Can the transfer case oil be changed?

[GNS]

Hey guys, I read somewhere that the transfer case on the Stinger does not have a drain plug, which seemed very odd to me. Has anybody looked underneath the car or know if there is a drain plug? Basically, if I'm going to buy a Stinger GT, I will want to maintain the transmission and AWD / diffs.

The manual says that the

• transmission fluid is changed at the 60k mile mark
• rear diff oil every 72k miles (or 36k miles if there is a Limited Slip Diff)
• front diff oil at 72k miles

However, I don't see any entry for servicing the transfer case, yet page 8-8 lists the recommended oils for the transfer case (listed as "Transfer Oil (AWD) - Shell TF 0870B.

What am I missing? Is the transfer case non-serviceable?

 

[mldavis2]

 

[Bill B]

The service manual is pretty clear that you should NOT change the transfer case oil.
It is clear that there is no drain plug.
The repair procedure even says that if you have a problem with the transfer case oil, you should replace the entire assembly.

I assume the conditions within the transfer case, shear and temperature, are very easily on the fluid.

 

[GNS]

Thanks for the replies, all. I know now it's the same unit as the xDrive on the F30 BMWs, and those transfer cases USED to have a drain plug but the newer ones don't for some reason.

 

[Bill B]

A fun side note.

There is even an engine diagnostics code for transfer case oil failure. The specified repair is a new transfer case.

 

[GNS]

^ I didn't know that...well at least the engineers anticipated it. I wonder how involved a transfer case swap would be - how much labor is involved + the cost of the part itself.

 

[Bill B]

There is an entire service manual posted online that is very interesting and useful.

Or you can order a service manual from Kia for a one year subscription for $1500. Many people would prefer to use the manual someone posted online for free.

The procedure to replace the transfer case looks pretty easy. But I hope it is never necessary. I am sure it would be a very expensive part.

Per the book - - Only noteworthly things to replacing the transfer case are to replace the driveshafts with same holes lined up as before, otherwise vibrations.
And use a floor jack to lower the assembly, because it is probably heavy.

 

[GNS]

There is an entire service manual posted online that is very interesting and useful.

Or you can order a service manual from Kia for a one year subscription for $1500. Many people would prefer to use the manual someone posted online for free.

The procedure to replace the transfer case looks pretty easy. But I hope it is never necessary. I am sure it would be a very expensive part.

Per the book - - Only noteworthly things to replacing the transfer case are to replace the driveshafts with same holes lined up as before, otherwise vibrations.
And use a floor jack to lower the assembly, because it is probably heavy.

I went looking for it and it was literally in the sticky above. Saved a copy of it anyway, just in case.

 

[Metalmania82]

Thanks for the replies, all. I know now it's the same unit as the xDrive on the F30 BMWs, and those transfer cases USED to have a drain plug but the newer ones don't for some reason.

It's the same t-case that's in the Bimmers??

 

[GNS]

It's the same t-case that's in the Bimmers??

I've asked a Hyundai Master Tech, and that's what he said. I also read it online too.

 

[Metalmania82]

Interesting. I guess that's a good thing. I work in parts at a BMW dealer and haven't come across any defective or bad T/C units on any of the F30's.

 

[GNS]

Interesting. I guess that's a good thing. I work in parts at a BMW dealer and haven't come across any defective or bad T/C units on any of the F30's.

Found this video on the F30 TC and how this guy managed to change the fluid on it. Skip to 7:40 to see how he manages to use a syringe setup to remove the 'lifetime' oil.

 

[Kazz]

10 year powertrain warranty FTMFW!

 

[GNS]

10 year powertrain warranty FTMFW!

100k miles though, so it's okay if you only drive 10k miles / year on average. Still a better warranty than what we get here in Canada.

 

[Metalmania82]

What's the warranty up there?

 

[GNS]

5 year 100k (km), or 62.5k miles.

 

[Metalmania82]

yuck

 

[Ruturaj]

I trust manuals for minimum intervals (for new cars) like oil change every 6k miles. But there is no thing as lifetime fluid unless lifetime of a car is 10 years/100k miles. I am planning to change front, rear differential oil, transmission fluid at 60k miles. Might end up doing transfer case oil too now. Don't care if warranty covers it. I have seen difference in the car with transmission fluid change. I would mostly keep car till 120k miles anyhow.

 

[rmod]

Changed the transfer case fluid today on the G70 (same part number for the transfer case).
I used Ravenol DTF-1. I could not find the recommended Shell TF-0870B. Interestingly the Ravenol label says it is suited for Genesis / Stinger 3.3T.

Procedure to replace the fluid is straight forward:

a) Gather all the required tools and the oil. (14mm, 17mm sockets and 10mm hex for the fill plug)
b) Support the transfer case (floor jack)
c) Remove the transmission cross brace
d) Remove the fill bolt
e) Suck out the fluid (I used a syringe with a piece of brake line)
f) Refill till overflows and replace the fill bolt.

I was able to remove ~450ml of fluid from the transfer case but was able to put back ~600ml.

The fluid that I removed looked good. Yes it was dark, but there were no particles or burnt smell. (The car has ~131K kms)

I did a 30km test drive after (town and highway), no codes or lights came up.

BTW, I did not notice any change in the way the car drove.

 

[JSolo]

^^Is there a pic with the cross brace in place?