Leaving in 4WD Auto - if so transfer case wear? More frequent service?

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Garth Schindel

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Hi
My wife's 2014 1500 was just at the dealer for a couple of new manifolds - another topic. While their they must have checked the differential - they found that the fluid was burning/burnt and recommended that it be changed. Its at 122,000 KM now and I was planning on doing this at the recommended 192,000 KM but I'm glad they caught it.

They said that it burnt because I leave it in 4WD auto. I have done this off and on - always in the winter. I didn't know this wasn't recommended. I was trying to ensure that if my wife needs 4WD it will be their automatically.

Do you leave yours in 4WD auto for any length of time?

The dealer suggests putting it in 4WD only if there is a chance that it will be "slippery". We live in Alberta - there is a chance of it being "slippery" almost every day of the year.

If I wanted to continue to leave it in 4WD - at least for the winter - would changing the transfer case oil more frequently help to prevent damage? If so how frequent?

Thanks for the help.
 

Wild one

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Hi
My wife's 2014 1500 was just at the dealer for a couple of new manifolds - another topic. While their they must have checked the differential - they found that the fluid was burning/burnt and recommended that it be changed. Its at 122,000 KM now and I was planning on doing this at the recommended 192,000 KM but I'm glad they caught it.

They said that it burnt because I leave it in 4WD auto. I have done this off and on - always in the winter. I didn't know this wasn't recommended. I was trying to ensure that if my wife needs 4WD it will be their automatically.

Do you leave yours in 4WD auto for any length of time?

The dealer suggests putting it in 4WD only if there is a chance that it will be "slippery". We live in Alberta - there is a chance of it being "slippery" almost every day of the year.

If I wanted to continue to leave it in 4WD - at least for the winter - would changing the transfer case oil more frequently help to prevent damage? If so how frequent?

Thanks for the help.

Can't really answer your question,as my 4X4 has never really been in 4X4 mode,but it's nice to see another local Albertan , I'm in Airdrie,lol.
 
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Garth Schindel

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Thanks.
Airdrie - nice to hear from someone close by - I’m just north of you in Didsbury. You’ve never used 4 auto yet?

What about 4 auto causes more wear? Does it only wear when it kicks into 4wd? Or is something always moving in 4 auto that wears? Is 4 auto different than AWD?

I always assumed that 4 auto would be safer (when 4wd is needed) but is it? Does being in 4wd improve how the stability control works? Does stability control only apply brake or does it send power to the wheels too?

If it is safer it would likely be worth the wear and extra maintenance (if helpful) but if it’s not...

Thanks for the help.
 

chrisbh17

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I made a video of my truck in 2WD and 4WD-Auto...the front driveshaft spun in both modes.

I think the worse mpg comes from the axle actuator being engaged, which then links the front right wheel into the diff, which causes more friction and power draw.

Im not sure if the front axle turns in 2WD just because of friction from whatever is spinning inside the xfer case, or if its turning because its essentially "backfed" from the front left axle which is always "engaged".
 
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Garth Schindel

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So I’m reading that the 1500’s Stability Control just uses the brakes so the 4wd auto isn’t a direct help but engaging all 4 wheels in an emergency situation surely can’t be a bad thing.

So if I have it set in Auto 4wd for 9 months of the year will more frequent transfer case maintenance prevent damage? Or is it best to minimize its usage and just go day by day - hoping my wife remembers to turn it on when needed. While it’s nice to keep the wife safe, I really don’t want to have to replace a transfer case.
 

Tim Garceau

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Wouldn’t lose sleep over it as I keep mine in 4A throughout the winter and whenever it rains. Replacing fluid every 60K because it now gets launched <1.7 second 60’ on street tires. Rather replace a clutch/transfer case than the 44-45 beating back up and snapping the tranny input shaft because it’s locked.
 

John Jensen

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Your 44-44 transfer case is clutch operated. In any 4WD mode, the transfer case only engages the front differential if a rear wheel loses traction (spins).

I'm no expert but I don't see how leaving the transfer case in 4WD AUTO would burn the oil or wear out the transfer case.
 

RoadRamblerNJ

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Not to be a jerk but, do you have the Operators Manual? If not, I'm sure any FCA dealership would be able to answer that question pronto.

Now, as for your wife not knowing about the trucks operation.....that one is on you. Show her.

My wife can drive my truck, my Harley and she can run any gun in the house.[emoji851]
 

Toddbigboytruck

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Not to sound more dummer Then I think I am but. I don’t live in Alberta but I still am in Canada. But why wouldn’t you just drive in 2wd 95 %of the time
I only put on 4wd auto during snow on the road. 4wd lock when I am caught in a snow bank. And 4wd low when I pull my travel trailer out of mud.

