Transfer Case Lube (1988)

[HammerDown]

Time to change out the transfer Case lube on my 1988 F250.
Refresh my memory, I believe it's also what my C6 Transmission takes Mercon/Dexron-3 ... correct and approx capacity?
(not interested in synthetics)
I'll also be dropping the transmission-pan to replace the filter.
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[rreegg]

Didn't know there's a filter for the tcase - is it a metal mesh or similar?

Here's another oilburner thread on the same topic for precedence, am assuming the 89 and 88 have the same tcase

Fluid type in 1989 ZF5 and transfer case lubricant

89 f450 Zf5 4wd...Not trying to open a can of worms but i keep getting different information from mercon in both to gear oil in both to 80 in diffs and transfer?..my shop manual is missing transmission requirements, thanks

www.oilburners.net

 

[HammerDown]

Didn't know there's a filter for the tcase - is it a metal mesh or similar?

Here's another oilburner thread on the same topic for precedence, am assuming the 89 and 88 have the same tcase

Fluid type in 1989 ZF5 and transfer case lubricant

89 f450 Zf5 4wd...Not trying to open a can of worms but i keep getting different information from mercon in both to gear oil in both to 80 in diffs and transfer?..my shop manual is missing transmission requirements, thanks

www.oilburners.net

I'm dropping the "transmission pan" to replace the transmission filter.

 

[u2slow]

Chain drive tcases are very forgiving for fluid type.

Probably want to match the C6 in case one leaks into the other.

 

[HammerDown]

Found this... and I believe it takes 2-qts ???
"****For the 1980 to 1987 model years, Ford recommended Dexron II Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) for 4x4 Transfer Cases. Dexron II was replaced by Dexron III. For the 1987-1996 (Bronco, F150 and 1988-1997 (F250, F350) model years, Ford originally specified Mercon. Mercon has now been superseded by Mercon V which is NOT recommended for use in 4x4 transfer cases. Both Dexron II/Dexron III and Mercon fluid are listed in Ford Shop Manuals as meeting the same Ford specification XT-2-QDX. Until mid-2018".

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I feel that the two quarts is right.

 

[u2slow]

The mercon tidbit is funny because mercon 5 made mercon 4 obsolete/unavailable.

The main thing is the viscosity, since these tcases have an oil pump. Any atf or similar weight hydraulic oil, compressor oil, or engine oil I expect to work equally well.

 

[ROCK HARVEY]

I used mercon LV (not mercon V) in my 1356. They had it on the shelf at oreilly’s.

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

I used mercon LV (not mercon V) in my 1356. They had it on the shelf at oreilly’s.

Isn't LV significantly thinner than a Dex II or III would be? I'm not an ATF guy by any means though

 

[MtnHaul]

I have spent some time on this specific fluid issue. Ford currently specs Mercon LV. Ford hasn't licensed Mercon since about 2006 so any ATF that lists Mercon compatible is just an empty statement from the brand and no relation to Ford. Mercon LV specs, https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/additionalinfo/Product Data Sheet MERCON LV.pdf

Royal Purple, Amsoil OE Fuel Efficient(Blue cap on bottle), and Redline D6 all have similar viscosity to Mercon LV. That said, Redline specs their D4 for the 1356 and when I e-mailed them about this they said yes the D6 would work but that the D4 also would be fine. I had run Royal Purple and now have Amsoil OE Fuel Efficient and no problems noticed so far, 383k on t-case. If you want to spend too much time on this just go read about ATF on BobIsTheOilGuy