maual lever on my 03 and just ordered 2 quarts. will I be short?

 

[APersondek]

My truck just hit 25K miles last Friday... . So I did the drive line service this past weekend 95 bucks of syth fluid and a Saturday afternoon later it is done.



I had a couple of free oil changes @ the dealer when I first got my truck and when I asked if I really had to change the fluid in the differentials etc. @ 15K miles..... they said to change out the driveline fluids every 25K miles. (Including 6spd trans fluid)



When I drained out my transfer case it appeared to be really dark going to into the drain pan... . upon pouring from the drain pan to the storage container... . it smelled like ATF and it had a dark brown tint to it..... not burnt but definitely ready to be changed.



I plan on changing the driveline fluids every 25K miles from here on out...

BTW... . I bought 3 quarts of Mopar ATF4 and ended up using about 2. 75 quarts or so... .

 

[dave176]

How hard is it to drain the t case?Is it easy to get at and refill just wondering i havn't got under and checked yet,THANKS DAVE...

 

[Cattletrkr]

How hard is it to drain the t case?Is it easy to get at and refill just wondering i havn't got under and checked yet,THANKS DAVE...

Easy to do. All you NEED is the correct allen wrench, I think. You will WANT to get an oil pump though. They're pretty cheap compared to spending hours swearing at the impossibility of getting at a funnel or whatever.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

10 mm Allen.

I've used a pump before. This time I used a little copper funnel that I made from an elbow and a pipe size adapter (like 1. 25" down to 1/2"), soldered together, from Home Depot. I poured about a quart at a time into a coffee can that I had pinched to make a pouring spout, then into the funnel. Faster than the pump and worked great.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Just some things that I have come to realize over time.

1) Trans fluid does not always turn color as an indicator of overheating , it can darken from age as well.

2) Tranfer cases can get suprisingly hot as reported by a "MYTH BUSTERS" style test ran by an off-roading magazine recently. This test was eye opening to say the least.

To get to my point though,frequent changing of fluid is a good secoundary measure for maintenance. This is supported by failure rates that appear to be low. Although, someone who uses the tranfer case alot,particullary in low range,highly loaded and at a high rpm at the case(20 mph and up) or hi range at 40 and up could definately benifit from a temp gauge on the case as a primary indacator of what is happening. We have a good idea of temps already, of the ATF+4's application and design ,so that is the target to shoot for. BTW, that article or test as it was got close to 500 degrees in the first scenario described above Definate lube failure/ case failure pending if not flushed immediatley,lube had began to coke up(carbonize). Just thinking how easy that could be in some off-roading I've done before. :{ Anybody know were to get an adapter for a sending unit????

Mark T.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I do alot of high speed off road driving. In 4 Hi, I will hit 100 MPH at times. Long stretches of familiar roads and lots of shortcuts through the desert alow this. I changed the t-case oil at 25 K and it seemed a little dark. Amsoil went to try something new. I changed again at 40 K and it still held its color. A little discoloring what appearant but not bad. Still smelled good too. I am not saying that the Amsoil ATF+4 is the way to go but it is holding up to my abuse! When I say abuse, I mean it! I am off road every day. Change your oil every 10 to 20 K depending on your driving styles.



Greg