Thread: auto fluid in transfer box

ATF won't do any damage per se, but it would not have been offering as good wear protection as heavy oil.

I used to run ATF in 2 stroke dirt bike gearboxes without a problem.

No metal = no big deal. She'll be right.

Castrol Syntrax, most of Redline's line and some other gear/MTF/transaxle fluids are red in colour too.
It's just a dye, unless it was water thin, then it could've been ATF and ditto what ballbag said.

I run LSA Gearsyn 75/90 in my difs and transfer.
It is red like ATF. Have found it great.
As already said its unlikely yours is ATF but any things possible.

Not sure about yours, but I'm certain EP80-90 is recommended for my transer case. I wouldn't muck around with anything else.

Sent from my D1 using overweight hamsters.

Originally Posted by mrjc

After changing the front and rear diff fluids and replacing the filler plugs with new brass ones,i decided to change the transfer box oil as well since its the same oil i used 75-90w as stated in the log books,well after fighting with the filler plug i finally got it off lucky i had a 1/2 inch wobbler,i undid the drain plug only to have what looks like auto fluid pour out-bright red in colour and smelt rather sweet,i've had the d2 for 2 years now and haven't had any problems with the transfer box no noises nothing, could the auto fluid do any damage? also the drain plug magnet was clean no metal just a bit of paste.thanks jamie

good to know it won't harm the transfer box,the fluid was very watery,and like most of you said i was wondering if other diff oils were red in colour,its peace of mine now knowing that the fluids been changed.thanks jamie