I was curious what the BITOG community would have to say regarding the Ford "lifetime fill" specification for the PTU\transfer case on my AWD Fusion sport. The manual states that it only uses .3 quarts of 75w-140 fluid and "is filled for life." Now I know that gear oils last a long while, but lifetime seems excessive especially when there is only .3 quarts of fluid circulating in the unit... Any thoughts or advice would be helpful!
2012 Fusion Sport AWD PTU Fluid
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Rand: I completely agree with you, I did some research and got a schematic of the PTU and there is a fill plug. The thing that makes me apprehensive to do anything is that the owners manual states that the unit needs to be removed from the car to service. So that's what I'm still researching, and dealers are clueless.
Im really curious about how long .3 quarts of gear oil is realistically supposed to last in that PTU and what Ford's definition of "lifetime" is...
Im really curious about how long .3 quarts of gear oil is realistically supposed to last in that PTU and what Ford's definition of "lifetime" is...
Here's the lifetime fluid from my Freestyle PTU at 90K: LINK
My suggestion: don't wait until 90K...
The PTU in your car is different than the one in mine, so I don't have any recommendation for fluid. I'd try to figure out the specifics of Ford's spec first. That said, I'm guessing that any good quality 75W140 like Amsoil of Mobil1 would do the trick. The fluid in mine has an additional "low foaming" spec, but the Amsoil test results convinced me that both the Amsoil and Mobil fluids would work for me.
I have a fill plug but no drain plug. I removed the old fluid by pumping it out with a Mityvac through the fill hole.
My suggestion: don't wait until 90K...
The PTU in your car is different than the one in mine, so I don't have any recommendation for fluid. I'd try to figure out the specifics of Ford's spec first. That said, I'm guessing that any good quality 75W140 like Amsoil of Mobil1 would do the trick. The fluid in mine has an additional "low foaming" spec, but the Amsoil test results convinced me that both the Amsoil and Mobil fluids would work for me.
I have a fill plug but no drain plug. I removed the old fluid by pumping it out with a Mityvac through the fill hole.
WOW! That fluid looks nasty... Thank you very much for your input, you have validated my concern regarding the "lifetime" fluid.
Originally Posted By: Rand
All fluids are lifetime fluids... if you dont change them.. the lifetime is just shorter...
Good one, made me laugh out loud!
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
All fluids are lifetime fluids... if you dont change them.. the lifetime is just shorter...
Good one, made me laugh out loud!
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
it is gonna be a bear to get it out on that car. I have an '07 Fusion AWD and haven't done mine for that very reason, and I change fluids on EVERYTHING I own.
Yeah i figured... obviously a pump will be required to remove and fill it. Is there anything else that is going to make it difficult to service? I haven't had a chance to take a look at it for myself. All I've seen are schematics..
it is gonna be a bear to get it out on that car. I have an '07 Fusion AWD and haven't done mine for that very reason, and I change fluids on EVERYTHING I own.
Yeah i figured... obviously a pump will be required to remove and fill it. Is there anything else that is going to make it difficult to service? I haven't had a chance to take a look at it for myself. All I've seen are schematics..
Originally Posted By: Unleashedbeast
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
Thanks for your response, this is the type of thing I am trying to avoid by changing the fluid earlier. Do you think that changing that "lifetime" fluid earlier could have prevented some of that excess wear\damage?
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
Thanks for your response, this is the type of thing I am trying to avoid by changing the fluid earlier. Do you think that changing that "lifetime" fluid earlier could have prevented some of that excess wear\damage?
Originally Posted By: fusion0389
Originally Posted By: Unleashedbeast
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
Thanks for your response, this is the type of thing I am trying to avoid by changing the fluid earlier. Do you think that changing that "lifetime" fluid earlier could have prevented some of that excess wear\damage?
I know for a fact it would. The oil that came out of the transfer case was providing little protection at all. In cold weather, it was molasses.
Originally Posted By: Unleashedbeast
Changed the "lifetime" fill in a 2002 Jaguar X Type transfer case @ ~120,000 miles. It was the worst looking fluid I have ever seen drain out of a transmission, engine, or rear differential. I had changed all other fluids in the car except for the transfer case. Since it was "lifetime" fill, I left it alone....and because it was very difficult to change.
The case only had a drain plug, no fill plug. Nice Jaguar....ultimate fail. One cold December morning, I heard a loud POP under the car backing up. Since it was the only fluid never changed, I decided to find a way to do it...and glad I did. Two chucks of gear teeth were on the magnetic drain plug.
after the change, the car runs better than ever before and no more popping.
Thanks for your response, this is the type of thing I am trying to avoid by changing the fluid earlier. Do you think that changing that "lifetime" fluid earlier could have prevented some of that excess wear\damage?
I know for a fact it would. The oil that came out of the transfer case was providing little protection at all. In cold weather, it was molasses.
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