2013 PP, Dealership Question

[Hypergun]

Purchased a 2013 PP sho with 87k miles on it a few months ago. Brought it into the dealership that sold it certified used in 2018 for a toe link recall.
For my piece of mind and laziness I had them do a trans service, brake fluid service, fuel system service and some other fluids. I also specifically mentioned I wanted them to change the fluid on the PTU/transfer case. They called me the following morning saying that it’s quite an involved job that requires removing cats and various other things, book time 3 hours and would set me back the best part of $500 and they recommended simply not doing it.
I’m no mechanic and usually let a good Indy shop handle all my repairs (this is the first non German/Japanese car I’ve owned and am still trying to find a shop I trust to work on the SHO)
It is my understanding that it’s not a super complicated task and definitely shouldn’t cost $500, can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

 

[SM105K]

For what it is, you are lucky they are even entertaining the thought. Most dealerships go with the "It's a Lifetime Fluid" route and won't bother.

If you have a 2013+ PP this is the easiest way to change the fluid.

What I did, what I used, and how I did it. You can do it yourself, or you can have a shop do this.
I would buy some Redline Lightweight Shockproof fluid off Amazon, 2 and a half feet of 1/4 id rubber fuel hose, some aluminum foil, and this thread to them below.

https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,8081.msg144207.html#msg144207

I would bring aluminum foil to cover the downpipes and 02 sensor. Drain the PTU fluid and have them catch the fluid in a pan. Measure to see how much comes out, and the how bad shape the fluid is in. See if there are any chunkies in the fluid. Metal shavings on the magnet drain plug are normal. It is a direct gear drive system with the PTU. The aluminum foil will protect everything and clean up will be a snap. Clean and re-install the drain plug.

Route the hose down from near the brake booster. Then tell them to remove vent hose from the top of the PTU and slip that 1/4 inch fuel line hose onto the vent tube. The hose will be snug and should not slip off. Use that to fill refill the PTU with fluid. This will take some time. The PTU holds roughly 18 oz of fluid. Remove the hose, put the PTU vent hose back on. It's that simple. Should take less then an hour.

Alot of the guys on here have drilled and tapped the PTU including myself. They drain it on the bottom. Then add a plug. We secure the hose to the vent tube, and put the vent on the hose itself. Secure it in the engine compartment and change the fluid every 20k miles.

 

[Hypergun]

Thanks

For what it is, you are lucky they are even entertaining the thought. Most dealerships go with the "It's a Lifetime Fluid" route and won't bother.

If you have a 2013+ PP this is the easiest way to change the fluid.

What I did, what I used, and how I did it. You can do it yourself, or you can have a shop do this.
I would buy some Redline Lightweight Shockproof fluid off Amazon, 2 and a half feet of 1/4 id rubber fuel hose, some aluminum foil, and this thread to them below.

https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,8081.msg144207.html#msg144207

I would bring aluminum foil to cover the downpipes and 02 sensor. Drain the PTU fluid and have them catch the fluid in a pan. Measure to see how much comes out, and the how bad shape the fluid is in. See if there are any chunkies in the fluid. Metal shavings on the magnet drain plug are normal. It is a direct gear drive system with the PTU. The aluminum foil will protect everything and clean up will be a snap. Clean and re-install the drain plug.

Route the hose down from near the brake booster. Then tell them to remove vent hose from the top of the PTU and slip that 1/4 inch fuel line hose onto the vent tube. The hose will be snug and should not slip off. Use that to fill refill the PTU with fluid. This will take some time. The PTU holds roughly 18 oz of fluid. Remove the hose, put the PTU vent hose back on. It's that simple. Should take less then an hour.

Alot of the guys on here have drilled and tapped the PTU including myself. They drain it on the bottom. Then add a plug. We secure the hose to the vent tube, and put the vent on the hose itself. Secure it in the engine compartment and change the fluid every 20k miles.

Hey thanks, SM105K. Super helpful. I will research/ask around and find a shop willing to do this for me. I feel like a good transmission shop would have no problem with this kind of thing but I may be mistaken.
Usually I try to stay away from the dealer unless I need service history or hard to find parts but hey here we are. At least they gave me a loaner car I guess...

