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DIY Transfer Case Fluid exchange

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#103 ·
To add, our 2015 S with about 80k miles started the jerking thing with TC, changed out the fluid myself with Motul DCT-F, took .68L, reused the drain plugs, took about 30 minutes at a cost of $20, immediately fixed the issue. Car now has 134k miles and gets beat on regularly, still going strong.
 
#104 ·
It may be a good idea to change the TC fluid at the same schedule for the PDK fluid at 40k miles.
 
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#105 ·
Killboy said:
To add, our 2015 S with about 80k miles started the jerking thing with TC, changed out the fluid myself with Motul DCT-F, took .68L, reused the drain plugs, took about 30 minutes at a cost of $20, immediately fixed the issue. Car now has 134k miles and gets beat on regularly, still going strong.
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Nice for $134k miles on your 2015 S. I have a 2015 S too and hope it will be just like yours. The highest mileage I have driven on my cars was about 120k miles before I got rid of them.
 
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#106 ·
after reading the forum ... regarding the tc fluid change:

is it possible not to touch the drain plugs and do it all from the vent tube location ? extract all fluid and fill back in ?

regarding the arb 170112 differential axel breather kit . is this the correct part number to put instead of the standard vent tube of the transfer box ?

thank you
 
#107 ·
xjust said:
after reading the forum ... regarding the tc fluid change:

is it possible not to touch the drain plugs and do it all from the vent tube location ? extract all fluid and fill back in ?

regarding the arb 170112 differential axel breather kit . is this the correct part number to put instead of the standard vent tube of the transfer box ?

thank you
Click to expand...
No you just drain the fluid, can’t do that through the vent tube. I got the arb diff breather kit, any one will work. I also had to use some pieces of hose and brass fittings. It is a universal kit that you have to make work with the macan.
 
#108 ·
Changed the TC fluid on '17 S last night along with routine engine oil/filter change. 30K miles. Easy peasy! Used Porsche TC fluid and new TC plugs. $86.

Thankfully the TC fluid I drained out looked good. No signs of water or emulsifcation. I extracted exactly 500ml. About half of the fluid drianed out of bottom drain hole. The other half I extracted with a 150ml syringe and a small diameter tube about 10" long through the check/fill hole. I ordered the syringes and catheters off Amazon in the medical section. They're handy to have around for extracting brake fluid or PS fluid (in my 987).

When I replaced the TC fluid I was only able to get about 250ml into the check/fill hole before it started to leak out. The remaining 250mI I filled though the breather valve tube on top.

Given the design of the rubber breather valve it's no wonder these TC's are failing. I don't think I will modify the breather valve with an ARB kit, but since new Porsche OEM breather valves are only $6 I think I will replace the breather valve every time I change the fluid. Breather valve part # 95834139300.

In the future I may consider using OEM Shell S-Tech OIL0005 (TF-0870) Fluid which is less than half the cost of the Porsche fluid... just on principle. $26 (1L) vs $53 (850ml).
 
#109 · (Edited)
Thanks for sharing your work plus the vent breather mod ttmacan. Great work!

Adding a comment from another thread, it seems that moisture in the fluid makes the friction surfaces "grabby".

So while the fluid might not look emulsified, it could still be contaminated to the extent that it wouldn't do its job. Given the loading, any change in the consistency or composition of the fluid could easily mess with its function. I think I'm right in saying that the fluid ttmacan drained out, looked burnt.

Tsloper asked above about some details of the brass fittings. I'm wondering if anyone can help with that? Also, does the breather take a right angled turn at the top where the hose is attached? Sometimes photos taken under cars can be very confusing when it's hard to know what is up and what is down, so to speak.

Interesting that Porsche have changed the interval for a fluid change to 20k. That certainly isn't mentioned in my original service manual but maybe that's going to be the key change for ridding us of the TC problem in the future?

I notice there's considerable discussion about TC fluid for Cayennes on the Renntech forum, "Alternative transfer case fluids" There a suggestion that even after replacing the fluid there can be residue left behind which needs flushing along with the proposal that Ravenol TF-0870 could be used for flushing, even if genuine Porsche fluid is best.
 
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#110 ·
acronymous said:
Interesting that Porsche have changed the interval for a fluid change to 20k. That certainly isn't mentioned in my original service manual but maybe that's going to be the key change for ridding us of the TC problem in the future?
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Despite not have any adverse symptoms, I have just had my transfer case fluid replaced for free by my local OPC as it is apparently part of a new 'Service Campaign' (reference WLE9) for both Macan and Cayenne. I questioned whether it was based upon mileage or age, but the response was that it was based upon a certain range of VINs.

My car is a 2015 SD and had a new transfer case fitted in Feb 2018 at about 14000 miles. My car was actually at the OPC for a 111 point inspection as I have just extended my warranty from 5 to 7 years.

Note that I am in UK hence Service Campaigns may be different in the US. Also we have not had notice of the extended 7-year transfer case warranty that applies in the States.
 
#111 ·
Guy88 said:
I have just had my transfer case fluid replaced for free by my local OPC as it is apparently part of a new 'Service Campaign' (reference WLE9) for both Macan and Cayenne.
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It would certainly make sense, particularly for replaced TCs, if Porsche thinks it might reduce or eliminate premature failure. For the owners of cars that are in the early stages of this problem, they'd have to be wary of being given temporary relief by a fluid change where a TC swap is needed, though I haven't seen any suggestions that this could happen.

I'm in Australia and I don't know if the extended warranty applies here.
 
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#112 ·
^ The technician said it only took about 40 mins to change out the fluid, so it's certainly worth doing as 'preventive maintenance'. But I agree that once the symptoms show a new transfer case would seem the sensible solution.
 
#113 ·
I'm in the US, and I'm not ware of any formal Porsche campaigns, policies, decisions, or communications in the US that indicate Porsche has changed its recommended mileage interval for replacing TC fluid to 20K miles.... nor am I aware that Porsche extended the TC warranty to 7 years. Has Porsche put any of that in writing somewhere? Does anyone know?

I'm already planning to replace the the TC fluid every 20K, but I would love formal documentation that the warranty has been extended.

My '17S was serviced at the dealer to address campaign WLE9 (fuel leak risk) in May '20 and they did not replace the TC fluid under that campaign nor made any mention of it.
 
#119 ·
The TC extended warranty applies to the car, not a particular owner.
 
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