Help with transfer case fluid.

[johnbyebye]

Hello again everyone,

I'm not sure how this happened. I think water got into my transfer case? I'm not entirely sure. I don't wheel it yet so it has not seen standing water or mud. Any ideas? I'm going to run at least 8 quarts of gear oil through it and hopefully that helps it. I had a whirring noise which I am now certain is my transfer case. I'm likely looking at a new one, but for now is there anything else I can do to help salvage it?

Thanks.

 

[nissanh]

How is the condition of front and rear diffs? Transfercase sits high so diffs may be in the same condition.

Throw a magnet into the basket and see whether there are lots of metal parts, if not, flush it several rounds and then run with a good brand gear oil. I use Valvoline but most others use synthetic.
Also, lower the picture resolution.
Thanks

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The rear AMC20 in the CJ7 will get moisture in the oil. It's done it to me three times since around 1998. Short trips I blame it on.


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[johnbyebye]

How is the condition of front and rear diffs? Transfercase sits high so diffs may be in the same condition.

Throw a magnet into the basket and see whether there are lots of metal parts, if not, flush it several rounds and then run with a good brand gear oil. I use Valvoline but most others use synthetic.
Also, lower the picture resolution.
Thanks

Rear diff is fine, it was just at the dealer Tuesday for rear bearings and seals. The fluid looked good. I purchased 4 quarts of valvoline to start and will start flushing it through. I don't wheel yet or drive through deep mud/standing water so I'm baffled as to how much water got in there.

The rear AMC20 in the CJ7 will get moisture in the oil. It's done it to me three times since around 1998. Short trips I blame it on.


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I commute 14 miles to work every day, half of which is on the freeway. The engine gets hot in that time, but maybe it's not enough for the transfer case? This is a new one to me.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

For the old CJ7 it only became noticeable in the winter when the water would freeze on the vent line and the pressure buildup would cause gear oil to puke out the breather hose and onto the rear leaf spring. It was a DD and it was 8 miles round trip for work.


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[alumarine]

It doesn't take much water to make oil look like a milkshake.

If you let it sit in a clear container it might separate and give you an idea of how much water was in there.

I think it takes 1.1-1.3 quarts.

It won't be condensation and driving won't burn it off.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

It won't be condensation and driving won't burn it off.

Then explain the CJ7.........it's never been in water except mud puddles. And never off road. Except the driveway.




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[johnbyebye]

Alright, I ran 6 quarts through it. The fluid is back to normal. I'll drain and replace the fluid again in a few days. I guess this is just related to condensation? I have no idea though. I am in a similar situation as [MENTION=99144]19963.4lsr5[/MENTION]. My 4Runner hasn't been off-road or in mud/standing water since I bought it. The previous owner had the fluid changed a few thousand miles prior to my purchasing it. I checked the fluid in December and it was fine. The only shop that was anywhere near my transfer case was the transmission shop when they swapped another transmission in for me. They charged me for gear oil so I can only assume that they changed it. If by chance they didn't, then I don't know what happened between December and now to cause this to happen. I also checked my diffs today and the fluid is fine in both of those. Oh well, I'll be more vigilant about checking it through the winters now.

 

[Kanoe]

Wow. That's impressive.

If it was a condensation issue I bet you would not be the only one in that situation, more of us would be seeing it. As you say, you have no water contamination in the diffs. (I'm not saying condensation can't happen, I just think more of us would be seeing it if that was the issue.)

You live in Oregon where you probably spend a lot of time driving on very wet puddley roads. What are the chances you have a torn or incorrectly seated shift lever boot letting some little bit of road spray in? Or the top cap is missing off the breather vent? Either of these 2 would allow water to get in. As [MENTION=134889]alumarine[/MENTION] said, it wouldn't take much.

Pull the console apart from inside the truck and check it out. That's my hypothesis.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Wow. That's impressive.



If it was a condensation issue I bet you would not be the only one in that situation, more of us would be seeing it. As you say, you have no water contamination in the diffs. (I'm not saying condensation can't happen, I just think more of us would be seeing it if that was the issue.)



You live in Oregon where you probably spend a lot of time driving on very wet puddley roads. What are the chances you have a torn or incorrectly seated shift lever boot letting some little bit of road spray in? Or the top cap is missing off the breather vent? Either of these 2 would allow water to get in. As [MENTION=134889]alumarine[/MENTION] said, it wouldn't take much.



Pull the console apart from inside the truck and check it out. That's my hypothesis.

I wish I had another explanation for how it happens. Three times since around 1998 (that's when I met her daughter and assumed the maintenance duties) this happened to the rear. And all times it shown up in winter with the emulsion freezing in the vent line. My mother in law bought it new and drive it every day for work 4 miles away from 1986 till 2014 when it got classic tags and was retired from Daily Driver duty. The 2004 Grand Cherokee Limited replaced it till it got totaled. Grams is 70 now and we driver her now.


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[Kotrin]

Alright, I ran 6 quarts through it. The fluid is back to normal. I'll drain and replace the fluid again in a few days. I guess this is just related to condensation? I have no idea though. I am in a similar situation as [MENTION=99144]19963.4lsr5[/MENTION]. My 4Runner hasn't been off-road or in mud/standing water since I bought it. The previous owner had the fluid changed a few thousand miles prior to my purchasing it. I checked the fluid in December and it was fine. The only shop that was anywhere near my transfer case was the transmission shop when they swapped another transmission in for me. They charged me for gear oil so I can only assume that they changed it. If by chance they didn't, then I don't know what happened between December and now to cause this to happen. I also checked my diffs today and the fluid is fine in both of those. Oh well, I'll be more vigilant about checking it through the winters now.

Have you done the Transmission cooler bi-passed? If not what kind of radiator fluid (coolant) do you use and have you put water in it?

My thought is what if you don't have it bi-passed and you use water for coolant (some not all) and you have a 'small' leak in your lower radiator that leaked INTO the transmission fluid...I know i'm reaching, but thats my only possible thought of explanation.

Oh check your Breather too!

 

[johnbyebye]

Wow. That's impressive.

If it was a condensation issue I bet you would not be the only one in that situation, more of us would be seeing it. As you say, you have no water contamination in the diffs. (I'm not saying condensation can't happen, I just think more of us would be seeing it if that was the issue.)

You live in Oregon where you probably spend a lot of time driving on very wet puddley roads. What are the chances you have a torn or incorrectly seated shift lever boot letting some little bit of road spray in? Or the top cap is missing off the breather vent? Either of these 2 would allow water to get in. As [MENTION=134889]alumarine[/MENTION] said, it wouldn't take much.

Pull the console apart from inside the truck and check it out. That's my hypothesis.

I'll be damned. There's a nipple on the top and the hose was disconnected.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Have you done the Transmission cooler bi-passed? If not what kind of radiator fluid (coolant) do you use and have you put water in it?



My thought is what if you don't have it bi-passed and you use water for coolant (some not all) and you have a 'small' leak in your lower radiator that leaked INTO the transmission fluid...I know i'm reaching, but thats my only possible thought of explanation.



Oh check your Breather too!

There would need to be a few failures all together for the strawberry milkshake to make it to the transfer case oil. Plus it would have a hint of red ATF fluid color to his gear oil emulsion.


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[Kotrin]

There would need to be a few failures all together for the strawberry milkshake to make it to the transfer case oil. Plus it would have a hint of red ATF fluid color to his gear oil emulsion.


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Transfer case, haha I totally was thinking transmission for some reason. ;x

PS - I seriously blame this on the amount of medicine I have to take, especially when I don't just 'sit/lay around every day as direct'.