Your Neighborhood Full Service Repair Facility
We Service Foreign & Domestic Vehicles
We Diagnose & Fix Problems The First Time
Tuffy Sells Tires
"100 years of combined experience in the automotive industry"
November 19, 2023
Ever wonder how all-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicles get the power from the engine to the front and rear wheels? The magic happens in what's called a transfer case. In some all-wheel-drive vehicles, it's sometime called a power take-off unit, or PTU.
Inside the transfer case is a set of gears. And to keep those gears meshing smoothly, they have to be lubricated and kept cool. What does that is called transfer case fluid. Depending on your vehicle's type of transfer case, it is filled with either an automatic transmission fluid, a gear oil that's a bit thicker or transfer case fluid designed to be use for your transfer case.
As happens with all lubricating fluids, the transfer case fluid has things in it that break down the older they get. They have corrosion inhibitors, detergents and anti-foaming agents that keep the lubricant from getting air bubbles in it. Transfer cases don't have filters in them to clean out impurities.
If you don't have your transfer case fluid exchanged for fresh, you risk damage to the case, and that can run into thousands of dollars. So the wise driver makes sure the fluid is changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations. For many vehicles, that is every 30,000 mi/50,000 km, but some require it more frequently. Your vehicle service facility can advise you on what your vehicle's optimal interval is.
During the fluid exchange, any metal filings that may have come off are cleaned off of the drain and fill plugs that are usually magnetized to catch the stray metal pieces.
If you hear grinding noises coming from under your vehicle or if it is having trouble shifting gears or going in and out of 4-wheel-drive, those could be signs your transfer case needs service. In that case, have our technicians check it out. The best plan of action? Keep your transfer case fluid maintained and it should keep you heading down the road for years to come.
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City
2131 Stringtown Road
Grove City, Ohio 43123
614-871-4020
http://www.tuffygrovecity.com
January 19, 2025
If you drive a vehicle with a gasoline engine, thank the spark plugs for igniting the gasoline/air mixture in each cylinder that keeps your vehicle traveling smoothly down the road every day. Your spark plugs work hard, firing thousands of times in a well-choreographed order, and you usually don... More
January 12, 2025
Spring is a peak season for vehicle sales; companies aggressively market new models and offer all sorts of incentives. So you may be tempted to buy a shiny new beauty. But should you? If you've regularly maintained the vehicle you're driving now, you probably don't NEED a new one. Even if your... More
January 5, 2025
After months of postponing travel far away from home, a lot of us can't wait to hit the road and scream "Road Trip!" again. But how long has it been since the vehicle you're planning on taking has had a thorough inspection? And is it roadworthy for several days on the highway? Time to schedule a... More
