Ram 1500 BW44-44 transfer case - which is the correct Mopar fluid? What about aftermarket fluid?

[chrisbh17]

I've read this over the years and have owned two late model Ram 1500 4x4s with the BW44-44. A 2017 and my current 2019 classic. Neither had auto mode for the 4x4. If I have 4x4 on and try to make a turn on dry pavement, you can hear and feel it binding. To me it doesn't feel like there's any clutch pack allowing for slip in the T-case at all.

No auto mode means it's not a 44-44. Most likely a 44-45.

Only the 44-44 (or whatever it was replaced with in the fifth gens) have 4wd auto.

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[crash68]

I've read this over the years and have owned two late model Ram 1500 4x4s with the BW44-44. A 2017 and my current 2019 classic. Neither had auto mode for the 4x4. If I have 4x4 on and try to make a turn on dry pavement, you can hear and feel it binding. To me it doesn't feel like there's any clutch pack allowing for slip in the T-case at all.

As mentioned without the "Auto 4X4" button your transfer case is the BW 44-45, it does not have the clutch that drives the front wheels.
The standard transfer case for your Express and SLT is the BW 44-45, and there is no upgrade option.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

This doesn't mention the years, and I trust Amsoil more than anybody when it comes to fluids....

 

[MRFREEZE57]

save your money, do not buy the expensive Mopar fluid, I changed to Red line C+ atf in my 44-44 TC over a year ago and my truck is a 2016+ model year, works just fine and less than half the cost of the mopar. we had a snow storm yesterday and used 4WD quite a bit, the Red line worked flawlessly.

 

[CVX20]

I have a 2016 RAM 1500, Big Horn, with the 5.7 HEMI and BW44-44 transfer case. There are two Mopar fluids for this transfer case:

• for BW44-44 transfer cases pre-2016: 68089195AA
• for BW44-44 transfer cases 2016 or newer: 68049954AC

My first conundrum is this: my truck was actually manufactured sometime in mid-2015 or the second half of 2015 for the 2016 model year. So, do I go by the model year or by the manufacturing year? Because with FCA (now Stellantis), you never know.

So then I decided to look up the transfer case part number, and sure enough, it's Mopar 68360094AC, which is suitable for Ram 1500 Classic trucks built between 2011 all the way up to 2020. This part number replaces a bunch of other part numbers:

52123492AB, 52123492AC, 52123492AD, 52123492AE, 68292013AA, 68292013AB, 68292013AC, 68292013AD, 68360094AA, 68360094AB, RL123492AB, RL123492AC, RL123492AD, RL123492AE, RL292013AA​

So let's say I have to replace my BW44-44 transfer case with a brand new one because my old one went wrong, and I get a Mopar 68360094AC BW44-44 transfer case. Which Mopar transfer case fluid do I use? Do I go by the truck's build year? I am sure that by now, you guys can see the idiocy of this.

I have never seen a bottle of 68049954AC, so I have no clue what viscosity grade it is. But on the back of 68089195AA, it says "ISO 32 viscosity grade," which essentially is low viscosity ATF, similar to Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF. Does anyone here know if Mopar 68049954AC is a thicker ATF, like Amsoil Red, for example, which, strangely enough, is what Amsoil recommends for all BW44-44 transfer cases, when in fact, Amsoil Blue is their low viscosity ATF.

I have a preference for Redline fluids, knowing their commitment to genuine synthetic oils. So I emailed Mr. David Grandquist at Redline Oil asking about what they recommend for the BW44-44 transfer case. Knowing that both Amsoil and Castrol had a recommendation for the BW44-44 transfer case, I was a bit shocked when I received his reply:

We don’t offer a recommendation for the BW 44-44 transfer case fluid specifically because the requirements aren’t released and our additive supplier doesn’t offer a suitable package. As far as what is so special it is hard to say for sure. These unique transfer case fluids often are developed with critical and specific frictional characteristics to provide desired operation performance. In transfer cases where a unique fluid is called for and the exact qualities are not available we don’t offer a recommendation.

