Service your RDU and PTU EARLY!

[EtanSM]

I planned a trip to Florida towing my 2500lb camper. Decided I should service the transmission, RDU, and PTU before the trip. Glad I did. The truck had 38k when I performed the service. Transmission fluid looked fine but the RDU and PTU fluids looked like liquid metal. Like many other people’s opinions, I highly recommend you service these items before 30k miles. Both units seemed underfilled and obviously very metallic. This is a 2023 Maverick, Ecoboost, FX4, 4k towing.

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[Finnster]

Quick! Store the drain oil in clear mason jars, let it sit for a week, then see if any water separates out.

 

[Hootbro]

I did my wife's Bronco Sport PTU and RDU at 15K miles and it looked a lot like what you showed. Recently changed it again at 30K miles and the fluid looked almost pristine and probably could have gone a lot more but showed that first change out is pretty important.

Probably will do my Maverick Hybrid AWD at 5K miles and then every 15K to 20K miles after that.

 

[matmondro]

When I did my first PTU and RDU service at 25k miles, the fluids looked just like that.

As @Hootbro mentioned above, when doing my second service yesterday at 50k miles, the PTU and RDU fluids looked essentially brand new. Which was very surprising, but great to see!

 

[EtanSM]

Quick! Store the drain oil in clear mason jars, let it sit for a week, then see if any water separates out.

I definitely should have, but it was a few weeks ago and the fluid is long gone. If I was still active duty I would have taken a couple samples over to NDI for oil analysis, would be interesting to see the results.

 

[WJOHNM]

I planned a trip to Florida towing my 2500lb camper. Decided I should service the transmission, RDU, and PTU before the trip. Glad I did. The truck had 38k when I performed the service. Transmission fluid looked fine but the RDU and PTU fluids looked like liquid metal. Like many other people’s opinions, I highly recommend you service these items before 30k miles. Both units seemed underfilled and obviously very metallic. This is a 2023 Maverick, Ecoboost, FX4, 4k towing.

besides being dirty is that metal in there try putting it a magnet in it.

 

[CajunMick]

Wondering if it’s PEMEX lube oil?
I would have sent it for sample analysis.
My truck approaching 10 k miles. Might bring it in for tranny, and drive check, change.

 

[710-oil-614]

I did my wife's Bronco Sport PTU and RDU at 15K miles and it looked a lot like what you showed. Recently changed it again at 30K miles and the fluid looked almost pristine and probably could have gone a lot more but showed that first change out is pretty important.

Probably will do my Maverick Hybrid AWD at 5K miles and then every 15K to 20K miles after that.

Did my PTU and RDU at 5k and I'm knocking on the door to 20k and will do it again then while letting my local mechanic handle the transmission drain and fill.

I plan to do the PTU and RDU every 10k from here on I just stretched this second one because I like the even 10k interval. Spending a little extra? Probably but worth it to me.

 

[CajunMick]

And I think, without checking the manual, Ford says 100k miles on drivetrains gearboxes. I tried hard to stay away from AWD model, for the xtra components in the drivetrain setup. I now understand Ford now has XLT model with just front wheel drive. I would consider that, but holding off on deciding.

 

[Automan21]

Did mine at 15k and then at 30k. Just hit 50k now and have to order the fluids. 15k fluid drain and fill didnt look that bad though. Dark but not metallic looking and just a bit of sludge on the drain plugs. Can I use an opened container of the fluids from the previous drop and fill? Or is it like brake fluid and has to be dumped if not used ?

 

[Tbone289]

Did mine at 15k and then at 30k. Just hit 50k now and have to order the fluids. 15k fluid drain and fill didnt look that bad though. Dark but not metallic looking and just a bit of sludge on the drain plugs. Can I use an opened container of the fluids from the previous drop and fill? Or is it like brake fluid and has to be dumped if not used ?

New oil from an open container oil of any type can be used. They aren't hygroscopic glycol-based fluids like brake fluid.

 

[notfast]

And I think, without checking the manual, Ford says 100k miles on drivetrains gearboxes.

Also if I recall, the maintenance schedule says the PTU and RDU do not require any scheduled maintenance. I wonder how many PTUs and RDUs implode at 60,001 miles.

I'd be with the others; change PTU and RDU at 5K initially and every 15-30K thereafter.

 

[710]

Wow. Dealership replaced my RDU a few hundred miles before the drivetrain warranty was up. Took 2022 fx4 into dealer for the half shaft recall and they heard a grinding from the rear. Glad they are good people and noticed and informed me. I only heard the noise once AFTER they told me about it, only while turning either direction in a parking lot. It was extremely hard to notice. The parts required to fix the unit weren’t available so they replaced the entire unit. Lucky I did this when I did or it would have cost me around $2,000!

 

[notfast]

Wow. Dealership replaced my RDU a few hundred miles before the drivetrain warranty was up. Took 2022 fx4 into dealer for the half shaft recall and they heard a grinding from the rear. Glad they are good people and noticed and informed me. I only heard the noise once AFTER they told me about it, only while turning either direction in a parking lot. It was extremely hard to notice. The parts required to fix the unit weren’t available so they replaced the entire unit. Lucky I did this when I did or it would have cost me around $2,000!

I think $2k for an RDU ain't bad. I didn't even know they were rebuildable. Hell, even the C200 and M226 rear axles on Nissan Frontiers are technically rebuildable, but master rebuild kits are hard to come by. So the usual replacement is a crate axle for about $2-3k which includes everything except the brakes.

I'd probably be like you if I get an AWD Maverick. I'm pretty numb to faint noises and your typical squeaks and rattles so chances are I wouldn't notice an RDU failing unless it makes some obvious noise. All the more reason to change the PTU and RDU fluid regularly to both prolong the life of the units and check the fluid condition.

 

[710]

I think $2k for an RDU ain't bad. I didn't even know they were rebuildable. Hell, even the C200 and M226 rear axles on Nissan Frontiers are technically rebuildable, but master rebuild kits are hard to come by. So the usual replacement is a crate axle for about $2-3k which includes everything except the brakes.

I'd probably be like you if I get an AWD Maverick. I'm pretty numb to faint noises and your typical squeaks and rattles so chances are I wouldn't notice an RDU failing unless it makes some obvious noise. All the more reason to change the PTU and RDU fluid regularly to both prolong the life of the units and check the fluid condition.

word.

im good at noticing issues. I noticed my wheel bearing starting to go out when I drive off the lot with 44k on the clock.

The RDU noise was so faint it took driving in a lot with no music or ambient noise, and it only occurred when turning.

I lucked out and they changed my tranny fluid when they warrantied the front half shafts. I change my oil right around 3k miles despite using full synthetic with a wix xp filter. I paid in full for my truck and I’m keeping it for a LONG time!

I was concerned my coolant was dirty so I had them flush my system a few months ago, even though I learned apparently it’s supposed to be good for 100k.

I know I need to post pics but I’ll probably wait a few weeks more until I install my ISC coilovers at this point.

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