Transfer case fluid

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Jeff Krawczyk

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Well after getting the wrong seal and mopar 8 9 tranny fluid I got the right seal and replaced the transfer case output shaft seal and dodge is closed today and I need some fluid, is there a good transfer case fluid that I can find at the local parts store or do I have to wait till tomorrow when the dodge dealership opens
 

Brandon-w

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I had my truck to the dealer several times, under hard acceleration it would pop up with a service 4x4 light. Under warranty I didn't wana mess with it but I got frustrated, they basically changed everything out with no luck. I replaced the factory fluid with synthetic ATF and I've never had an issue since. Told my dealership and they just shrugged.
 

MRFREEZE57

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am planning on changing the TC lube soon, according to their specs amsoil has their atf that is approved for the 44-44 and cost about half of the oem lube.
 

PoMansRam

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Not to beat a dead horse, because I know there's threads on this topic, but some of you fellas above have put ATF in your BW44-44 and all is well?

I've been lead to believe you need the super special Mopar only fluid for 44-44's.
 
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Jeff Krawczyk

Jeff Krawczyk

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Not to beat a dead horse, because I know there's threads on this topic, but some of you fellas above have put ATF in your BW44-44 and all is well?

I've been lead to believe you need the super special Mopar only fluid for 44-44's.
That's what I am trying to figure out...I've seen some people say yes they have and the read different so i dont know, i did try and find a thread with this subject but was in a hurry and didnt see one but I'm sure if I look again there will be one somewhere
 

Brandon-w

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If you look at it it's basically a transmission. It has fiber and aluminum plates and when 4x4 is engaged they activate and deactivate much like the bands in your transmission. So why would there be a special fluid for the t case? It doesn't make any sense to me at all. Been running synthetic ATF for a year and I'm not easy on the unit and Havnt had a hiccup. I've yet to hear one case of anyone having failures do to Atf use in these. Ultimately its up to the end user but to me it's just another dodge money grab like mds lifter failures and exhaust manifold bolts. [emoji23]
 

Brandon-w

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I'm sure @Burla or @Hemi395 may have some Insight as they screwed around with lota of engine oils?
 

Hemi395

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I wouldn't use the Mopar 8&9 fluid in the tcase, way too expensive for the tcase. Any ATF+4 would work fine in the tcase. The BW 44-44 technically requires the special 44-44 fluid but I've been running Redline C+ in my 44-44 and it's been fine for over a year now and it works perfect.
 

Brandon-w

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I wouldn't use the Mopar 8&9 fluid in the tcase, way too expensive for the tcase. Any ATF+4 would work fine in the tcase. The BW 44-44 technically requires the special 44-44 fluid but I've been running Redline C+ in my 44-44 and it's been fine for over a year now and it works perfect.
Knew ud have somethin to say. Lol
 

Burla

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I wouldn't use the Mopar 8&9 fluid in the tcase, way too expensive for the tcase. Any ATF+4 would work fine in the tcase. The BW 44-44 technically requires the special 44-44 fluid but I've been running Redline C+ in my 44-44 and it's been fine for over a year now and it works perfect.

It even changes gears more smoothly now?

So with transmissions and transfer cases they all are fairly similar as far as viscosity goes. It really isn't a fluid thing that needs to be researched, but the part itself. If there is a lot of copper or plastic or clutches, or something different in the t case then it would have special requirements. In order to see if the fluid is compatible you need to know the innards of the part, and then you need a uoa of the oem fluid, to really judge. In some cases the fluid wont match the service interval. For example, redline d6 may not have the calcium required for a 60k interval in a transmission that has plastic pieces, so redline would still work just as good, but to protect the transmision you may need to change the oil more often. By the way, that isn't a hypothetical issue, but something Dave from redline actually said about d6, I forget what application he was talking about. Usually redline is an extended service fluid, but not in every case, depends on the application.

I know sean from his ecodiesel opted for maxlife in his zf8 tranny, and he was on a 25k interval. Well there ya go, when you lower the interval you choose that will correct if something is lacking in the formulation. But in some cases using the wrong liquid can be fatal, especially transaxle fluids. It's not knowledge of oil that is needed, but knowledge of what is different about that t case. Then you can come up with a strategy. I just don't know anything about that t case except what Corey has said. I also don't know anything about that fluid, is there a spec sheet out there?
 

Hemi395

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It even changes gears more smoothly now?

So with transmissions and transfer cases they all are fairly similar as far as viscosity goes. It really isn't a fluid thing that needs to be researched, but the part itself. If there is a lot of copper or plastic or clutches, or something different in the t case then it would have special requirements. In order to see if the fluid is compatible you need to know the innards of the part, and then you need a uoa of the oem fluid, to really judge. In some cases the fluid wont match the service interval. For example, redline d6 may not have the calcium required for a 60k interval in a transmission that has plastic pieces, so redline would still work just as good, but to protect the transmision you may need to change the oil more often. By the way, that isn't a hypothetical issue, but something Dave from redline actually said about d6, I forget what application he was talking about. Usually redline is an extended service fluid, but not in every case, depends on the application.

I know sean from his ecodiesel opted for maxlife in his zf8 tranny, and he was on a 25k interval. Well there ya go, when you lower the interval you choose that will correct if something is lacking in the formulation. But in some cases using the wrong liquid can be fatal, especially transaxle fluids. It's not knowledge of oil that is needed, but knowledge of what is different about that t case. Then you can come up with a strategy. I just don't know anything about that t case except what Corey has said. I also don't know anything about that fluid, is there a spec sheet out there?
Oh yeah forgot about that! With the super expensive 44-44 fluid I had the tcase get hung up a couple times in 4Low but that's never happened with Redline C+. The shifts between 4Lock and 4Low are much smoother with C+ vs the special fluid.

I would bet and ATF+4 would be better than the 44-44 fluid TBH...
 

Burla

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It may be that "special" fluid is for gas mileage, and as a benefit to ram makes the t case not last as long, ha. How special.
 
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