Our diverse climate and our combination of urban roads and rural roads in Reading, PA and in the whole Berks County, PA area place a great demand on our vehicles. Be it the commute at Penn Street to the office in your nimble FWD sedan, the snow on the ground in winter in an SUV, or the trailer weight on Exeter Township in a 4WD/4x4 truck, the drive train of your car is being subjected to constant stress.
Most drivers are very keen to monitor their engine oil and even the transmission fluid, yet one important component usually goes under the radar of neglect; the transfer case. It is an expensive gamble, accepting to skip your scheduled transfer case service and transform a relatively inexpensive maintenance into an emergency system failure.
Here is the explanation of why the transfer case is so crucial, why one should not use old fluid, and why the regular maintenance of the transfer gear oil is absolutely a must in regards to the life of the vehicle, provided to you by ASE Certified specialist in the field of the drivetrain, right here in Reading, Pennsylvania.
A transfer case is a mechanical gear box that is located behind your transmission. The main task that it performs is to divide the power generated by the engine and transmit it to the front and rear axles.
It is a very stressed component, but it has a chain, gears, and bearings that need to be lubricated and cooled with a very special fluid commonly known as transfer gear fluid.
The transfer gear fluid, just like any fluid in your car does not last forever. The fluid is subjected to very high temperatures and pressures considering the thousands of miles of road (and when driving violently or making a tow, or in the slushy roads of Wyomissing, PA in Winter).
Protective additives present in the fluid degrade which means that the fluid is not able to protect the internal metal components. The gear action removes minute metallic particles that are mixed with the fluid, forming a gritty paste that is abrasive.
The Consequences: This is a polluted oil that facilitates erosion of the inside chain, bearers, and accurate cut gears. By driving, you are also taking your life in your own hands and essentially rubbing liquid sandpaper on precision parts.
Dissipation of heat is the secondary and important task of the fluid. Once the fluid fractures and is polluted it is less effective in cooling the system.
The Conclusion: The friction between the metal and metal produces too much heat, which hardens internal seals and cracks them. This may cause the symptom of the fluid dripping on your driveway that is quite visible and dangerous. Most importantly, when it gets hot, the transfer case will lock up or erupt internally and needs a full replacement, which is costly.
You may save a few dollars by not paying attention to the necessity of a transfer case drain and fill now, but it is sure to cost you heavily in the future. The following are the symptoms that show that you should have an immediate transfer gear inspection Reading PA:
Symptom | Cause | Severity |
Grinding/Humming Noises | Worn out bearings, loose chain or metal pieces in the gearbox during fluid. | High |
Hard Starting 4WD/AWD | The fluid is degraded and the internal clutches or shift parts in the system are damaged or seized. | High |
Leakage of fluids | Overheating caused seals to break, or internal pressure is pushing the fluid out. | Critical |
Vibrations | Unbalanced internal chain or drive component due to wear. | Medium |
Burning Odor | Fluid is strongly overheating and rapidly decomposing. | Critical |
In case you observe any of these symptoms driving around Shillington or Leesport, then pull up and call an expert and trusted mechanic.
The good news is that it is an easy, convenient, and much cost-effective solution than replacement will be. The work that is needed is a transfer case fluid change that is normally done by a simple procedure of transfer case drain and fill.
When you take a transfer case fluid service to a shop, this is what you should expect of a reputable and experienced provider:

Although the time specifications are different depending on the make and model, the following are the rough guidelines to your transfer case fluid change:
When your performance upgrades are done, either through aftermarket performance or a custom set-up of your suspension and wheels, the load on your transfer case is exponential. The larger tires, lift kits and altered engines make the inside gears and chain much more strained. Under such circumstances a quick and regular transfer case fluid service is not only desirable, but imperative.
We realize that it is inconvenient to maintain a vehicle. The reason why the highly rated service shops serving Muhlenberg and more importantly the greater Reading, PA area, aim at ensuring that your visit is as hassle free as possible. Look for shops offering:
You cannot afford to do little more than a driveway change, something as serious as your drive train. You require a professional who would handle your car with a dealership-quality and is budget-friendly.
Find a service center that is well rated and approved by customers in the Reading, PA locality. The technicians of our ASE Certified program are licensed to perform every type of maintenance of the parts of the drivetrain, such as routine transfer case drain and fill services of the family SUV or complicated gearbox fluid services of the heavy equipment and the commercial fleet.
Do not wait when you have the need of an emergency service. Be a pro and lock the vehicle performance. With a regular appointment of transfer case fluid change Reading PA, you are also guaranteeing hassle-free drive to whatever is your