A transfer case is the most important part of your vehicle.
It is the central brain of all-wheel and four-wheel driving systems and mounts to the transmission’s rear side to split the engine’s power by bringing it to the front and rear of the axles.
For this, it uses front and rear driving shafts and attunes any notable difference which can be there due to rotation of both front and rear wheels.
The transfer case fluid acts as a lubricant here and prevents the shaft and axles from tough temperatures and overheating.
In a Chevy transfer case, what kind of fluid is used?
SAE 80W or SAE 80W-90 Viscosity number.
This is because it uses a conventional type of transfer case which requires GL-5 lubricants.
DEXRON II transmission fluids are okay for them as well.
Replacing the transmission fluid:
It is an easy task on most vehicles.
These steps will assist you in this.
- Draining the old fluid with the drain plug and then re-applying the plug.
- Removing the special fill plug to fill the fluid up to a certain quantity.
- It’s vital to note that the plugs contain a magnet that assists in removing any metal dust, and cleaning it is crucial.
PS – Some transfer cases have difficult access and need a special pump to fill the case.
PPS – Some cases are without a drain plug and labeled as lubed for life!
Do not take it more than a marketing gimmick and check from an expert after some duration.
Changing durations for TCFs:
By now, we know how to replace the TF, but one more question arises here that how often should we do this?
- It depends on the vehicle to vehicle, and the range is from 26,000 Kms to one hundred thousand Kms.
- To not get lost here, follow the protocols of your manufacturer.
PS – Again, there can be a rare occasion where you might need to do it before servicing interval.
PPS – In lifetime TFs, fluid is never going to last for infinity, and it shows the life of cases and not the fluid itself.
Some recommended items:
01. Valvoline DEXRON VI with MERCON LV ATF – $45.90 to $112.01
Comes in three different options of 1 GA, 1 Qt, and 6 Cases of 1 Qt.
The formulation includes full-synthetic stocks, which can assist you in meeting challenging demands.
A trusted company that understands the demands of vehicles and makes products that are practical as well.
It has advanced anti-shudder protection that allows the optimal performance of your vehicle.
A blend of industry-leading base oils topped with additives for heavy-duty working round the season.
02. Ultra1Plus Full Synthetic ATF – $92.90 to $100.09
- 5 Gallon with value for money pack.
- Provides an innovative solution to your ATF needs.
- It gives the most advanced and superior anti-friction stability by eliminating slippage.
- Advanced protection against common issues like corrosions, sludge, and other micro-dust.
- Oxidatively stabilized in the Lab and foam-resistant properties.
- Improves the wet-clutch performance by reducing noise and vibrations.
- Lastly, an all-rounder performance by synthetic technology.
Some other questions,
Related Questions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1.) When should it be prohibited to use a 4wd?
Answer: Do not use it while regular driving and do it on a regular 2wd.
Only use it when you need more traction from road surfaces such as icy, slippery conditions, or uphill in muddy conditions.
Q2.) What basic fluid goes into the 2000 Chevy’s transfer case?
Answer: SAE80W or its hybrid 80w-90 lubricant.
And it is a conventional transfer case that has been there for a long for your Chevy Silverado.
PS –those who have swapped their transmission system might need to use 10w-30 or 40 engine oils accordingly.
And Dextron II transmission oil goes into any conventional system.
Q3.) Which fluid best suits the 2007 version of my chevy Silverado?
Answer: DEXRON-III ATF, or the automatic transmission fluid.
For vehicles with push-button activations, use a GM-recommended fluid for best performances.
Q4.) Are ATF and TCF the same?
Answer: The one and major difference between them is that they share the same ATF fluid, whereas Transfer case fluid also uses the same gear oil as a separate component.
Q5.) Does the Chevy Silverado 2008 also work on DEXRON II?
Answer: Yes!
It forms the most significant part of your vehicle, and undoubtedly your 2008 model Silverado needs it the most.
Q6.) Can we put the automatic transmission fluid into the transfer case?
