KrisKringle
Member
- :
- Mazda CX 9 Grand Touring
My 2008 GT awd is at 61000 miles, I did some maintenance , I have read up on this ford AW21-27-500N-9U transfercase, so 3 months ago I pulled the fill plug and siphoned out as much fluid as I could with my suction gun. The fluid was black sludge with a viscosity not even remotely close to the specd 75-140. I only got .25 qts out and refilled with mobil 1. I then ordered my atf for the transmission along with a mityvac. I changed the transfercase again last night, the mityvac sucked the fluid out much better then the suction gun (for those unaware the transfer case has a fill only plug, no drain plug). I pulled fluid out until the mityvac run dry. Then I refilled it with Mobil 1 along with 2 oz of Autorx, this is a cleaner and seal conditioner. NOT a seal sweller I have used this with great results in the past particularly on rotating seals.
Here is the gist for those on the transfercase, they seem to have a high failure rate I have read about transfercases being dry to being full of sludge. Here is my analysis, the transfercase is built adequate with the exception of fluid capacity. It is just not enough for something turning all the time near the engine with such heat. They have failed with this. It either needs more fluid capacity or a drain plug and a service recommendation of 30-60k, rather then the super lifetime fill designation. The transfer case failures to me are from fluid overheating and becoming compromised to the point it cooks to sludge or to the point the seal drys and then whats left leaks out.
The fluid that came out this time was black, viscosity on the oil was notably thicker then 75-140, but much better then what originally came out three months ago. I will be changing mine yearly after I change this cleaning phase of autorx out, if I feel it can go longer ill do so. But for those desiring to keep these vehicles beyond 100-200k id recommend doing a fluid change immediately or saving for a new transfercase, This is a failure in engineering ford has this in many vehicles and they all have seal problems and early failures.
Transmission fluid I did a simple drain refill, I measured exactly what I drained and refilled with the same amount, which for me was 3.3 qts. I refilled with Mobil 3308 the fluid specd for out transmission, NOT a universal, the fluid came out dark, not burnt but darker then I expected.
The rear axle was as to be expected for a 60k gear oil.
Now for those that will argue the lifetime fluid is lifetime and im wasting money, that's your opinion I have mine, but which one do you think will still be running original transfercase and transmission at 200k care to wager?
I have to say I have worked on all my cars and this car seems like one step off madness, some items seem to be so well thought out and engineered and some are last minute disasters. I also am alarmed by the high number of problems and complaints. I am more used to Subaru's and honestly I am a bit disappointed in the engineering of this "Japanese" vehicle, its a let down on quality and thought to me, while im being meticulous on maintenance and am preparing to own this for the long run, I am not fully decided I want to we passed up a Tribecca for this and while I love the package and overall features and to me that is why I went it over the Tribecca I am not sure it will equal its reliability.
Here is the gist for those on the transfercase, they seem to have a high failure rate I have read about transfercases being dry to being full of sludge. Here is my analysis, the transfercase is built adequate with the exception of fluid capacity. It is just not enough for something turning all the time near the engine with such heat. They have failed with this. It either needs more fluid capacity or a drain plug and a service recommendation of 30-60k, rather then the super lifetime fill designation. The transfer case failures to me are from fluid overheating and becoming compromised to the point it cooks to sludge or to the point the seal drys and then whats left leaks out.
The fluid that came out this time was black, viscosity on the oil was notably thicker then 75-140, but much better then what originally came out three months ago. I will be changing mine yearly after I change this cleaning phase of autorx out, if I feel it can go longer ill do so. But for those desiring to keep these vehicles beyond 100-200k id recommend doing a fluid change immediately or saving for a new transfercase, This is a failure in engineering ford has this in many vehicles and they all have seal problems and early failures.
Transmission fluid I did a simple drain refill, I measured exactly what I drained and refilled with the same amount, which for me was 3.3 qts. I refilled with Mobil 3308 the fluid specd for out transmission, NOT a universal, the fluid came out dark, not burnt but darker then I expected.
The rear axle was as to be expected for a 60k gear oil.
Now for those that will argue the lifetime fluid is lifetime and im wasting money, that's your opinion I have mine, but which one do you think will still be running original transfercase and transmission at 200k care to wager?
I have to say I have worked on all my cars and this car seems like one step off madness, some items seem to be so well thought out and engineered and some are last minute disasters. I also am alarmed by the high number of problems and complaints. I am more used to Subaru's and honestly I am a bit disappointed in the engineering of this "Japanese" vehicle, its a let down on quality and thought to me, while im being meticulous on maintenance and am preparing to own this for the long run, I am not fully decided I want to we passed up a Tribecca for this and while I love the package and overall features and to me that is why I went it over the Tribecca I am not sure it will equal its reliability.
Last edited: