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Transfer Case Fluid Color

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Old Dec 20, 2020 | 09:16 PM
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Transfer Case Fluid Color

Does anyone know what the synthetic transfer case fluid looks like? I checked the fluid in my sons 92 and it looked more like oil than Transmission fluid.I was going to drain it and use either the Pennzoil Dexron III / Mercon fluid or is Valvoline Max life Dexron III / Mercon synthetic fluid ok? I've searched a lot of threads and the answers have been clear as mud. If the wrong fluid is in there, should I run the new stuff for a few days and change it again? Thanks
 
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Old Dec 20, 2020 | 09:32 PM
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I can't speak for the color of a possible synthetic, but they come in many shades. If you want to know for sure what's in there, do what you said. You could do it all same day. Just get to running temp and change. 2 times good, 3 times great.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2020 | 09:52 PM
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Thanks for the reply. The Pennzoil is the cheapest. The Valvoline is a little more but its synthetic. The transfer case oil is over twice as much. Is there any reason to spend over $10 a qt or will the cheaper (4.50) stuff be ok. Is there even a need for synthetics in a Transfer case?
 
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Old Dec 20, 2020 | 10:36 PM
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I had some Castrol Dextron II laying around I put in mine year before last. That's what the manual called for. Mine looked really dark and rough.

I put some new fluid in, spun the front driveshaft quite a few times to spread the fluid around, then drained that before refill.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2020 | 03:11 AM
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Originally Posted by acmectec2001
The transfer case oil is over twice as much... Is there even a need for synthetics in a Transfer case?
Transfer case oil? It just takes Dexron III/ MERCON. I wouldn’t bother with synthetic ATF.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2020 | 03:20 PM
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I just did a fluid change on mine and used Valvoline Full Synthetic Transfer Case Fluid for these trucks. It’s red in color.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline-...1-QT/176052817
 
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Old Dec 21, 2020 | 04:14 PM
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To make an amendment to my other post: I used Castrol Dextron III, not II. I looked at the bottle today and noticed I put the wrong one down.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2020 | 07:46 PM
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Any cheap Mercon rated ATF is fine.
 
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