Transfer case fluid

[Brandon-w]

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.

Haha this sounds so typical of chrysler now doesn't it? Grrr they make me mad. Build it like a brick **** house and be done with it. I'd pay extra for that!

 

[chrisbh17]

It is built by Borg Warner, after all....maybe we should ask them what fluid they recommend.

It seems very similar to the 44-46 (I think?) in use in Fords of past years....maybe that is a clue.

 

[Brandon-w]

It is built by Borg Warner, after all....maybe we should ask them what fluid they recommend.

It seems very similar to the 44-46 (I think?) in use in Fords of past years....maybe that is a clue.

Ford also used the 44-44 t case too.

 

[Hemi395]

I actually emailed BW directly asking what fluid they recommend for the 44-44. Never got a response.

The dealer wanted $30/qt for the 44-44 fluid so I said F it and pumped some C+ in it that I had for my trans. My 44-44 is loving it so far.

I had an analysis done on the 44-44 fluid and Dex3 fluid and they are virtually identical with a slightly different addives. To further prove their "special" fluid is a FCA money maker, they changed the label on the 44-44 fluid to encompass ALL their tcases. Even the HD tcases now call for this special fluid. Even tho the PN of the fluid hasn't changed.

 

[PoMansRam]

Sorry if this has been posted:

Below is the MSDS for the Borg Warner 44-44 transfer case fluid 68089195AA, which I assume the part number applies to all 44-44 models. I'm not well versed on deciphering the material properties listed in the MSDS, but it is red in color and seems to share properties of a standard ATF. Best I can tell, the only 'special feature' of the BW44-44 transfer case like mentioned above is that it has a clutch pack in it similar to what you'd find in an AT. I am totally not sure if this is special or not for this application.

https://torqueking.com/content/lubricants/msds/Mopar_68089195AA_MSDS.pdf

I see quarts of this fluid online for around $20, but once you add tax and shipping, it's got to be close to a Mopar parts counter price.

 

[crash68]

Below is the MSDS for the Borg Warner 44-44 transfer case fluid 68089195AA, which I assume the part number applies to all 44-44 models.

If I'm not mistaken, the '16 and newer BW44-44 use a different fluid than prior years

 

[PoMansRam]

^ I was under that impression as well, but can only find that "AA" part number for the 44-44 fluid. There's no other part number. I'm assuming what ever 68089195AA fluid avail today is back spec'd for all 44-44's.

 

[crash68]

^ I was under that impression as well, but can only find that "AA" part number for the 44-44 fluid. There's no other part number. I'm assuming what ever 68089195AA fluid avail today is back spec'd for all 44-44's.

Apparently a dealer screenshot of a fluid listed for the BW44-44 is causing the confusion of thought..
https://www.ramforum.com/index.php?posts/2146895
It shows a part number for the BW44-44 fluid as being: 68049954AA
When you search that, it shows a bottle fluid for a BW 44-40

 

[PoMansRam]

Muddies the waters even further and I was in on that thread too I believe. LOL!

So the p/n ending in AA is for models up to 2015 and the one ending in AC (68049954AC) is for 2016 and up 44-44s. Wow what an albatross this is.

 

[Brandon-w]

Holy ***** lol what a Gong show that Is. And to top it all off bw had not made any new revamps to the 44-44 t case to warrant any fluid changes at all. [emoji1787] Wow dodge get it together. Where's that annoying ram cares explaining this one lol.
I think we're not gonna get a straight answer guys n girls.

 

[chrisbh17]

The only official answer we will get is to use what the owners manual says. Which is (of course) Mopar stuff only, at least for the 44-44 xfer case.

I think the xfer case and diffs are a non-issue in my book, I would use the overpriced Mopar stuff just to keep warranty intact. Its not like we need gallons of it.

The transmission is a different story, but even still I would probably stick with the overpriced Mopar stuff, change it around 60K miles and then probably never again. I think the biggest deal there is to get any breakin material out ASAP, from then on the fluid will probably hold up just fine for a long time.

 

[Brandon-w]

For The transmissions isn't BMW stuff cheaper? They're the same trans.

 

[chrisbh17]

For The transmissions isn't BMW stuff cheaper? They're the same trans.

I think cheaper still is buying the ZF LifeGard fluid. But cheap is relative, I think maybe 5.00/quart savings? How many quarts do we use? Overall I dont think it makes a huge difference, the fluid itself is expensive no matter whose name is on it.

OTOH I hear that it is very high quality fluid, so at least we're getting something for our money.

 

[crash68]

So the p/n ending in AA is for models up to 2015 and the one ending in AC (68049954AC) is for 2016 and up 44-44s. Wow what an albatross this is.

I think someone at FCA screwed up and the 68049954 fluid is for the BW44-40 transfer case found in the AWD Chargers, 300s, etc. Those range from '09-'17 model years.

Luckily I have the BW44-45 and I'll probably just run what Amsoil or Redline recommends

 

[PoMansRam]

I think someone at FCA screwed up and the 68049954 fluid is for the BW44-40 transfer case found in the AWD Chargers, 300s, etc. Those range from '09-'17 model years.

