How to Change Transfer Case Fluid on Vehicles

Vehicles offered the Vehicles in two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive variations during the Vehicles model year. The four-wheel-drive Vehicles rely on a transfer case to transfer the torque from the transmission to the front drive axle. The case contains internal lubricant, which you need to replace periodically as part of the Vehicles regularly scheduled maintenance program. Replacing the fluid is no harder than changing engine oil; therefore, anyone with basic automotive repair skill can handle this task.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change Transfer Case Fluid on a Silverado 2500HD
• How to Change the Transfer Case Fluid on a 2002 Silverado
• How to Change the Transfer Case Fluid in a Jeep

 How to Change Transfer Case Fluid on a Silverado 2500HD

Remove the four bolts on the skid plate underneath the transfer case. This will provide you much easier access to the transfer case's drain plug and fill plug.

Place an oil pan underneath the drain plug and remove the drain plug using a socket wrench. The drain plug will be on the side of the transfer case near the bottom.

Bolt the drain plug back into the transfer case once all of the fluid has drained. Use a torque wrench and consult the owner's manual of your Silverado 2500HD to torque the drain plug to the proper pound feet of torque.

Remove the fill plug using a socket wrench.

Screw the fill nozzle onto the top of the automatic transmission fluid bottle.

Pour the fluid into the transfer case until it begins to flow out.

Bolt on the fill plug using a torque wrench. Consult the owner's manual of your Silverado 2500HD for the proper torque amount.

 How to Change the Transfer Case Fluid on a 2002 Silverado

Climb underneath the Silverado with the drain pan, brake cleaner and socket wrench. Place the drain pan underneath the drain and fill plugs on the side of the transfer case.

Spray the area around the plugs, and the plugs themselves, thoroughly with brake cleaner to remove any road dirt or other foreign material from the surface.

Remove the fill plug with the socket set by turning counterclockwise until you can pull the plug off by hand. Repeat this for the drain plug below the fill plug.

Allow the fluid to drain completely, then insert the drain plug by hand. Tighten the plug with the socket set. Pour the Dexron III fluid into the fill hole until the fluid reaches the bottom lip of the hole. Reinsert the fill plug and tighten it with the socket set.

 How to Change the Transfer Case Fluid in a Jeep

Jack up the vehicle and support all four corners on jack stands. Make sure the Jeep is high enough to comfortably work under the Jeep while still being stable and secure.

Position the drain pan under the rear of the transfer case. Locate the drain and fill plugs on the back of the transfer case. They are two round plugs with a square cut out in them that will accept the square drive from a ratchet extension.

Remove the bottom plug (the drain plug) from the transfer case using a ratchet and extension and allow the fluid to drain into the pan. Remove the top plug to allow the fluid to flow faster.

Reinstall the drain plug into the drain hole once the fluid stops running out of the case. Tighten it with the ratchet and extension bar. Install a bottle pump into the top of a bottle of ATF+4 and insert the tube from the pump into the fill hole.

Fill the transfer case with fluid with the bottle pump until fluid starts to run from the top fill hole. Remove the pump tubing from the hole and reinstall the plug. Tighten the plug with the ratchet and extension then wipe any excess fluid from the outside of the case with a clean rag.

Remove the drain pan from under the Jeep and dispose of the used fluid properly. Most auto parts stores will take used oil and fluids for recycling free of charge.

Support the Jeep with a jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Jeep slowly to the ground.