where is the drain plug on my 98 ranger transfer case - and how do you get to it? Is synthetic ATF worth the money in the tfr case? How about Mobil-1 75-90 gear lube for the rear diff?
Thanks for the info.

 

you have to take the balance weight off its behind that. do not put gear oil in your tcase it will screw it up. run atf. i just run the cheap atf in mine and it works fine.

 

I'd spend the extra coin and put synthetic gear lube in the rear axle.

I think it's like 75-140.

 

borgerr -- your transfer case is a chain drive ,, not a gear drive
it uses automatic transmission fluid

earl43p-- he is asking aboot his transfer case not rear axle

 

hes asking about both the transfer case and the rear diff

you need mecron atf for the transfer case not sure which type someone else can chime in on that

as for the rear diff i belive 80w90 if you have a limited slip you will need some friction modifer aswell

 

1. Need to remove the 4 bolts holding on the balancer/dampner thing on the back leftside of the case. You'll see the drain plug right there. And to the top right of that, you'll see the fill plug.

2. When I used to be just a stock DD/occasional wheeler, I'd run synthetic in everything. I think it's worth it for the lower temperatures. cooler gears = happy gears. Same goes with rear ends, transmissions, front axles.

3. Ford book calls for Mercon. Just Mercon is all my Ford book says. But I usually run Royal Purple ATF. Buy 3 quarts....you'll have some left over.

4. Rear axle in the Ford book calls for 80W90. But I run 75W90 Royal Purple. You don't have to run Royal Purple, it's just what I run. Capacity....I'd buy a gallon and have some left over. I'd go Syn or a Syn blend. Full synthetics usually have the friction modifier built in for clutch type limited slips. If you've got an LS, you'll need a tube of friction modifier and even if you're running synthetic, it doesn't hurt to run it anyway. Shoot I run it with my locker and synthetic. Just squirt the friction modifier in the case before you fill it with the oil.

 

mercon 3 or better is fine, just dont mix the different kinds. and yes, you must use atf, not gear lube. the fill plug is above the balancer and the drain is behind the balancer. make sure you can remove your fill plug prior to pulling your drain plug. suck to drain it and not be able to refill it.

 

^^Very good point.



Something I've also learned to do with those type of plugs.....DONT CRANK THE EFF OUT OF THEM!! Don't tighten them sooo hardcore down. Just dab on some silocone in the threads and just snug them up. Give it like 20 mins to harden up, then fill the case. They're pipe threads so they seal as they get tighter. If you go too tight, there's a possibility of a crack forming in the aluminum case.,,,,which happened to be right dead center where my case split in half at.

 

thanks much for all the ideas. I already have most of a qt of Mobil-1 full syn 75-90w gear oil which I used on the shaft on my Honda motorcycle. I might just get some more of that. I think the idea of using a full syn is that you probably don't need to add a friction modifier??. when you take the 4 bolts off the balancer on the tfr case, does anything fall out? Mercon V atf probably for the tfr case. the truck will be used mostly for light service. Just want to get a base because I got no records with it upon purchase.
Thanks again.

 

The trans and tcase can share fluid when you hit odd angles. Run the same fluid in both to be safe.

 

Excuse me? How is that possible when they all have a full on seal on those input/outputs? The trans output, tcase input, and tcase output share the same seal part #....so you know it's fully sealed.

I'm just a little shocked as this is the first time i've ever seen that said anywhere...

 

There is a drain hole in the extension housing allowing fluid to drain from it to the pan and vice versa at inclined angles. The tcase front oil seal can leak and spill into the extension housing.

Its possible just not likely, we are only talking about what 2 quarts for the tcase? It also makes it easier to service when you run one type of fluid in the truck.

 

that should not be possible

auto tranny`s run on fluid pressure
having such a hole in a adapter would render the tranny useless

 

back up the fluid bus skippy.... you should not use any type of gear oil in your transfer case or transmission BECAUSE (pay attention here) somewhere at some point in the engineering process and development of these components someone with allot of know-how and how-to specified that you should use atf. here is why, oils of different viscosities, pour characteristics and chemical compositions behave differently at different temps and environments. if a component calls for ATF versus gear oil is that the atf will be able to reach, cover and protect parts inside better then a gear oil which might take longer to cover and reach the same components. due to tolerences, a gear oil may not be able to provide what is referred to as "full-film" protection where the atf will be able to. And gear oil has also different characteristics as to how it behaves when water is introduced, foaming characteristics (very important, especially with engine oils), temp management (oils acts as a heat transfer), etc, etc......

basically all im saying is that with gear oil ion a col morning start-up, you go and crank your engine over..... wait a minute or two for for warm up and decide to drive off, guess what??? that gear oil is still cold like an eskimos butt and you are basically going to drive down the road with a pound or two of margarine inside your trans or transfer case. cold oil equals no protection and no protection equals fail.

just run the atf that is recommended.

balancer, nothing hidden behind. just four bolts and it weights more then it looks. dont remove it with your head underneath.

end rant.

 

you need to read his post again. he is talking about gear oil in his diff and ATF in his transfer case.

 

oppps....pulled a weezl. sorry just woke up
but i have read here before of people asking about running gear oil in parts other then the diff.
sorry for the rant.

 

eh, it happens

 

I would like to make one thing perfectly clear in ending this discussion. The tfr case fluid and the rear dif gear oil were supposed to be two very seperate issues. I had no intention of cross using one for the other. thanks again for all the ideas and discussion.

 

The drain hole is clearly visible here. if you tip this trans backwards the fluid in the pan begins to flow into this chamber. When you pick up a trans with a full pan it will **** fluid out this hole, trust me on that I did it.

This is on the suction side of the fluid circuit not the pressure side.

 

Strange....NO tailhousing I've seen has that. All 3 of my 5spds, my buddy's two 5 spds, and my two buddy's 4spd and 5spd autos don't have any of that...



What trans are we looking at(I'm guessing definately auto) but what is it out of? I've never really seen that before on a Ranger.

 

EDIT: Scratch that. The one I've got pics of, does have that hole/auto drain thing. 2001 Ranger 4.0 auto. My mind always wonders towards manuals. My bad.....

 

Trans is a 5r55e from my 99 4.0.


See how that damn thing pisses at a slight angle.

 

I have an automatic trans.

 

I'm gonna add to this thread. I noticed I had a leak under my truck. I got under and it looks like the seal between the transfer case and the driveshaft is leaking. Does anyone have a part number for it?

I also wanted to add, I don't have that harmonic balancer covering my drain plug.

 

what type of gear lube do I fill my transfer case with? 98 ranger 4.0 4x4