Transfer Case Fluid Change - Borg Warner 44-45

[heefageLA]

Guys,

Im pushing 50k miles on my '23 Ram 2500 and am gearing up for a diff and t-case fluid change. Ill use Redline 75w85 for the differentials.

Im wondering if there is an alternative to the $50 / quart Mopar Transfer Case Lubricant that I can use for the t-case.

I have the Borg Warner 44-45 that is chain driven. Ive seen where Amsoil ATF and Lubegard Platinum ATF Protectant were used, but that almost seems overkill.

What have you used or are using currently? Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Heath

EDIT: It appears dang near any ATF will work. Im seeing recommendations that are all over the place.
Some folks even using straight up tractor hydraulic fluid.
Im Redline fan for life so im leaning toward the Redline High-Temp ATF.

 

[danielmid]

Redline doesn't have atf listed for your truck and transfer case, they list gear oil. I'd do a search on their website and Amsoil to see what fluid is recommended.

Amsoil doesn't list a 44-45, they have a 44-46 and a 44-47 and both are listed with atf. So I don't have clear data.

 

[heefageLA]

Redline doesn't have atf listed for your truck and transfer case, they list gear oil. I'd do a search on their website and Amsoil to see what fluid is recommended.

Amsoil doesn't list a 44-45, they have a 44-46 and a 44-47 and both are listed with atf. So I don't have clear data.

D6 ATF and C+ATF are both listed on Redline's website as being compatible with my vehicle.
I mentioned Amsoil ATF from reading past threads on different forums.

 

[danielmid]

D6 ATF and C+ATF are both listed on Redline's website as being compatible with my vehicle.
I mentioned Amsoil ATF from reading past threads on different forums.

I just looked up my 1500 with a clutch based transfer case and Redline recommended gear oil, and Amsoil recommended atf. So I'm leaning towards their recommendation systems being off base.

@Hemi395 might have a redline recommendation for the 44-45?

 

[heefageLA]

I just looked up my 1500 with a clutch based transfer case and Redline recommended gear oil, and Amsoil recommended atf. So I'm leaning towards their recommendation systems being off base.

@Hemi395 might have a redline recommendation for the 44-45?

Went with the Redline MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 gear oil. Says its compatible wtih pretty much every BorgWarner 44-40/44/45/46/47/48/49 case.
That includes even the clutch type case so im comfortable it will work with the old school chain type as well.

 

[joesstripclub]

Went with the Redline MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 gear oil. Says its compatible wtih pretty much every BorgWarner 44-40/44/45/46/47/48/49 case.
That includes even the clutch type case so im comfortable it will work with the old school chain type as well.

Interesting they are recommending the GL-4 gear oil. I'm pretty sure red fluid came out of my TC on the PW. My 1500 had the clear tractor fluid in it. Both were replaced with Redline C+ as I feel like that was the recommendation at the time.

 

[RidgeRunner_167]

Went with the Redline MT-LV 70W/75W GL-4 gear oil. Says its compatible wtih pretty much every BorgWarner 44-40/44/45/46/47/48/49 case.
That includes even the clutch type case so im comfortable it will work with the old school chain type as well.

Nevermind. Misread Redline’s website.

 

[Grams]

At 220K miles I had my service shop change the fluid in my Borg-Warner transfer case. Yep…the official Mopar fluid is like $80 qt….but I insisted on the “official” stuff.
I did this because wife and i were about to go on a long trip and the truck was 10 yrs old… I figured I’d giver ‘er a good going-over. Did everything, bumper to bumper. All fluids, U-joints, front/rear axles….Cost came to $4300. (I keep my vehicles.)

While on that trip the next week an old man (couple years older than me) ran a red-light and T-boned two of us and my Truck was Totaled.
So much for spending $4300 refreshing all fluids front-to-back and major tune ups on a truck that had been running Just Fine since new.

Insurance gave me “squat” for the recent improvments…. they depreciated the truck based solely on it’s 220K miles, not it’s near mint condition.

Unless you use your tansfer case a LOT…. Like many many miles of mud and dirt roads and fields…. leave it alone. Chronologically-Old B/W fluid is better than incorrect new stuff, and it will outlive you.

PS: I suspect you are considerinr this transfer case fluid change for your own personal comfort and confidence.
If you use anything Other than the OEM fluids…you will still have that discomfortable question and lack of confidence about what you had installed. Better to do nothing than the wrong thing.