I am not so much against paying for the overpriced Mopar fluids, as I want to get the best wear protection. I mean, I might as well get a bottle of Lubegard Platinum ATF Protectant along with a jug of Valvoline MaxLife ATF if that gives me the best protection and smoothest engagement. I find it so weird that Castrol recommends both low viscosity ATF and regular Multi-Vehicle ATF for the BW44-44 case, while Amsoil recommends the thicker ATF fluid for this application. What is the correct fluid that I need to use? What are you guys using? If I buy the expensive Mopar fluid, which one do I need to get? I mean, spending Redline money on Mopar fluids is kind of sacrilege to me.

Mopar doesn't build transfer cases so what does the manufacturer of the t-case(New Process) recommend?Most likely could be had a lot cheaper than Mopar and be exactly the same.

 

[PoMansRam]

No auto mode means it's not a 44-44. Most likely a 44-45.

Only the 44-44 (or whatever it was replaced with in the fifth gens) have 4wd auto.

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As mentioned without the "Auto 4X4" button your transfer case is the BW 44-45, it does not have the clutch that drives the front wheels.
The standard transfer case for your Express and SLT is the BW 44-45, and there is no upgrade option.

Thanks guys. Man I swear the label on the T-case on both my 2017 express and 2019 SLT models said 44-44, but like you say, it can't really be so w/out auto 4x4 mode.

Regardless, my plan was to use Maxlife ATF in either! lol

 

[Brandon-w]

Mopar doesn't build transfer cases so what does the manufacturer of the t-case(New Process) recommend?Most likely could be had a lot cheaper than Mopar and be exactly the same.

I've tried to contact Borg warner several times about this exact thing! Never got a reply. They say factory reccomended fluids that's it.

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[chrisbh17]

Im all for better fluids from actual fluid companies, but - how often does the xfer case fluid need to be changed? And even the OEM stuff doesnt seem to cause issues. Pretty sure most of the 44-44 failures are because of the crappy programming allowing the clutches to engage/disengage over and over again....no fluid is going to fix that.

I figure I might change the xfer case fluid on my truck once or twice over its lifetime. At that point, Ill buy the "required" fluid and be done with it.

 

[crash68]

Man I swear the label on the T-case on both my 2017 express and 2019 SLT models said 44-44, but like you say, it can't really be so w/out auto 4x4 mode.

If it's any consolation, both models use the same outer casing with the only outwards appearance difference is the front output shaft. The BW 44-44 has a larger front output shaft, that is due in part to the clutch assembly. The BW 44-45 front output shaft is smaller in diameter since it's a solid piece. Even the shift motors and wiring are the same, programming is the only difference between the two. From what my memory recalls is even the clutch wire goes to the BW 44-45 but it's drives an assist solenoid to help engage 4X4.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I have a 2011 with BW 44-44, is Redline C+ good to go in without issue?

 

[Rod Knock]

I wonder if anyone ever considered using Lubegard Complete Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (69032) in the BW44-44 transfer case. I mean, that should be about as good as it gets, and at ~$10/quart, it's a decent deal. For one, I emailed Lubegard asking if I can use it in the BW44-44 case, and I'm curious what they will say.

 

[18GSMRam]

What even worse is when you search of images of the 68049954AC it shows its for BW44-40 right on the label. The manual for my 2018 says to use BW44-44 fluid which is 68089195AA. When I search those P/N's the online dealers say the 954AC is compatible and the 195AA is not. So which one is it, BW44-40 fluid (954AC) or BW44-44 (195AA, as the manual states) fluid for post 2016? Christ FCA be better about descriptions

 

[huntergreen]

I wonder if anyone ever considered using Lubegard Complete Full Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (69032) in the BW44-44 transfer case. I mean, that should be about as good as it gets, and at ~$10/quart, it's a decent deal. For one, I emailed Lubegard asking if I can use it in the BW44-44 case, and I'm curious what they will say.

I


Did you get a reply from lubeguard ?

 

[Rod Knock]

I


Did you get a reply from lifeguard ?

