How do I know if my PTU is bad?

When it leaks you can get a terrible burning oil smell if it drips on the exhaust as well as possible “black” oil drops on the ground under the unit. A bad ptu often starts to bind and make grinding noise when it is damaged and really on its way out. Fluid changes can greatly improve the longevity of the ptu.

How often do you change PTU fluid?

There is no scheduled oil change interval for the PTU the same for the RDU Bevel gears(not the clutch packs which are sealed filled for life) for road driven car. The RDU bevel gears require oil replacement after 800 track klms OR you get a message AWD system oil change required.

What is PTU fluid?

Problem Description. A leaking axle shaft seal and / or PTU cover seal can cause transmission (red) or Power Transfer Unit (PTU) (brown) fluid leaks at the axle area. The axle shaft seal and / or PTU cover seal may be leaking and should be replaced as required.

How do I add fluid to my transfer case?

The transfer case does not have a dipstick to check fluid level. It is basically “fill till you spill.” Using either the fluid bottle top or syringe, fill the fluid into the filler plug hole until fluid runs out of it.

When to change PTU fluid in Ford Taurus?

Ford claims the PTU fluid is lifetime, however if it overheats it’s no longer good. So only need to change if it overheats, but no way to know if it does. The AWD Taurus police interceptors have an overheat warning light. Ford usually has two maintenance intervals, normal duty and severe duty.

When to change PTU oil in Ford Flex?

More fluid would improve the overall life expectancy of the PTU itself and help maintain the viability of the fluid over a longer period of time. Secondly, Ford should require regular maintenance of fluid in the PTU, perhaps every 30-45k if not sooner, enabled with the help of a drain plug.

Where are the PTU plugs on a Ford?

The PTU plugs are T50s, the only ones you can see. One is on the bottom, and if you follow up a straight line from there you can see the fill plug. as was said in another thread, make sure you can get the fill plug off first. They take a little bit to break loose then they come right off.

What kind of oil does Ford PTU use?

By the way fresh Motorcraft synthetic 75W-140 fluid is clear and it pours easily even when cold. For a component subjected to as much stress as the PTU is, it is astonishing that Ford does not have a completely different maintenance protocol in place. I would suggest that the unit should have a greater fluid capacity than only 18oz.

What is the PTU on a Ford Edge?

The PTU is an all-wheel drive (AWD) transfer case used in cars and sport utility vehicles. It allows for power to all four wheels either part time or full time, and also varies how much power goes to the front and rear by specific driving conditions.

What is a PTU seal?

A leaking axle shaft seal and / or PTU cover seal can cause transmission (red) or Power Transfer Unit (PTU) (brown) fluid leaks at the axle area. The axle shaft seal and / or PTU cover seal may be leaking and should be replaced as required. 397 people reported this problem.

Can you still drive with a bad transfer case?

Driving your car with a bad transfer case is a bad idea. If you continue to drive with a transfer case that has a serious mechanical problem, you could destroy it beyond the point of repair, and possibly damage your transmission, driveshafts and axles in the process.

What happens if transfer case is low on fluid?

Difficulty changing gears – Low or dirty transfer case fluid can affect your transmission’s ability to shift gears. It can also result in your car unexpectedly falling out of four-wheel drive. This will create loud grinding noises which may become louder when four-wheel drive is engaged.

Is there a recall on Ford Edge?

Recall no. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.

Is the PTU part of the transmission?

The “transfer case” that is used in FWD vehicles is called a power transfer unit (PTU), which is attached to the transaxle and sends power to a rear differential. The components involved in these systems include the PTU, a 4×4 control module, a rear axle and an ATC solenoid on the rear axle.

How much does it cost to fix a power transfer unit?

Transfer cases may contain one or multiple sets of low range gears for off-road utility. Typically, the average cost for a replacement is expensive, between $2,389 and $2,500. Labor costs are typically around five hundred dollars. These estimates do not include taxes and fees.

What 4WD AWD Cannot be driven on dry pavement?

#1 Part time 4WD is a system that can only be used part of the time in four wheel drive. This 4WD system was created to provide a vehicle with more traction to either carry higher loads and/or to travel in adverse terrain conditions. It can only be used for adverse terrain conditions – not for dry pavement.

How does power transfer unit work?

The PTU mechanically couples two hydraulic systems so that when activated, hydraulic pressure from system one drives the hydraulic motor, which then transmits rotational power through a common shaft to the hydraulic pump, which in turn converts the rotational energy back into hydraulic pressure for system two.

What happens when transfer case motor goes bad?

If the transfer case fails during operation, the vehicle may be left permanently in neutral or the transfer case may bind. If the transfer case is malfunctioning electronically it can cause erratic shifts from high to low gear and from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive.