Hello All, my son just purchaced a 2014 with almost 69,000. Car Fax report showed regular oil changes but nothing about servicing the PTU. Does anyone know of a shop near FT Bragg, NC that they could recommend? I have called both Ford dealers in Fayetteville, one of them does not offer the service and the other one has not called me back yet. I have done it a few times on my 2011, is the 2014 similar or does it have a drain plug? Any help and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
PTU gear oil chane
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FrankK
SHO Member
My wifes 2019 Flex has a drain on the PTU. My 2016 SHO does not have a drain on the PTU. If you have a way to get under the car it's easy to tell.
I purchased a pump and used it to drain the PTU on the SHO.
I purchased a pump and used it to drain the PTU on the SHO.
I’ve done it a few times on my 2011 and I actually drilled and tapped a drain plug on the bottom of the PTU. The problem is that I’m in Texas and he’s in North Carolina. Good news is that one of the local Ford dealers called back and said they do it for $149.00, same price as doing a differential or transfer case. I told him to get a quart of amsoil severe gear 75W140 and take it to the dealer and he should be good for another 30,000 miles. Thanks for the reply!
SilvererSHO
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There's a good chance they'll get it on the hoist, find it has no drain plug and then tell him: "sorry, it's sealed for life".
I actually spoke with the service manager and he sounded very knowledgeable about the procedure. He was familiar about pumping the old fluid out if there was no drain plug. He also knew the fluid is 75W140 and that it takes 18 ounces [ I thought it was closer to 20-22 oz?].
yaycandy
Aerospace Engineer
Yea my local ford shop pi ssed me off when the tech said its lifetime oil and they cant change it as they dont stock the fluid and dont have a step by step guide on it. Lol
Didn’t Ford change their stance on it being a lifetime oil? I thought I read a couple years back, probably on this forum, that they now recommend it changed every 30,000 miles or so?
yaycandy
Aerospace Engineer
I dont think so, we on here know to change it. Ford might has a service bulletin on it. Maybe thats why they added the drain plug later on also. With stock cats next to the ptu, the oil gets cooked. Change it out with redline or amsoil if you still have cats next to them.
Wouldn’t it be logical to say that if they added a drain plug later on that they realized that it wasn’t a lifetime oil? And after coming to that realization they would have sent every Ford dealer instructions on how to change the fluids? Although I am no mechanic, I’m handy enough to do this type of thing as well as having a garage to do it in. My son is stationed at Ft. Bragg and lives in the barracks so there is no place him or I to do it. Two local Ford dealers in the area but only one has done it. It’s aggravating as **** making several calls to finally find someone that understands what’s involved with a fairly simple fluid change. Thanks to all for the replies.
Most Army posts have an auto craft shop, check the MWR website.
Well, after approximately 5 hours, the dealer was finally able to get the PTU fluid changed. They said the delay was because their manual told them to take off the catalytic converter and needed to find new bolts. I walked the service manager through the process of removing the fill hole cap without taking the converter off, by taking the passenger side tire off and using a long 3/8 ratchet extension. Easy peasy and end of this drama. I feel much better knowing my sons SHO now has fresh fluids in the PTU! On the bright side, Lafayette Ford in Fayetteville, N.C did it for $60.00 using customer supplied Amsoil severe gear. I’m not sure that’s the normal price because I was originally quoted $149.00, or the service manager gave him discount because he was also in the 82nd? Thanks to all who have replied, I’m continually impressed by all the great members here trying to help out others.
SilvererSHO
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I will never understand why anyone would take off a wheel to access the PTU fill plug. Being a ma$ochist possibly?
I’m scratching my head trying to figure out what’s so hard about taking off 1 wheel. If you have an easier way, please do tell.
SilvererSHO
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I have a pit so if you're up on a hoist....same deal. As long as the converter is cool and you have a fine tooth ratchet I can fairly easily slide my larger hands/forearms right up along the PTU and get the plug out in about 2-3 minutes. The initial indexing of the 3/8" socket into the plug is the toughest part. Once it's in, don't let it fall out. I also use teflon tape instead of dope so the plug is easier to maneuver in your fingertips when reinstalling. If you're on your back on ramps/jackstands things may be different but I've never done it that way. So by the time you've ripped off a wheel and found the right combination of extensions and universal joints you could already have the plug out and sucking oil. And if you weight 160lbs. and have spindly arms you're already at an advantage over me.
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I don’t have the luxury of having a pit or a lift and I assume a very large percentage of members here do not as well. So for the rest of us, removing a wheel is our best option. I’ve done it by using a ratchet under the car but I find using about 2-1/2 to 3 feet of 3/8 extensions and sitting on a stool next to the wheel well much easier and comfortable. I’m no *********, I just adapt to my situation by being resourceful.
SilvererSHO
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Fair enough, but your post stated you were coaching the stealership how to do it. That's why I assumed it was being done on a hoist.
Yea I get where your coming from now. It’s a damn shame they couldn’t figure it out themselves but I guess the converter was in the way of getting the ratchet in there? That’s why I suggested to them to follow the passenger side axle through the wheel well. I’ve done it several times and once the wheel is off it literally takes about a minute to get the extension in there and remote plug, probably less.
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