What transfer case fluid do I need?

[AJ1993]

I am way in over my head and have a few questions if thats ok.

I have a 2000 manual 4.0 Sahara and want to change the transfer case fluid. I have been looking online for hours and can't work out which case I have. Does anybody know?

Also, and I know this is going to sound very dense, but is transfer case fluid and transmission fluid the same thing?

 

[AJ1993]

Literally any type of ATF is fine in our Wrangler transfer cases. Our transfer cases are definitely not fussy about the exact type of ATF they run on like our transmissions definitely are. Mercon, Dexron, ATF+4, are all just as good inside the transfer case.

Jeep only recommends the same type of ATF that the automatic transmission requires to keep things simple. As do I, I just use the same ATF in my 241 tcase that my automatic transmission requires.

But if you have a manual transmission and don't care which ATF you have on the shelf in your garage, you can buy any type of ATF that you want or is on sale for the transfer case.

I am way in over my head and have a few questions if thats ok.

I have a 2000 manual 4.0 Sahara and want to change the transfer case fluid. I have been looking online for hours and can't work out which case I have. Does anybody know?

Also, and I know this is going to sound very dense, but is transfer case fluid and transmission fluid the same thing?

 

[Chris]

I am way in over my head and have a few questions if thats ok.

I have a 2000 manual 4.0 Sahara and want to change the transfer case fluid. I have been looking online for hours and can't work out which case I have. Does anybody know?

Also, and I know this is going to sound very dense, but is transfer case fluid and transmission fluid the same thing?

You didn't look hard enough:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-stock-specifications.71/#post-179
You have a 231 transfer case.

As for transfer case fluid, see here:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-fluid-capacities.195/
1.1 quarts ATF+3 or ATF+4 is what you need.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

For the transfer case literally any ATF is fine. Chris's recommendations were correct though you can no longer find ATF+3 on the store shelves, it was replaced by ATF+4. There are lots of different ATFs on the shelves, any would be fine in the transfer case, but ATF+4 would be a great choice.

No, ATF is not the same as transmission lube.

 

[AJ1993]

You didn't look hard enough:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-stock-specifications.71/#post-179
You have a 231 transfer case.

As for transfer case fluid, see here:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-fluid-capacities.195/
1.1 quarts ATF+3 or ATF+4 is what you need.

Thank you for these links. So there are 4 different types of manual 5 speed transmissions. How do I work out which one I have and which transmission fluid I need?

 

[Vasq]

Thank you for these links. So there are 4 different types of manual 5 speed transmissions. How do I work out which one I have and which transmission fluid I need?

Are you tolling us? What does the link say?

If you have a 2000, a 4.0l straight six, and a 5 speed manual...

 

[Chris]

Thank you for these links. So there are 4 different types of manual 5 speed transmissions. How do I work out which one I have and which transmission fluid I need?

If you have a 2000 you have the NV3550.

Did you read that link I sent you? Specifically here:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-stock-specifications.71/

 

[AJ1993]

If you have a 2000 you have the AX-15.

Did you read that link I sent you? Specifically here:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/wrangler-tj-stock-specifications.71/

Thank you for all of your assistance with this. I am new to the wrangler world and am a little confused. I did look at this link and uts says that a 2000 has the NV3550? How come your saying it is the AX-15?

 

[AJ1993]

Are you tolling us? What does the link say?

If you have a 2000, a 4.0l straight six, and a 5 speed manual...

I am new to the site and the world of wranglers so please bare with me.

 

[Chris]

Thank you for all of your assistance with this. I am new to the wrangler world and am a little confused. I did look at this link and uts says that a 2000 has the NV3550? How come your saying it is the AX-15?

I misspoke, it is the NV3550. I didn't get a chance to edit my post before you caught my error.

 

[AJ1993]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. Now i'm going to try and not balls this up!

 

[AJ1993]

First of all thanks for all your help before. The fluid changes are going well. A very quick question from me. I am about to purchase the ATF+4 for my NV231 Transfer case. I can only find ATF+4 Automatic Transmission fluid, but my TJ is a 4.0L manual. Am I missing something or can I only get automatic fluid?
Kind regards.
AJ

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/p/m...BPC6csNcsX5ohkLkCDEYe3vjfpbRazSgaAmq9EALw_wcB

 

[N757KF]

Your transmission (gearbox to you) is separate from the transfer case. Their fluids don't mix.
If it says ATF+4 on the container you're good to go .

 

[02_TJ]

For the transfer case literally any ATF is fine. Chris's recommendations were correct though you can no longer find ATF+3 on the store shelves, it was replaced by ATF+4. There are lots of different ATFs on the shelves, any would be fine in the transfer case, but ATF+4 would be a great choice.

No, ATF is not the same as transmission lube.

resurrecting this thread, I have some leftover redline Red Line (50204) SAE 75W80 API GL-4 Manual Transmission fluid. assuming this is fine to the T-case as well? thanks y'all are awesome

 

[Jerry Bransford]

resurrecting this thread, I have some leftover redline Red Line (50204) SAE 75W80 API GL-4 Manual Transmission fluid. assuming this is fine to the T-case as well? thanks y'all are awesome

That's not an ATF as is specified for the chain driven transfer case.

 

[02_TJ]

That's not an ATF as is specified for the chain driven transfer case.

OK, so is MTF different than ATF?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

OK, so is MTF different than ATF?

Yes, MTF is Manual Transmission Fluid aka gear lube, ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid. ATF is specified for the TJ's transfer case because it is chain based. A gear lube is right for older gear-based transfer cases without chains but the TJ transfer case uses a chain which is why ATF is specified.

 

[02_TJ]

Yes, MTF is Manual Transmission Fluid aka gear lube, ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid. ATF is specified for the TJ's transfer case because it is chain based. A gear lube is right for older gear-based transfer cases without chains but the TJ transfer case uses a chain which is why ATF is specified.

Awesome info thank you for that!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

P.S. Don't ask me why ATF is specified for the transfer case and its chain, that's above my pay grade.

 

[02_TJ]

P.S. Don't ask me why ATF is specified for the transfer case and its chain, that's above my pay grade.

Lol