 

[SHOinVa]

There are dozens of threads on this issue, and thousands of words written so I'll give you the short version and you can look around for the details.
-Yes it needs to be done, the oil does not hold up over time, my guess is the there is a lot of heat coming of the cats that causes the oil to heat up and degrade.
- This is one of those times when two opposing things are true, its a pain in a** but also really pretty simple to do. The problem is no one really knows that much about it and the ones that do feel like its not worth there time.
- There are two versions of the PTU, one with a drain plug one without, I have one without which means I have to find a shop with a vacuum pump, who knows what there doing. Your right a good transmission shop is probably your best bet. Hope that helps.
Charlie

 

[Sksho17]

At a Ford dealership they will look at the workshop manual and fords labor times. It tells you to drain the ptu fluid and then to fill it you need to remove the ptu temperature sensor (if equipped) and use that hole to fill it. There’s no procedure for a non cooled ptu because they have “lifetime” fluid. The previous poster was correct the rh catalyst (rear) needs to be removed in order to access the temp sensor to remove and install it. I did what was previously stated and hooked a rubber hose to the vent and ran it up near the brake reservoir.

 

[Hypergun]

Thanks for the replies guys.
It’s the start of a busy week for me but on Friday I will endevour to go into a few shops and try to explain the situation. On the upside when my car was in the for the recall I had Ford change out most fluids and do a ‘fuel system service’ (carbon cleaning). Might be all in my head but the car definitely feels a little bit more responsive and pulls a little harder, especially in higher gears.

 

[SeanDev]

Yeah just tap your PTU. I did mine 2 months after purchase because I ran into the same problem, as soon as I heard lifetime fluid i knew it was up to me to get the job done. Now I just remove fill plug, remove drain plug, using a pump I then fill through fill plug. PTU oil change takes about 10min for me.

 

[Anniken]

For what it is, you are lucky they are even entertaining the thought. Most dealerships go with the "It's a Lifetime Fluid" route and won't bother.

If you have a 2013+ PP this is the easiest way to change the fluid.

What I did, what I used, and how I did it. You can do it yourself, or you can have a shop do this.
I would buy some Redline Lightweight Shockproof fluid off Amazon, 2 and a half feet of 1/4 id rubber fuel hose, some aluminum foil, and this thread to them below.

https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,8081.msg144207.html#msg144207

I would bring aluminum foil to cover the downpipes and 02 sensor. Drain the PTU fluid and have them catch the fluid in a pan. Measure to see how much comes out, and the how bad shape the fluid is in. See if there are any chunkies in the fluid. Metal shavings on the magnet drain plug are normal. It is a direct gear drive system with the PTU. The aluminum foil will protect everything and clean up will be a snap. Clean and re-install the drain plug.

Route the hose down from near the brake booster. Then tell them to remove vent hose from the top of the PTU and slip that 1/4 inch fuel line hose onto the vent tube. The hose will be snug and should not slip off. Use that to fill refill the PTU with fluid. This will take some time. The PTU holds roughly 18 oz of fluid. Remove the hose, put the PTU vent hose back on. It's that simple. Should take less then an hour.

Alot of the guys on here have drilled and tapped the PTU including myself. They drain it on the bottom. Then add a plug. We secure the hose to the vent tube, and put the vent on the hose itself. Secure it in the engine compartment and change the fluid every 20k miles.

This is a couple years old, so after I find this mysterious forbidden hidden treasure PTU vent hose, add some hose to run it up to the engine bay, and I can leave it there?

 

[SM105K]

This is a couple years old, so after I find this mysterious forbidden hidden treasure PTU vent hose, add some hose to run it up to the engine bay, and I can leave it there?

Yeah. On the top there should be a the vent tube and the vent itself. You can remove the vent from the tube. Put your longer tube on, do your service, then push the vent onto the longer hose. I tucked it behind the brake booster. It is still a vent, and you have your fill tube. I changed my PTU fluid every 15k miles.

 

[Anniken]

Yeah. On the top there should be a the vent tube and the vent itself. You can remove the vent from the tube. Put your longer tube on, do your service, then push the vent onto the longer hose. I tucked it behind the brake booster. It is still a vent, and you have your fill tube. I changed my PTU fluid every 15k miles.

Alright, have you seen any yt videos or pictures to access it, I’ve looked for days and can’t really find much information about it at all.

 

[Anniken]

Yeah. On the top there should be a the vent tube and the vent itself. You can remove the vent from the tube. Put your longer tube on, do your service, then push the vent onto the longer hose. I tucked it behind the brake booster. It is still a vent, and you have your fill tube. I changed my PTU fluid every 15k miles.

Also are you the dude who owns auto racing on YouTube?

 

[SM105K]

Also are you the dude who owns auto racing on YouTube?

No that is @Jordan_R. I dont have a Youtube presence. The only social media I have, is IG @fafomotorsports.