Am I doing something wrong?????
 

corneileous

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4wd auto keeps the front driveshaft engaged, but the hubs don't lock up until theres slippage

Egh egh. In 4WD auto- or pretty much any of the 4WD modes, everything from the hubs to the drive line is engaged so that at a moments notice, the transfer case can lock on to the front driveline and provide power. As far as burning up the front diff fluid.... I don’t know about that but leaving the truck in 4WD auto mode all the time will yield you ****** gas mileage because of al that drag.

It’s automatic 4WD, not all wheel drive. There’s a difference.


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JohnnyMac

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Even with the chitty SLA tires, 2wd w/traction control should be good enough to keep the truck on the road unless it's snowy/icy out, or your wife drives it like she stole it. I'd leave it in 2wd and only step up to 4wd-auto if the road is below freezing and slick.
 

RoadRamblerNJ

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Not to sound more dummer Then I think I am but. I don’t live in Alberta but I still am in Canada. But why wouldn’t you just drive in 2wd 95 %of the time
I only put on 4wd auto during snow on the road. 4wd lock when I am caught in a snow bank. And 4wd low when I pull my travel trailer out of mud.

Am I doing something wrong?????
I'd say your doin' it exactly like the rest of us.....except for those couple of guys that are doin' it wrong.
 

BWL

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I never use 4 auto. Just 4 lock when it's icy and 2wd the rest of the time, but I have found my front diff and transfer case oil look pretty dark after about 60,000 km so that's when I change it. Not like they hold that much oil or need a filter and certainly doesn't hurt anything. Burnt oil is from clutch slippage. These cases aren't the greatest if you actually need 4wd and are prone to overheating if you need wheel spin to get where you're going, Not sure if a lot of that is because the brakes engage to prevent wheel slip even with traction control off, but on the bright side low mileage used ones are fairly cheap and easy to find. Paid less than 400 to replace one last year.
 

grizzstang

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My wife drives a Jeep Wrangler 4x4.

No auto 4x4 what-so-ever and she figures out when to put in 4 wheel drive by looking out the windshield at the road.

Show your wife how and when to use it and she will be fine. There is no good reason to leave it in 4 auto all the time.
 

JD Mark

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Burnt gear oil?

That's a new one for me. I'd like to know how it got that hot.

I don't trust much of what dealers--sales types or mechanics tell me. A story from the Furd Torqshift debacle back in '05 (I think). So the original setup on the Torqshift allowed them to shift like trucks. Apparently soccer moms and those who don't use trucks for work didn't like the "hard" shifting so they changed some crap around and used a different snap ring. The snap ring wasn't strong enough to hold pieces parts in places, so they would break and the owner would have an additional hole in the side of his transmission. Easier fluid change?

Anyways, I had an '04 F550 that did not fall in the proper build date range for the TSB on the Torqshift. Sure enough, we had that extra hole in the side of the transmission courtesy of that snap ring letting loose. But, since the computer told these idiots that it wasn't in the proper date range, that wasn't the problem. They told me the operator was shifting from F to R and vice versa without coming to a complete stop and it would only be under warranty one time. I said:

#1 The operator has been plowing for 50 years, he isn't shifting while the truck is in motion.
#2 I asked if the dozen or so other trucks they had sitting around waiting for new transmission cases were also a result of shifting without stopping.
#3 Then I asked if the nationwide backorder for transmission cases was because there were all sorts of plowers around the entire country shifting without stopping.

Well, the service adviser asked me if I wanted to see what happened to the transmission. I said sure. He takes me back, and the mechanic starts explaining how great of a tranny the Torqshift was and how it wouldn't shift from F to R or vice versa if there was motion sensed on the output shaft...I said "stop right there". They both looked at me like I had 3 heads. I asked them to think about what I was just told...lo and behold the lights came on. Idiots

Anyways, they warranted it that winter and the next winter, then I had a shift kit put in it which actually solved the problem.

So yeah, if someone told me my diff oil was "burnt" I would have a difficult time believing them.
 

aces-n-eights

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So yeah, if someone told me my diff oil was "burnt" I would have a difficult time believing them.

I was just going to say the same thing... I'm assuming from your first post the burnt oil is in the front diff. How's the oil in your rear diff? It has turned every one of your 122,000 kms, where your front diff has probably turned less. Same gear oil, right?
 

Bennyrok

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Four wheel should only be engaged during snow or after it, not on dry or plowed roads, those transfer cases were not built for all wheel drive. You will burn out the transfer case if you keep going.
 
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