Answer: We know that most of these cases have been pre-filled with this ATF only which is reddish in its appearance.
And in other cases, they have a slightly thicker gear oil; on the other hand, some might be using only the specialized fluid system.
So, go as per your manual or ask an expert!
Q7.) What is a special oil?
Answer: Also known by the names of gear or differential oil, this helps in lubricating your gears and other internal parts.
Another function of this oil is to keep components cooler and help maintain optimal temperature.
Q8.) What are the consequences if your transfer case has no fluid?
Answer: Horror!
A regularly leaking component can allow the fluid to escape, and that means your interiors will fail to get any lubrication.
This means the inner parts will wear, tear, and reach higher temperatures.
PS – Your 4 WD will stop, and so will be your transfer case so take care.
Q9.) Can we call the Auto Trak II fluid synthetic?
Answer: Yes!
The multi-vehicle use TC fluid by Valvoline is synthetic and at the same time meets the norms of transfer cases lubrication.
It is for those Ford XL-12 or the ones requiring ATF fluids like DEX/ MERC and so on.
Q10.) What type of fluid works best with your 2004 Chevy Silverado transfer case use?
Answer: Use a DEXRON – III ATF recommended by experts and used it as per the quantity needed to improve the performance of your transfer case.
Q11.) What type of fluid do we need to enter in a 4l60e transfer case?
Answer: DEXRON III/ DEXRON VI OR MERC.
PS – While all the above are suited to the 4l60, the experts still recommend using the DEXRON III for optimal performances.
Q12.) Can we use dual fluids of Mercon V and Mercon?
Answer: No!
As per the ford technical, one should never mix these two as they are not that compatible.
While many vehicle owners often mix these two, but it has never been recommended.
So, use MERCON V, where the manual suggests this only.
Q13.) How many quarts of ATF can the chevy transfer case hold at a time?
Answer: 1.5 Quartz is the safe limit.
Put the DEXRON VI ATF via fill holes and the level must reach the bottom thread and let the extra fluid drain back via the same entry point.
Q14.) What kind of fluid did we need to add to the back of Chevy?
Answer: 75W-90 Viscosity number gear oil!
Also known as the rear differential oil, which does two jobs.
Firstly, it lubricates the driving shaft. Secondly, the wheel axles get lubricated as well.
One needs to have around four pints of this oil.
Q15.) What are some of the best rear differential fluids?
Answer: REDLINE 75W90 has good viscosity and has been recommended by an editor for a long.
Some other best items are Royal Purple Max, Liqui Moly FSG synthetic oil, and Lucas SURGE/ Racing gear oil.
Q16.) Is there any notable difference between the differential fluid and transmission oil?
Answer: Yes!
While both use a gear oil for providing lubrication, their viscosity is different.
For instance, the ATF or red automatic transmission fluid has low viscosity and is quite thin.
Q17.) What is the meaning of a CVT fluid?
Answer: The Continuously varying transmission system fluid is a transmission fluid type only, and its other names are steeples or pulley fluids.
ATF is also a type of transmission fluid only.
Q18.) What is the color of a differential fluid?
Answer: Brownish!
Yes, adding some oil to this fluid will give it a deep cocoa shade only.
On the other hand, ATFs are normally reddish in their appearances.
Final Verdict:
By now, we have understood the importance of a transfer who assists in powering the front and rear wheel shafts and axles for four- or all-wheel drives.
While the lower gears allow to maintain speeds less than ten mph and still work as per the usable RPM range of the vehicle.
In some vehicles, a driver can use a transfer case for two-wheel or four-wheel driving as per the requirements, and to do this, they often use an electronic switch.
The fluid, on the other hand, prevents from overheating the components and lubricates the shafts and axles as well at the same time.
Most of these cases come under the automatic transmission fluids category, while others use a more viscous product, known as a special differential oil.
Chevy most often needs the DEXRON II, III certified oils as per the needs and instructions on the manual.
Changing ATF every 25K Kilometers up to 100 K Kms is decent, and one can change or refill it as per the requirements.
Thanks For Reading!