PTU Fluid Change

[V8 Yankee]

Good Day BS Wrench Heads, I've been following the PTU threads for quite awhile and decided to takle changing the PTU oil myself. I inquired about having it done at two different dealers, both quoted $300 to have it done which was too rich for my blood. Everything is twice as much at a dealer and there's no guarentee it will get done right. I rented a lift and did the PTU and Transmission (drain & fill) at the same time. This thread is for the PTU only although the transmission was easy as well. I have a 2021 1.5 BS OB, build date is Nov. 21. My PTU has a drain plug, some later build dates may not have this, if not this makes the service more difficult but still doable. I had 40K when I did this so I didn't know what to expect when I popped the drain plug. Surprisingly the oil looked brand new which was a surprise. After draining I filled it with approx. 23-24 oz of Amsoil Severe Duty oil and called it a day. Took about 30-40 minutes total. The cost for the lift was $44 a hour, oil $18 and less than a hour of my time. Like I wrote I did the transmission at the same time, I also dry lubed every rubber bushing I could find. After 40K I could see some fine cracks on the bushings so I highly reccomend spraying lube on them if you plan on keeping your BS long term. I live in Florida so water is the only enemy on exposed parts. Northern states have Sodium Chloride and Salt to deal with which adds more corrosive elements to wear things out faster. All in all a easy task, I fixed my wrench turning itch and know that the task was done right. The one thing I will do differnt the next time around is use a pump for quart sized containers instead of a syringe for filling the PTU. Make sure you have a set of Torx Bits for the engine shield, a Hex Socket (10mm) with a 10" extension for the fill plug. The drain plug requires a 3/8" ratchet extension to remove. Best to have an good assortment just in case. Good luck all

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[BLUEOVALRACER]

Very helpful information thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[69cuda340s]

Good info. I had my '21 Badlands on lift, factory tow package, and it looks like PTU and transmission share same fluid. It appears same fluid circulates between trans and PTU base on the fluid lines I see under the vehicle.

 

[V8 Yankee]

Good morning, the PTU and transmission definitely "do not use the same fluid/oil". The lines you see are most likey the PTU coolant lines, the same coolant as the engine uses.

Your transmission takes a Mercon ULV, P/N XT-12-QULV. Your PTO requires Motorcraft XY-75W85-QL Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant. These are completely different, don't mix them up!

There are different brands that you can use as well. I use Amsoil myself but if you stick with Motorcraft products they will be just fine. Its more about change intervals to keep the moving parts clean and lubricated.

 

[Gertz]

Good morning, the PTU and transmission definitely "do not use the same fluid/oil". The lines you see are most likey the PTU coolant lines, the same coolant as the engine uses.

Your transmission takes a Mercon ULV, P/N XT-12-QULV. Your PTO requires Motorcraft XY-75W85-QL Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant. These are completely different, don't mix them up!

There are different brands that you can use as well. I use Amsoil myself but if you stick with Motorcraft products they will be just fine. Its more about change intervals to keep the moving parts clean and lubricated.

Good afternoon, when it comes to RDU and PTU for the Bronco Sport 2021 Big Bend 1.5L, can Amsoil Severe Duty 75W-90 Gear Oil be put in both?

 

[Mark S.]

Good afternoon, when it comes to RDU and PTU for the Bronco Sport 2021 Big Bend 1.5L, can Amsoil Severe Duty 75W-90 Gear Oil be put in both?

Your owners manual lists the appropriate fluids and industry standards for all applications. I wouldn't use anything that doesn't meet Ford's spec, especially if you're still in the 5yr/60K powertrain warranty.

 

[Mwittke5857]

Good Day BS Wrench Heads, I've been following the PTU threads for quite awhile and decided to takle changing the PTU oil myself. I inquired about having it done at two different dealers, both quoted $300 to have it done which was too rich for my blood. Everything is twice as much at a dealer and there's no guarentee it will get done right. I rented a lift and did the PTU and Transmission (drain & fill) at the same time. This thread is for the PTU only although the transmission was easy as well. I have a 2021 1.5 BS OB, build date is Nov. 21. My PTU has a drain plug, some later build dates may not have this, if not this makes the service more difficult but still doable. I had 40K when I did this so I didn't know what to expect when I popped the drain plug. Surprisingly the oil looked brand new which was a surprise. After draining I filled it with approx. 23-24 oz of Amsoil Severe Duty oil and called it a day. Took about 30-40 minutes total. The cost for the lift was $44 a hour, oil $18 and less than a hour of my time. Like I wrote I did the transmission at the same time, I also dry lubed every rubber bushing I could find. After 40K I could see some fine cracks on the bushings so I highly reccomend spraying lube on them if you plan on keeping your BS long term. I live in Florida so water is the only enemy on exposed parts. Northern states have Sodium Chloride and Salt to deal with which adds more corrosive elements to wear things out faster. All in all a easy task, I fixed my wrench turning itch and know that the task was done right. The one thing I will do differnt the next time around is use a pump for quart sized containers instead of a syringe for filling the PTU. Make sure you have a set of Torx Bits for the engine shield, a Hex Socket (10mm) with a 10" extension for the fill plug. The drain plug requires a 3/8" ratchet extension to remove. Best to have an good assortment just in case. Good luck all

Love seeing another DYIer! I prefer to do things myself as well. Having 55+ years in automotive and industrial maintenance, I feel most mechanical maintenance isn't outside of my wheelhouse. Software issues are another story. Those I leave to the professionals.

 

[Dude]

Software issues are another story. Those I leave to the professionals.

Like me lol … software professional

But the half-life of software knowledge and expertise is like 6 months

 

[V8 Yankee]

Good afternoon, when it comes to RDU and PTU for the Bronco Sport 2021 Big Bend 1.5L, can Amsoil Severe Duty 75W-90 Gear Oil be put in both?

Definitely not. The RDU (Rear Drive Unit) and PTU (Power Transfer Unit) require different types of oil. However, you can use any brand of oil for the PTU as long as it meets Ford’s specifications.

The RDU, on the other hand, is a specialized component engineered specifically for Ford, requiring a unique oil formulation. In my case—and I do not recommend this approach to others—I use Amsoil 90-weight oil in my RDU but add the Ford additive that comes pre-mixed in Motorcraft oil. Standard 90-weight oil does not include this additive, and Amsoil 90W is no exception. Since it lacks the Ford-specific additive, it does not meet Ford’s specifications.

You can’t go wrong with Motorcraft products; they are among the best available. I tend to take an extreme approach to maintenance and don't mind the extra cost. My method has worked for 50 years, but I have experience and training—some of which comes from trial and error.

Bottom line: The Ford RDU has had its share of issues. If your vehicle is still under warranty and the unit is functioning properly, it's best to stick with the Ford-approved oil.

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