2020 Transfer Case Under-filled From Factory

[Blade1668]

Why mostly one year, and why the right side?
Why would underfilling cause a leak, but not bearing issues?
2020 model year didn't have the issue, and the later years don't seem to have it - it's pretty much 2021, maybe early '22.

Just a SWAG of mine, from my "knowledge" (that isn't as much as many others and no where near your knowledge) the gear oil needs to be at least slightly higher than bottom of inside axle tubes for gear oil to make it to bearings and the seal. Leading to possibly not getting (enough) gear oil out to the axle shaft bearing and seal then with the axle vent being on the left axle tube it may have pushed some more oil in that side during temperature changes and giving the left side more for lubrication at bearing / seal. Now mine didn't leak but when parked at my place the right side was almost always parked on a side slope with right side on downhill side at minimum of 15° to 25°. This is as I said my guess.

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[Caveman]

So I was a bit paranoid after finding both transfer case and the coolant levels low, and I opened up the power steering fluid reservoir. Well below the "low" mark... I don't so much blame Chrysler as the dealers who have been "servicing" it for its whole life up until now. And I don't mean to be slamming dealers particularly, either. It's just a reminder to me to not just trust shop "inspections." If you've got some miles on your truck and you haven't laid eyes yourself on the fluid levels of things that are relatively easy to check (t-case, diffs, coolant, PS fluid), you might want to do so.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I was a bit paranoid after finding both transfer case and the coolant levels low, and I opened up the power steering fluid reservoir. Well below the "low" mark... I don't so much blame Chrysler as the dealers who have been "servicing" it for its whole life up until now. And I don't mean to be slamming dealers particularly, either. It's just a reminder to me to not just trust shop "inspections." If you've got some miles on your truck and you haven't laid eyes yourself on the fluid levels of things that are relatively easy to check (t-case, diffs, coolant, PS fluid), you might want to do so.

Think of the majority of owner/drivers who don't get under their vehicles or even under the hood often if at all.................
The forums make it look like all Jeep owners do as you and I - the fact is, we're a minority.

 

[Hootbro]

So I was a bit paranoid after finding both transfer case and the coolant levels low, and I opened up the power steering fluid reservoir. Well below the "low" mark... I don't so much blame Chrysler as the dealers who have been "servicing" it for its whole life up until now. And I don't mean to be slamming dealers particularly, either. It's just a reminder to me to not just trust shop "inspections." If you've got some miles on your truck and you haven't laid eyes yourself on the fluid levels of things that are relatively easy to check (t-case, diffs, coolant, PS fluid), you might want to do so.

A bit of advice if you have not already figured it out, but make sure you get the correct MOPAR spec power steering fluid for electric power steering pump and not just throw in any generic or universal ATF type power steering fluid.

 

[Caveman]

Yes, thanks, researched that using earlier forum posts and ordered from Amazon. $28 for the proper fluid! Yikes! Keeping my YJ in fluids is much cheaper...

 

[Hootbro]

Yes, thanks, researched that using earlier forum posts and ordered from Amazon. $28 for the proper fluid! Yikes! Keeping my YJ in fluids is much cheaper...

Yeah, the stuff is made from Unicorn Tears. There is usually enough though to do a couple full reservoir change outs to refresh the system.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, thanks, researched that using earlier forum posts and ordered from Amazon. $28 for the proper fluid! Yikes! Keeping my YJ in fluids is much cheaper...

Yes but under normal circumstances, that bottle will last a long time. I added fluid to my 2020 once - actually the dealership did then gave me the rest of the bottle after I told them it was low after the steering gear TSB was performed, and I added just a touch to my 2022, it was below the middle point. So I still have most of that bottle left after 2 JTs and 5 years.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah, the stuff is made from Unicorn Tears. There is usually enough though to do a couple full reservoir change outs to refresh the system.

If you continue with that avatar, I'm going to have to counter with this...........

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