Can I put ATF in my transfer case?

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Its an 88 Land Cruiser FJ62, auto tranny with split t-case. I think the seal between the two may be going and I have heard that you can put ATF in the t-case so if fluid travels across, there is no harm done to the transmission. T-case calls for GL4 75w-90. Maybe GL4 compatible ATF? Looking for any and all input on this topic.
 
I would make sure that the fluids are mixing before doing anything. I also advise to find a forum for old land cruisers to put this question to. That is how I keep my 26 yr old BMWs going.
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: StuDawg
Its an 88 Land Cruiser FJ62, auto tranny with split t-case. I think the seal between the two may be going and I have heard that you can put ATF in the t-case so if fluid travels across, there is no harm done to the transmission. T-case calls for GL4 75w-90. Maybe GL4 compatible ATF? Looking for any and all input on this topic.


I think you heard wrong!

I would recommend against using ANY ATF if the T-case specifies a 75W90 since the ATF would be way too thin.

I would recommend this:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7

or this:

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/tr.../?code=MTGQT-EA
 
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Originally Posted By: andyd
I would make sure that the fluids are mixing before doing anything. I also advise to find a forum for old land cruisers to put this question to. That is how I keep my 26 yr old BMWs going.
grin2.gif



Excellent advice, thanks. Im definitely on the cruiser forums, and there are some differing opinions there, so i figured id come here to ask the oil and fluid experts!
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Why not fix the seals?

My Jeep TC calls for ATF. But thats only a Jeep not a Land Cruiser.


Great question, but I guess the answer would be time and money! And the guys at the cruiser forum would love that next statement!
 
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Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Originally Posted By: StuDawg
Its an 88 Land Cruiser FJ62, auto tranny with split t-case. I think the seal between the two may be going and I have heard that you can put ATF in the t-case so if fluid travels across, there is no harm done to the transmission. T-case calls for GL4 75w-90. Maybe GL4 compatible ATF? Looking for any and all input on this topic.


I think you heard wrong!

I would recommend against using ANY ATF if the T-case specifies a 75W90 since the ATF would be way too thin.

I would recommend this:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7

or this:

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/tr.../?code=MTGQT-EA


Well, elsewhere on the Redline site there is this stuff:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=115&pcid=9

Its ATF that satisfies 70w,75w, and 80w and GL4 requirements, which is what got me thinking.....
 
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
OT:A member once had a sig (perhaps it was sprintman)

"The parts falling off this vehicle are of the finest British craftsmanship"


LOL. Land Cruiser, not Land Rover.....funny nonetheless.


To the OP, I do not recommend running ATF in a 'Yota case.

Originally Posted By: StuDawg
Originally Posted By: Donald
Why not fix the seals?

My Jeep TC calls for ATF. But thats only a Jeep not a Land Cruiser.


Great question, but I guess the answer would be time and money! And the guys at the cruiser forum would love that next statement!



FYI, accessing the seal requires splitting the t-case to remove it from the transmission. There is no other way around it. Might as well rebuild it while you're there. It's not as easy to fix as a Jeep....
48.gif
 
Originally Posted By: StuDawg
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Originally Posted By: StuDawg
Its an 88 Land Cruiser FJ62, auto tranny with split t-case. I think the seal between the two may be going and I have heard that you can put ATF in the t-case so if fluid travels across, there is no harm done to the transmission. T-case calls for GL4 75w-90. Maybe GL4 compatible ATF? Looking for any and all input on this topic.


I think you heard wrong!

I would recommend against using ANY ATF if the T-case specifies a 75W90 since the ATF would be way too thin.

I would recommend this:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7

or this:

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/tr.../?code=MTGQT-EA


Well, elsewhere on the Redline site there is this stuff:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=115&pcid=9

Its ATF that satisfies 70w,75w, and 80w and GL4 requirements, which is what got me thinking.....



Well, Redline is a company that makes good lubricants, but that statement about their ATFs as having a GL-4 rating has not been validated.
 
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Originally Posted By: Greasymechtech
This for the transfer case:
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=54&pcid=9

Castrol has a great high mileage ATF for your transmission.
http://www.castrol.com/en_us/united-states/products/car/automatic-transmission-fluids.html

Add one ounce of this per each quart of fluid in both your transmission and xfer case:
http://lucasoil.com/products/problem-solvers-utility/lucas-transmission-fix


His transfer case specs a 75W90 which is a 15 cSt@100C fluid.

None of those fluids meets the viscosity spec.
 
I had an ol' land cruiser. It required GL4 or GL5.
SAE 80w was useable per the owners manual. SAE J306 states that SAE 80w is > 7cst. Redline high temp ATF is 10cst. Add in the Lucas gives you another point or two.

The more common 80w90, SAE 90, 75w90... we're used because of availability.
 
Originally Posted By: Greasymechtech
I had an ol' land cruiser. It required GL4 or GL5.
SAE 80w was useable per the owners manual. SAE J306 states that SAE 80w is > 7cst. Redline high temp ATF is 10cst. Add in the Lucas gives you another point or two.



GL-4, GL-5 is a protection rating, not a viscosity spec.

I know of no ATF that qualifies as a GL-4 gear lube, because it does NOT have the level of AW protection needed to meet the GL-4 protection level.
 
[/quote]

GL-4, GL-5 is a protection rating, not a viscosity spec.

I know of no ATF that qualifies as a GL-4 gear lube, because it does NOT have the level of AW protection needed to meet the GL-4 protection level.
[/quote]

What is "AW" protection? But Redline's website says their high temp ATF does meet the GL4 requirement. Are you saying they can't be trusted?
 
AW is Anti-Wear protection.

Quote:
But Redline's website says their high temp ATF does meet the GL4 requirement. Are you saying they can't be trusted?


I know what Redline says about their ATF and GL-4.

What I am saying is I don't believe it because I have never seen any documentation or analysis that shows that ANY of their ATFs would provide a GL-4 protection rating.


Originally Posted By: MolaKule
...


Well, Redline is a company that makes good lubricants, but that statement about their ATFs as having a GL-4 rating has not been validated.
 
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Originally Posted By: Greasymechtech
Has any GL4 been validated?


The commercial additive suppliers have validated the PI packages for GL-4 service when used with specific base oils.

The important thing to consider here is differences between the PI packages and base oils for ATF's versus dedicated MTLs.

The PI package and base oil for ATF's start out with very low (some may say, "very thin") viscosity oils and use additive components for wet clutch applications. The PI package for an ATF has less than 18% of the Anti-Wear (AW) chemistry found in MTLs.

The PI package and base oil for MTL's start out with higher viscosity base oils, use additive components targeted for synchronizer assembly applications, and have about 5.5 times more AW chemistry than do ATFs.
 
By the commercial additive companies, yes.

Quote:
The commercial additive suppliers have validated the PI packages for GL-4 service when used with specific base oils.


Call it what you want, but claims do not equal validated performance.
 
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