Tire Skip Noises after PTU/RDU Fluid Change

[Cancunbadlands]

It’s insane how years of Ford’s research, development, and top-tier engineering can be completely flushed down the drain at just 2,000 miles, all because of a botched RDU oil change. You have these brilliant minds designing high-tech machinery, only for it to be ruined by a simple maintenance mistake or a bad piece of advice on the internet.

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[Finnster]

@motaur,
Update please?

 

[Reznale]

It’s insane how years of Ford’s research, development, and top-tier engineering can be completely flushed down the drain at just 2,000 miles, all because of a botched RDU oil change. You have these brilliant minds designing high-tech machinery, only for it to be ruined by a simple maintenance mistake or a bad piece of advice on the internet.

Ford parts guy here asked me if the PTU and RDU were underfilled and if the fluid was black full of metal, when I requested the 2 motorcraft oils needed to drain the factory fill. I didn't mention either, but I already knew this was common and so did he. Yes they were black and full of metal when drained at 15k. Would have preferred my RDU not being lubed by a metal slurry for however long, I'm sure the engineers didn't intend that as the motorcraft oil that was put back in was clear and not full of metal shavings right from the bottle.

Ford bean counters probably weren't allowing much flushing after manufacturing. Not an engineering problem, a man in suit problem. Happens with every brand, just have to be informed and work around it.

 

[Mudduck]

Ford parts guy here asked me if the PTU and RDU were underfilled and if the fluid was black full of metal, when I requested the 2 motorcraft oils needed to drain the factory fill. I didn't mention either, but I already knew this was common and so did he. Yes they were black and full of metal when drained at 15k. Would have preferred my RDU not being lubed by a metal slurry for however long, I'm sure the engineers didn't intend that as the motorcraft oil that was put back in was clear and not full of metal shavings right from the bottle.

Ford bean counters probably weren't allowing much flushing after manufacturing. Not an engineering problem, a man in suit problem. Happens with every brand, just have to be informed and work around it.

The parts guy in Texas argued with me saying "The PTU is part of the transmission and lubed by ULV" He was willing to die on that hill.... and so his pride and ego were slaughtered. Bad advice is abundant.

 

[808Goose!]

There is a Ford tsb for that problem

Can you post the tsb number so we can look it up, too? Thanks!

 

[Reznale]

The parts guy in Texas argued with me saying "The PTU is part of the transmission and lubed by ULV" He was willing to die on that hill.... and so his pride and ego were slaughtered. Bad advice is abundant.

Initially the parts guy handed me 2 quarts of Mercon ULV after clicking around the screen for a good 15min, had to just give him the parts number to get him to get the right stuff... Which they didn't have for the RDU.

 

[mwelby]

Hi all, owner of a '25 Hybrid Lariat (AWD). I decided to change the PTU, RDU, and oil this weekend after reading so many stories of the PTU being underfilled. As many others have reported, the PTU/RDU fluid were very dirty, had lots of metallic sheen in them, and plugs had a lot of gunk on them.

Since changing these, I've started to hear my rear tires sort of skip when backing into my garage or turning at very low speeds. The sound is like a low dull creak or someone spiking an over inflated ball (hence my assumption it’s the tire). It seems like just a noise of one rear tire spinning at a different rate than the other.

I have only had the truck for about 2000 miles, so I’m unsure if this is a new noise or if all of the AWD models do it. In the attached video you can hear it at the very beginning and then again around 30ish seconds.

Is there any possibility that the fluids got reversed?

 

[MavStangVa]

Is there any possibility that the fluids got reversed?

@motaur has made 4 posts ever, all in this thread. I doubt we will hear back as to what the solution was.

 

[Msradke]

TSBs 25-2351 and 26-2194. Is about fluid and possible rear clutches

 

[motaur]

Hi all, apologize for the delay in responding. Took some time to sort this out as I had to bring it back to the dealer a few times. The first two times I brought it they could not reproduce the issue, so they sent me home. When I took it the third time, they finally heard it. They drained and refilled the RDU and the issue has seemingly been solved as it's been silent for a couple of months now.

They concluded there was some kind of minor contamination since the noise was subtle. Can confirm that the fluids did NOT get reversed. The correct fluid was used. Best guess is that the fluid pump used may have had some small amount of leftover gear oil from a service on a different vehicle, impacting the friction reduction of the RDU fluid.

FWIW, the RDU unit was underfilled, the fluid was black and had metallic flake in it when I changed it originally. So, yeah, it was a bit of a headache, but the reasons for doing it were not unjustified.

 

[MavStangVa]

Hi all, apologize for the delay in responding. Took some time to sort this out as I had to bring it back to the dealer a few times. The first two times I brought it they could not reproduce the issue, so they sent me home. When I took it the third time, they finally heard it. They drained and refilled the RDU and the issue has seemingly been solved as it's been silent for a couple of months now.

They concluded there was some kind of minor contamination since the noise was subtle. Can confirm that the fluids did NOT get reversed. The correct fluid was used. Best guess is that the fluid pump used may have had some small amount of leftover gear oil from a service on a different vehicle, impacting the friction reduction of the RDU fluid.

FWIW, the RDU unit was underfilled, the fluid was black and had metallic flake in it when I changed it originally. So, yeah, it was a bit of a headache, but the reasons for doing it were not unjustified.

Thank you for the update. Now I'm more convinced to change mine at 15k.

 

[HeyBales]

It’s insane how years of Ford’s research, development, and top-tier engineering can be completely flushed down the drain at just 2,000 miles, all because of a botched RDU oil change. You have these brilliant minds designing high-tech machinery, only for it to be ruined by a simple maintenance mistake or a bad piece of advice on the internet.

And completely flushed down the drain by someone after the engineers, having their hand and authority to change what's in the manual.

Or the fact posters have discovered it underfilled from the factory!

All the tranny fluids EB and hybrid have been found to be underfilled from posts starting way back at the start. If you don't have a doubt that it's not perfect - you haven't read enough threads.

Happens just often enough - there must be a meter mis-calibrated.
Since we know they are NOT spending the time getting it up to temp to top it off.

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