john50

Does anyone have a step-by-step process for changing the transfer case fluid?

I have the new oil, ready for this weekend. I just want to make sure that I know what I'm getting into, and have all the tools ready.

hyspeed808

there is no transfer case...theres the rear diff and a front diff, both have a drain plug at the lowest point and the fill plug is usually just above the drain.. its pretty easy and straight forward, after you drain just fill it to right below the fill plug... I used a allen key to see how full it was getting.
Be sure to use the right Honda/Acura diff fluid, at our shop we noticed other grades of diff fluid would cause a slight whining sound.

XLR8R

This is completely incorrect. The Acura RDX Service Manual page 14-408 describes maintenance on the: Transfer Assembly.

The Transfer Assembly only transfers driveline torque to the rear differential, it has one output shaft. It is not a differential.

Front differential functions take place within the transmission/transaxle (page 14-395: Automatic Transmission Differential).

DO NOT USE ATF-Z1 TRANSMISSION/DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IN THE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY.

THE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY TAKES 0.45 QUART, SAE 90 or 80W90, HYPOID GEAR OIL, API CLASSIFIED GL4 OR GL5. (page 14-241).

The transmission and rear differential take ATF-Z1.

hyspeed808

I stand corrected.. I was mainly referring to the right fluid for the rear diff, thats the one we usually get the whining sound from..so we just change it out for the right stuff and the noise starts to go away, if it continues then we refer them to the honda dealer.
I was thinking as in the typical Transfer case found in selectable 4wd systems...

john50

I finally did the transfer case fluid change. I misread the owners manual, that has the fluid types and volumes listed. So I had three quarts on hand, thinking it was going to take 2.6 quarts.

I made sure to drain the transfer case, only after checking to make sure the viscosity and color were right, to make sure I wasn't draining the transmission. It was thicker and not red, so I proceeded.

But it only took about 1 quart of gear oil. I searched the manual but couldn't find the capacity of the transfer case.

Does anyone know what the correct drain and fill volume is for the transfer case>

Joe Las Vegas

I just read the 2013 owners manual (p 345) and they specify Acura HGO-1 fluid for the transfer case, as opposed to unspecified SAE 90 or SAE 80w-90 API GL4 or GL5 fluid (2009 owners manual, p 432). I wonder if that's new fluid acura just got, because I can't find it anywhere online for sale, not even on E-bay.

mifesto

considering how little the front transfer case takes, I found I have over .5 quarts of each.... lets get some opinion on what I should put in...


redline 75w90 mt-90 gl4
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46


redline 75w90 gear oil gl5


amsoil 75w90 gl4 gear oil
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...r-lube-75w-90/

dcmodels

This is *not* a hypoid-gear oil, which is the requirement for the RDX transfer case. Read your own link.

You will need to verify that this is a hypoid-gear oil, as a GL-4 hypoid-gear oil is very rare and difficult to find. GL-4 is typically for manual transmissions, which contain *yellow* metals, and do *not* contain hypoid gears.

I have not seen a GL-4 rated oil in more than 20 years which is rated for hypoid gears, but I did not check your AmsOil link as that oil does not interest me. You will need to do your own checking.

GL-5 is typically for differentials which do contain hypoid gears, and do *not* contain *yellow* metals. Most GL-5 will corrode *yellow* (bronze) metal, although there are rare GL-5 oils which will not corrode *yellow* metal. Its the sulfer compounds in GL-5 oil which corrodes *yellow* metal.