Changed CX-9 transfer case oil myself (photos)

[avidien]

Looks like the OEM transfer oil is Motorcraft 75W/140 according to these links:

Ford Edge and Flex owners doing exactly what we're doing, suctioning out the old and pumping in the new oil

http://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9334

someone even went as far as getting a full oil analysis done for Motorcraft 75W/140:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2623330&page=1

looks like Ford owners have no confidence in the OEM Motorcraft 75W/140 so-called "lifetime" oil either :

 

[voldsom]

Looks like the OEM transfer oil is Motorcraft 75W/140 according to these links:

Ford Edge and Flex owners doing exactly what we're doing, suctioning out the old and pumping in the new oil

http://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9334

someone even went as far as getting a full oil analysis done for Motorcraft 75W/140:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2623330&page=1

My god, the sludge in these things:
http://s159.photobucket.com/user/the_natrix/library/Ford Edge PTU?sort=3&page=1

Got the link to this photo album from the links you provided Avidien... This is on my to-do list in the next month... The vehicle will only have 5000 miles on it, but I will post pictures and we can start to get a history of the fluids in these things hopefully. $20 bucks a quart ain't bad to prevent this issue...

 

[voldsom]

The more I read about this on all the Ford forums you are finding, the more shocked I am Mazda hasn't distanced themselves from this known issue... I mean seriously, I know it's a Ford maintenance schedule and shared part, but they can certainly step around them for THEIR dealer network and at least change the schedule/offer the damn service to people... All it would equal is more profit for something they charge $150 for.

 

[Blujett2.0]

I feel sick thinking what my TC fluid looks like. 6yrs old and 40K miles...never changed. :S This is going to be done ASAP! Thanks for all your work! I'll try to take pics to contribute.

 

[avidien]

just a quick update guys, logged in over 3500 miles since changing my TC case oil,
I'm happy to report everything is running smoothly, no burning oil smell or hard shifts

Actually gained a mile per gallon since swapping the old oil out.
I used to log in ~ 17.5 mpg mixed highway/city, now averaging about 18.5 mpg mixed highway/city

 

[voldsom]

just a quick update guys, logged in over 3500 miles since changing my TC case oil,
I'm happy to report everything is running smoothly, no burning oil smell or hard shifts

Actually gained a mile per gallon since swapping the old oil out.
I used to log in ~ 17.5 mpg mixed highway/city, now averaging about 18.5 mpg mixed highway/city

Excellent. Thanks for the update @avidien!! Pretty impressive efficiency increase too, and makes sense, as drive-line friction causes a lot of losses.

 

[avidien]

Excellent. Thanks for the update @avidien!! Pretty impressive efficiency increase too, and makes sense, as drive-line friction causes a lot of losses.

You're welcome Voldsom, I was curious to see if the 2015 models have new transfer cases with larger capacities.

the official 2015 owner's manual is still showing the miniscule 1/2 liter on page 593
https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2015_CX-9_OM_web.pdf

(not sure if Mazda was just lazy and didn't update the manual OR worse, still the same transfer case)
I don't think it would be the former since that would open them up to huge lawsuits if people start putting in only 1/2 liter of oil into cases meant to have much more.

Sort of like that Ford/Firestone fiasco years ago where Ford had really low tire pressures listed in the owners manual and tires were falling apart on highways, I believe it was more because of Firestone's faulty tires but Firestone blamed Ford for listing low tire pressures in the owners manual.

 

[Sealant]

not sure if Mazda was just lazy and didn't update the manual OR worse, still the same transfer case)

My old 7E53-7251-BH (2008 CX9) does not look much different externally (if any) from 7E53-7251-BT (AW21-27-500N-9U). Just comparing the external physical size and placement of the fill plug - I doubt that the fluid capacity is much (if any) different - but would like to corrected if it is not accurate.

My original unit does not have an AW stamp number - my replacement unit does. Both stamped FoMoCo.

When I pulled the old one apart - the guts look OK, oil is not quite as bad as the Ford Edge forum - but man it is the foulest smelling stuff on the planet! Thick, black, gluggy, and stinky.

My original one started to go at around 100,000 km (62,000miles). Mazda in Australia did not want to know a thing about it - on the telephone just said it is wear and tear! Did not even reply to my letter.

I like the idea of the Ford Edge guys and the drain plug.

I am also almost thinking that if one is going to keep this car for the long haul - might as well just buy a new PTU and stick it under the house - in case they stop making these things at some stage or change the running gear.

You guys in the US have it not too bad in comparison - they set you back in the vicinity of $US600 for a new transfer case......in Australia they are flogging us $2500/2600AUS. Amazing how Fedex and UPS have changed the world from local monopolies to a globally competitive market........purchasing by way of click from the other side of the world certainly has changed the market place.

By the way - for the Aussie guys - the AW21-27-500N-9U fits my car and works perfectly.

Thanks to Avidien - your sharing of knowledge is certainly appreciated. I hope we can all have some updates of your success down the track.

 

[chuyler1]

Actually gained a mile per gallon since swapping the old oil out.
I used to log in ~ 17.5 mpg mixed highway/city, now averaging about 18.5 mpg mixed highway/city

Not to bust your bubble but your increase also coincides with the switch from winter to summer fuel mix. I haven't changed my gear oil yet (its on the TODO list) but in the past month I've seen my average go from 18 mpg to 20 mpg. Driving pattern or idle time hasn't changed a bit. It's just the gas.

 

[avidien]

Not to bust your bubble but your increase also coincides with the switch from winter to summer fuel mix. I haven't changed my gear oil yet (its on the TODO list) but in the past month I've seen my average go from 18 mpg to 20 mpg. Driving pattern or idle time hasn't changed a bit. It's just the gas.

ah, good point chuyler, didn't even cross my mind about the winter vs summer mix. thanks for pointing this out,

anyways, car is still running fine after swapping out the oil,
even Ford recommends changing the 75W140 oil every 20,000 miles for the Ford Edge which uses the same exact CX-9 AWD PTU (transfer case)
(granted it says driving off road at high ambient temps, I rather play it safe and not assume 75W140 is lifetime oil when all other car manufacturers recommend changing it)