PTU no fluid ??

[Tuxedo10-SHO]

So I'm having some major engine work done, which meant the PTU was pulled as well, so I ask to have the fluid changed in the PTU while it was out of the car.
The mechanic called me today and said that the PTU had zero fluid, but plenty of sludge buildup. Minor leak at the rear seal, but didnt appear it was bad enough for it to run dry.
Before pulling the PTU, it seemed to be fine with no gear whine or other noticable issues that would indicate the PTU was dry ?
So my question, do I go ahead and replace it while its out of the vehicle, which is close to $ 1k for a new one, or just cross my fingers, add fluid and hope its fine.....my choice is to replace the PTU, but my pocketbook says different.
Anyone familiar with what to expect when draining the PTU and your findings ??

Thanks,

 

[krewat]

I have no specific idea about the PTU itself, but in general, gear-based stuff is easy to tell if it's bad. Bearings OK? Gears OK? Leave it.

The "sludge" might actually have turned to liquid when it heated up a bit.

What year SHO?

 

[SHOdded]

great time to give the ptu a kerosene bath to thin out and desludge. Then thoroughly airdry with compressed air, and refill with Amsoil, Redline or Royal Purple fluid preferentially. If you plan on regular fluid changes, Motorcraft should be fine.

 

[Majestic]

If you're going to keep it for awhile, replace the PTU with a serviceable unit.

 

[SHOinVa]

The mechanic called me today and said that the PTU had zero fluid, but plenty of sludge buildup.

- Not sure how many miles you have on your car, but this seems to be a lot more common then you would think given the amount of maintenance required. I had my fluid changed around 50000 and it was low with sludge also, seems the PTU is ******* oil and everyone has sludge, maybe its possible to replace the seals an rebuild it. If you do make sure you have them add a drain hole so its easier to do a fluid change.
C/

 

[Tuxedo10-SHO]

Thanks for the feedback, I dont have access to the unit or i would clean it myself, so I will need to rely on the shop to possibly do it for me.
The car has 76k on the clock and is a 2011.

Im going to see what the cost of the new unit is and go from there.

thanks,

 

[SilverSH0]

First thing I would do is have the shop clean out the PTU and let them assess wear on the gears to see where it's at. The PTU is simply a basic gearbox and there's not a ton to go wrong. If the lack of oil didn't cause excessive wear on the gears (visually noticeable) or bearings it should be fine. After they look at the gears and get everything clean, I would replace or keep depending on what they find. If I kept it I would have them install a drain plug for use later. There was a forum post I found once where someone detailed exactly where to put the plug (I think it was from an Edge, but it's the same PTU).

 

[SHOinVa]

After they look at the gears and get everything clean, I would replace or keep depending on what they find.

So I am going to throw this question out there for anyone who may know, "Is the PTU rebuild-able and or up-gradable". It does have seals so can the be replace and if it's just a gear box can you purchase better gears and replace the stock ones. Lastly since there are so many of them out there is it even worth rebuilding or can you just buy a new one for less money. Just wondering, as always thanks in advance an Have a Great Christmas all.
C/

 

[SHOdded]

Ford may have rebuild capability but any such information is not publicly available. We could look for replacement/upgrade parts, either way a time consuming endeavor at best and a money pit at worst. I base this on the history of getting HD gear sets made for the MTX SHO. The critical mass is just not there. Most people will just churn and burn through their vehicles.

 

[Tuxedo10-SHO]

Ok , so the final update on my several month project......
Some of you may have gone back to my old threads on the misfire issue that eventually I found was a collapsed piston ring land on # 4. I drove the car on a very limited basis until it finally went into limp mode , so I put it in the garage until i decided to pull the trigger and have a new long block crate motor installed.
While they were doing the work is when the issue with the dried up PTU came into play...again another decision to make.
I found that a brand new PTU from Ford with a warranty was $ 865, so to me purchasing a new PTU instead of chancing whether the old one was bad or not was a no brainer...especially since i was already putting in a new create motor.

So I got the car back yesterday...the thing drives better than ever...smooth as silk and no worries about anything since its all under warranty....they also found a crack in one of the plastic turbo tubes, not sure if they caused any power loss or not ?

So in the end, I needed to make a couple of major finacial decisions for a older vehicle....but in the end for $ 9k, I have a new motor and TPU, the front suspension is much more solid feeling since they had to tighten everything up.
If the car wasnt in perfect condition with only 76K miles, I may not have put the dollars into it, but I think in the end, spending the money was the right thing to do since I love this car.

Thoughts ????

 

[SHOdded]

Best wishes on your newly rejuvenated SHO. May it bring you endless joy in the years ahead

 

[Johnbigdog]

9k is a lot cheaper than 40k for a new unit.

 

[SHOinVa]

I may not have put the dollars into it, but I think in the end, spending the money was the right thing to do since I love this car.

Thoughts ????

Only you and some time will know what the right thing to do was, every car is worth something different to each person. I still have almost every car I ever bought sitting in the yard in various states of repair. I often wish I was one of those people who look at cars as "Just a Car". The point is, I almost never make a rational decision when it comes to cars so your asking the wrong person for thoughts. I wish you many years of happy motoring in your almost new SHO.
C/

 

[Daniel Hill]

What does PTU stand for ? Newbie 2017 SHO owner,
Thanks!

 

[Johnbigdog]

Power Transfer Unit.

It' a 90 degree gearbox splined to the differenial carrier.

 

[IamNabil]

Ok , so the final update on my several month project......
If the car wasnt in perfect condition with only 76K miles, I may not have put the dollars into it, but I think in the end, spending the money was the right thing to do since I love this car.

Thoughts ????

Worth it. I love mine, and having spent the past few years driving the worst car on the planet (a '15 Honda Fit), I'll never go back to a ****** Econo box.

 

[SHOinVa]

Worth it. I love mine, and having spent the past few years driving the worst car on the planet (a '15 Honda Fit), I'll never go back to a ****** Econo box.

LMAO - That is just way too funny, You went from a Honda Fit, to Taurus SHO. LMAO Did you trade it in or do you keep the Fit the trunk in case you need a spare car. LOL That is one **** of an upgrade.
C/

 

[Sgtmeatsauce1]

Mine was replaced under warranty at 36000 miles, it did whine before and after too, Ford Mechanic chastised me for it being low and thick black honey. I said sorry but I have now owned this vehicle for 160 miles....(bought used COPO 35,850 miles)

 

[IamNabil]

LMAO - That is just way too funny, You went from a Honda Fit, to Taurus SHO. LMAO Did you trade it in or do you keep the Fit the trunk in case you need a spare car. LOL That is one **** of an upgrade.
C/

Before the Fit, I drove a Mini Cooper, which was fantastic. Then I bought a house and had a kid on the same day, and I wanted to normalize costs, since the Mini costs BMW prices to repair. I thought I would try to be a not-car-guy for a few years and bought the Fit. It almost killed me. I HATED that car so much that it affected my home life. I bought a motorcycle and got my license just to get away from the damn car I hated.

 

[Magna]

And was the motorcycle a moped? Lol
Sorry just had too