Transfer Oil Too Thick?

[ensoniqman]

All -

I drained my front 4x4 transfer case, 2005 Grand Cherokee WK, this week and noticed the gear lube seemed thick....maybe an 85w-140?

The factory Mopar fill calls for 5016796 fluid (Mopar MS-10216) specifically for the front, which I used.

I am the second owner of the Jeep, currently at 94,000 miles. Dealer had records only for oil changes and the like...no driveline history.

My question: with the thick appearance of the old lube, should I be concerned about mechanical wear? I'm guessing someone previously used the same weight for front and rear.

After changing, the steering is much more responsive and less sluggish.

 

[zrxkawboy]

You said transfer case, but then mentioned front and rear. Can you clarify if you mean transfer case or front differential?

 

[Ursatdx]

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ATF+4 in transfer case regardless of engine size or package.

 

[ensoniqman]

Front differential only.

 

[kschachn]

My question: with the thick appearance of the old lube, should I be concerned about mechanical wear? I'm guessing someone previously used the same weight for front and rear.

No, it is fine.

 

[JavierH19]

Not sure i can see how the steering became more responsive given it's the power steering pump that affects that and isn't affected by a gear oil change.

 

[4WD]

No, it is fine.

Might have had 94k OCI and there since 2005 - go figure !

 

[tcp71]

The front differential has nothing to do with steering.

 

[ensoniqman]

This model is all time 4WD

 

[andyd]

This model is all time 4WD

Any pictures of your '51 GMC? I had a '47 and a 49 with the 228

 

[cb_13]

It was probably serviced at a facility that uses BG products. They recommend their Synchro Shift 2 for all manual transmissions and transfer cases. It’s a GL4 75w85 if I remember correctly. It’s a great product for part time T cases, I used it in my previous F150.

I personally wouldn’t use it in a full time/auto T case but that may just be me being paranoid.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Jeeps use a variety of fluids. It all depends on if it’s tow package, quadratrac quadradrive whatever they happened to call it in that year, etc.

A base 3.7 motor wk might be atf in the transfer case, but I don’t believe a 4.7 or 5.7 will be.

You sound like you’re worried about the front differential, though.

Rears were almost all 75-140. Fronts were either 75-140 or 80-90.

 

[zrxkawboy]

Front differential only.

There may be a problem, then. When I searched the lubricant you used, it came up as Transfer Case Lubricant. I looked in my Motor Lubes Guide, and your front diff needs a GL5 gear oil (depending on options, either 75W140 syn or 80W90).