Does Your Vehicle Have a Transfer Case and What Does It Do?
If you have a 4 wheel or all wheel drive vehicle, it utilizes some sort of transfer case, which is incorporated into a transaxle or an all- wheel drive unit.
The transfer case splits the power from the rear wheel drive to the 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. It engages another set of gears through a shift fork the driver operates either electronically (with a switch or button) or mechanically with a shifter mechanism.
4 wheel drive vehicles utilize an additional differential in the front axle. Some cars utilize an automatic 4 wheel drive that senses the rear axle spinning faster than the front and comes on to give that needed traction from all 4 wheels. All wheel drive vehicles split power to both front and rear axles continuously.
The best way to take care of the transfer case is to keep the fluid inside the transfer case clean and full. The fluid is designed to keep the transfer case clean, cool and lubricated. So, if the fluid gets dirty or low it is not going to do the job it is designed for and can cause damage internally in the transfer case. The automotive industry standard for servicing transfer cases is about every 50,000 miles. We recommend having it inspected with each oil change service and having it serviced when the fluid starts to change color. If a leak is detected we recommend having it repaired as soon as possible, so that the fluid level never runs low. Happy Motoring!
All About Automotive
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