Bconley3 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 I know this topic has been beat into the ground but I need some more information on this PTU fluid change. I am thinking of preventive maintenance and I have a couple questions on how many PTU cases are there that the fluid needs to be changed? Once I drain the fluid or suck the fluid out do I refill a halfway or all the way for 10-15 minute drive to drain out again? What is the best fluid to do this with? I have not had any problems with my transmission or anything along those lines I have 90,000 miles on the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieguy Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Since yours is a 2012 it'll most likely be a suck and fill procedure. 2015 and newer have a drain plug that makes PTU fluid changes easier. I'd use a pump and suck out as much as you can from the PTU and then fill with a high quality 75w-140 fluid like Redline. I fill mine until it drips out of the fill plug. I ordered my Redline fluid from wally world's website for less than 20 bucks free shipping. MACT did an excellent write up on youtube and showed that Redline has excellent additives. It's a shame that many, if not most, gear oils are severely lacking a robust additive pack. I change out my PTU fluid every 8k miles. Certainly many would think that's overkill, but I'm in Texas and the heat roasted one of the PTU seals at 47k miles. On my new seal and doing PTU fluid changes religiously now, especially since my powertrain warranty is up. Hope this helps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefduane Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Wow, 8k intervals IS pretty short. I do mine at 20k and I am also in Texas, DFW. I've found a local shop that will do a suck/fill for about $75 and paying that is worth it to me. I have mine done with Mobil-1 full synth gear oil. I do think that the Redline product is probably better but I think that keeping my intervals no longer than 20k is within the limits of any breakdown of the M1 product. Bconley, if you're at 90k with no problems consider yourself lucky but I wouldn't test fate. Either have it done or do it yourself ASAP. You can research yourself to death on what fluid to use. My advice is to pick a high temp full synthetic from one of the reputable brands and you should be fine. Regular flush/fills is the key rather than the brand of fluid IMHO. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bconley3 Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 ok thanks for all this info. is the in the front or the back of the car and when your are changing the fuilx do you fill it up all the way the first time as u drive it 10 miles or so before draining it again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1004ron Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 ok thanks for all this info. is the in the front or the back of the car and when your are changing the fuilx do you fill it up all the way the first time as u drive it 10 miles or so before draining it again? Each time you should completely fill it to the normal level (the fill plug hole), and the number of short succession refills at about 100 miles would depend on the state of the oil that you drain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 I think even if the fluid comes out fine, if it is a firsttime drain, I would do an intermediate fill with a cheaper but still full synthetic product like SuperTech, drain it after a few miles, then the final fill with a top notch fluid brand. Fluid that came with the PTU will have breakin metals that it is best to evacuate as completely as possible in order to give the new fluid the best chance to do its job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 My dealer's service technician recommended 36k (every three years). Service manager thought 30k was sufficient. If you have 90k on yours, take a look at the seals. Dealer found mine leaking at an oil change; around that time. Said they could change the seal for $450. (I ok'ed but they changed the unit when they discovered I had an extended warranty). One point to consider is an extended warranty would cost less that a new unit. Service manual states if the fluid looks black, it's still ok. So if you do change your own, don't panic when you see its color. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bconley3 Posted July 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 i will look into it but mine is not leaking so i will just go after the fuild right now.. thanks again to everyones infor on this ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14AWD3.5 Posted November 3, 2018 Report Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) Definately get it changed, probably going to be quite dark colored, mine was dark brown just at 14K... theres a huge thread (33 pages) complete with pics and make it yourself zip tie dipstick... tons of options to include getting the unit tapped for a drain plug. I wont do that due to having an ESP. If you dont have any warranty and want to change it often, thats the thing to do as far as I am concerned. My purchase dealer change was $100, my new to me dealer doesnt change them (?) so its drive to another that does... Edited November 3, 2018 by 14AWD3.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14AWD3.5 Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Would be nice to get all these PTU threads merged into one, though it would be big. I've posted on others that for non DYI ers, just take it to Firestone or Goodyear, I had to show them (Firestone) where the fill/drain plug was but then $80 later it was done. I've had 50% success with Ford dealers, one did the change, another refused saying "its a lifetime fluid". duhh I have done mine 3x in 55K, now will settle down to every 30K, along with coolant. Don't forget your RDU at least once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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