I did, they recommended I use a fluid with a cSt@100C of 7~7.5. I just did my transfer case, BW44-44, turns out it had Mobilfluid LT in it. That's the Unicorn Tears Mopar fluid for 2016+ models that sells for $30 a quart. It's in fact low viscosity universal tractor fluid that you can buy in 5-gallon pails for a little over $100. I flushed it out with Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF (Dex III) and then replaced it with AMSOIL SS MV ATF + 4 oz. of Lubegard Platinum ATF Protectant. My transfer case is quiet as a mouse now when I engage 4WD Low and inaudible when 4WD Lock is engaged. What a difference!

 

[caulk04]

What even worse is when you search of images of the 68049954AC it shows its for BW44-40 right on the label. The manual for my 2018 says to use BW44-44 fluid which is 68089195AA. When I search those P/N's the online dealers say the 954AC is compatible and the 195AA is not. So which one is it, BW44-40 fluid (954AC) or BW44-44 (195AA, as the manual states) fluid for post 2016? Christ FCA be better about descriptions

I just ordered two quarts of the 68049954AC fluid to do the case in my 2018. The bottle says 2016+ 44-44 and also the 44-40. Paid $50 for two on ebay. It's nonsense, but $50 every 40K miles isn't something that I'm going to lose sleep over.

 

[Rod Knock]

I just ordered two quarts of the 68049954AC fluid to do the case in my 2018. The bottle says 2016+ 44-44 and also the 44-40. Paid $50 for two on ebay. It's nonsense, but $50 every 40K miles isn't something that I'm going to lose sleep over.

It's Mobilfluid LT. It's actually crappy for the transfer case. You can use Red Line Oil MT-LV instead of it if you want a direct replacement that offers better performance, or Red Line Oil D4 ATF, AMSOIL SS MV ATF, or Delvac 1 ATF which is TES 295/468 certified... all better fluids than what's in that Mopar bottle. My transfer case is quiet as a mouse with the AMSOIL in it, and it engages 4WD much more smoothly than it ever did. Bonus points, I don't get the 2nd gear jerk anymore when I leave the house in the morning. It's not about cost, it's about putting the best fluids in your truck

Here you go:

https://www.mooreballiewoil.com/product/mobilfluid-lt-5-gal-pail/

Mopar is making a nice profit on cheap tractor oil, lol.

 

[caulk04]

There are clutch packs in it that operate like clutches in an auto trans, of course it's a hydraulic (tractor) oil. No telling what goofy additives they put in for anti-chatter or what have you. Just like the LSD additive they sell. I'm not losing sleep over it one way or another.

My case makes no noise as is and the transfer case would have zero effect on trans shift feel.

 

[chrisbh17]

There are clutch packs in it that operate like clutches in an auto trans, of course it's a hydraulic (tractor) oil. No telling what goofy additives they put in for anti-chatter or what have you. Just like the LSD additive they sell. I'm not losing sleep over it one way or another.

My case makes no noise as is and the transfer case would have zero effect on trans shift feel.

Same here....my xfer case has never made any noise whatsoever. I get noise going in and out of 4-lo but that is normal and is not the xfer case making the noise (you can hear the noise coming from front right, where the actuator is and the axle slides in and out).

I know @phoenixgenesys mentioned their xfer case was low on fluid when they drained it....I would think that is far more likely to cause noise than the actual fluid itself.

 

[Rod Knock]

Same here....my xfer case has never made any noise whatsoever. I get noise going in and out of 4-lo but that is normal and is not the xfer case making the noise (you can hear the noise coming from front right, where the actuator is and the axle slides in and out).

I know @phoenixgenesys mentioned their xfer case was low on fluid when they drained it....I would think that is far more likely to cause noise than the actual fluid itself.

It was a little over a quart in there. FCA is sure cheap when it comes to fluids. Still, the Mopar stuff is tractor fluid. Before that, they used Shell Spirax S2 A389 (Dex III) ATF in these. Then in 2016 they upgraded the clutch packs to high energy friction materials, so they need less friction modifier. Then again, I've seen pre-2016 trucks with Mobilfluid LT in their transfer cases. It's cheap, cheaper than ATF, so they will use it in whatever they can.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Wow - that's pretty wacky. The archaic Borg Warner part time 4WD transfer case i got BW44-46 still gets ATF, but holds 2 quarts. Seems like a reasonable quantity for a chain drive. I've never had one fail - been driving them for 30+ years.