I've heard from a few about Transfer case oil, what is this about?
Can someone please explain.

 

you're transfercase has mercon ATF in it and is drained and filled by the two plugs in the back of it.

 

The transfer case is suppose to have oil in it?

 

^^^lol!


You are probably talking about 90W gear oil. That's what was used back in the day.....gosh i love the smell of 90W.

But our trucks take Mercon ATF. There's a rubber balancer thing that needs to come off using a 13mm socket or combo wrench...That'll expose the drain plug.....or is it hte fill plug. I don't remember. lol.

 

I threw in that Royal Purple Syncromax. I guess they start off with ATF and then throw in some other additives to make it better. Who knows, but it only takes 1.? quarts, so why not get the good stuff.

 

actually no the royal purple synchromax is atf designed for manual transmissions that use ATF. It has additives to help with the brass parts inside a manual transmssion (like the synchros). I've been using it for about 30K miles now and it is better than the standard mercon and MUCH better than the mercon V that I had been using. The mercon V just didnt seem to shift right, it got very clunky and hard and grinding, it was almost like it was too slippery for the synchros to actually grip and do their job.

 

So anyone have any pics to show me where the plug is at on your transfer case? I look back there and am confused as to where to find it and how to drain it.

 

yea...stand by.....

EDIT:

Here....on my '01.....You need to pull that rubber counterweight thingy off using a 13mm socket. Once that's off...BAM! there's the drain plug. Up top, mid body toward the right, is the fill hole. It uses a 3/8" rachet to take the plugs out. I used a 3/8 rachet with a 3" extension. Mines painted pink. Be prepared to see some ugly **** brown stuff to drain out of it. I believe the book calls for ATF on our tcases. I run Royal Purple Synthetic in my crankcase, trans, tcase, rear end, powersteering, etc. Hope it helps.

Shane

What you need to take off:


BAM! The shiny one at the bottom is a drain....the pink painted one is the fill.

 

Ok, so your pics Fx4wannabe would apply to my 99 or at least for the most part?

Awesome, I don't even know when the last time it was drained and changed. So say just open up the drain and let the yucky stuff drain out of it then fill 'er back up with some Royal Purple Synchromax? Or what do ya'll recommend?

Thanks for the pics Fx4wannabe, they help a lot. I didn't realize how many items on a Ranger needed to be changed and monitored. I'm glad I joined the RF ya'll are an awesome bunch.

Ok, you change the rear differential fluid, tranny fluid, transfer case fluid, and the usual oil, power steering fluid, what else is there I should change on a 99 Auto 3.0V6 4x4?? Just so I know to better care for my truck.

 

How many miles does your truck have? Ford doesn't recommend servicing the transfer case until the 150,000 mile mark.

 

173,458 mi.

 

I change mine out every 30,000 miles, along with the transmission and both differentials.

 

Yea, my truck only had 75k or so when I changed tcase....the stuff was black/brown and UGLY!!

 

So I should change it and put some Royal Purple in or what do ya'll think I should put in there??

Ok another question, how do you get to the front differntial to change the oil??

 

hehe for the front diff you have to use the fill hole and a suction pump and work a tube to the bottom of the diff and suck all the fluid out and then use a pump to fill it back up.

 

^^^^^or....

completely drop the axle down and pop the over offf....But i did the suction pump to pump it all out, and then pump new stuff in.


I use royal purple because i'm all about royal purple. Whatever you use, make sure it's a quality oil, Mercon ATF. Mercon 3 4 5 i have no clue though....check your owners manual, or it's possibly been already mentioned in this thread. NO WAL MART cheapo specials on my truck!

 

Alrighty thanks guys! Where would I find this suction pump thing at?

 

most auto parts stores have them.....somewhere around $4.00....

 

I actually just changed my brothers gear oil last night and we had to work with 90w for him. I got inside and was in a hurry and forgo to wash my hands.. and all freakin night I coudl smell this.. smell, and I realized it was the 90w, smelled sorta sickly sweet all night.. and I couldnt quite place my finger on it until i wen tback out to clean up some stuff. :-)

I plan on switching into Royal Purple here in the next month, going to be an expensive buy-in.. but I wanna treat my truck right :-D