Luckily I have the BW44-45 and I'll probably just run what Amsoil or Redline recommends

That's the problem that keeps looping us right back to the beginning! The only thing the owner's manual says for my 2017 Ram 1500 is "use Mopar BW44-44 fluid" for the transfer case. When you poke around online you see like 4 part numbers for "BW44-44" fluid.

The only thing I can conclude is, if you want to go OEM only, just make sure it's a Mopar bottle and it says for BW44-44 on it.

I dunno if I mentioned it here, but for something like my 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, I can buy all the driveline fluids for it at Dollar General if I wanted to with exception of the CVT fluid. For an "all Americal" Ram? It's a nighmare!

 

[chrisbh17]

That's the problem that keeps looping us right back to the beginning! The only thing the owner's manual says for my 2017 Ram 1500 is "use Mopar BW44-44 fluid" for the transfer case. When you poke around online you see like 4 part numbers for "BW44-44" fluid.

The only thing I can conclude is, if you want to go OEM only, just make sure it's a Mopar bottle and it says for BW44-44 on it.

I dunno if I mentioned it here, but for something like my 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, I can buy all the driveline fluids for it at Dollar General if I wanted to with exception of the CVT fluid. For an "all Americal" Ram? It's a nighmare!

There is another thread about factory fluids and we came to a conclusion about the 44-44 fluid:

There is one fluid for 44-44 from 2015 and earlier. There is another fluid for 44-44 for 2016 and newer.

The fluid for the 2016+ trucks is the same fluid spec-ed for the 44-40 xfer case.

The fluid for 2015 and earlier trucks is also spec-ed for the 44-45 so technically you could use just about any fluid on a 2015 or earlier 44-44.

The whole chemical/fluid catalog is here (xfer case fluids page 31), and is quite handy to have: https://www.dealers-mopar.com/resources/pdf/chemical/chemical-catalog.pdf

 

[crash68]

The fluid for 2015 and earlier trucks is also spec-ed for the 44-45 so technically you could use just about any fluid on a 2015 or earlier 44-44.

Not necessarily, the 44-44 fluid is probably spec'd for the 44-45 in much the same way you can use differential fluid with a friction modifier in an open differential. There is no problem with having the friction modifier and not needing it.
I'm guessing BorgWarner sold FCA the line of transfer cases with one lube that you can use in all of them, somehow that got screwed up.

 

[chrisbh17]

Not necessarily, the 44-44 fluid is probably spec'd for the 44-45 in much the same way you can use differential fluid with a friction modifier in an open differential. There is no problem with having the friction modifier and not needing it.
I'm guessing BorgWarner sold FCA the line of transfer cases with one lube that you can use in all of them, somehow that got screwed up.

The parts list for the 44-44 shows that something changed with the clutch packs in 2016: https://marketing.transtar1.com/acton/attachment/18758/f-147c/1/-/-/-/-/BW4444 Flyer 0917.pdf

So Im thinking there is a warranted reason for the different fluids. Going back to just how much xfer case fluid is necessary, even my cheap a$$ would spring for the genuine Mopar stuff in this case.

 

[crash68]

The parts list for the 44-44 shows that something changed with the clutch packs in 2016: https://marketing.transtar1.com/acton/attachment/18758/f-147c/1/-/-/-/-/BW4444 Flyer 0917.pdf

So Im thinking there is a warranted reason for the different fluids. Going back to just how much xfer case fluid is necessary, even my cheap a$$ would spring for the genuine Mopar stuff in this case.

There is probably a friction modifier or something in the fluid needed for the 44-44 required for the clutch material. The 44-45 doesn't have clutches so it probably doesn't care if that additive is in there but the 44-44 fluid has the correct weight and lubricant properties.
If you had two 1500s, one with a LSD rear differential the other did not, You can use RL 75W-140 in both. You'll have problems if you used RL 75W-140NS in both.

I agree with you that there is special fluid required for different years of the 44-44 transfer case, I'm saying that just because a fluid will work in the 44-45 doesn't mean it's compatible with the 44-44 which is how I read your statement.

 

[chrisbh17]

There is probably a friction modifier or something in the fluid needed for the 44-44 required for the clutch material. The 44-45 doesn't have clutches so it probably doesn't care if that additive is in there but the 44-44 fluid has the correct weight and lubricant properties.
If you had two 1500s, one with a LSD rear differential the other did not, You can use RL 75W-140 in both. You'll have problems if you used RL 75W-140NS in both.

I agree with you that there is special fluid required for different years of the 44-44 transfer case, I'm saying that just because a fluid will work in the 44-45 doesn't mean it's compatible with the 44-44 which is how I read your statement.

When I said 44-45 and 44-44 could use same fluid, I wrote 2015 and earlier 44-44. The chemical catalog says the same thing:

"TRANSFER CASE LUBE FOR BORGWARNER 44-45, 44-46, 44-47, 44-48 AND PRE-2016 44-44"

So, you might be right about the friction modifier requirement, but they seemed to only have added it in 2016 and newer.

Oddly enough, I think most of the anecdotes about failed 44-44 I have read, were on 2015 and earlier units .......