I recently had my fluids changed at a local indie shop and now I have drips on my driveway. I have isolated this issue to the fill plug on my transfer case. What I don't know is whether they just made a mess, or if the plug is under tightened. I took a pic. Thoughts?

 

Another and worse scenario is they over tightened it and stripped out the threads. It's easy to do on the transfer case, it's a steel plug into aluminum threads with no sleeve (thanks Land Rover...]

 

LR did not make or design the case, thank Magna instead. Horrible design all the way around, such as having to complete take it apart to replace seals versus easy exterior access. As mentioned, it could be stripped out. I sure hope not. I would say take it back but unless you are standing next to them when they check the torque they will just do their best to deny the issue, somehow make it stop leaking (temporarily) and say nothing was wrong, or just say it was not torqued enough and you are good to go. Then on the trail the dang plug will pop out or start leaking worse. If you wait too long, they will say it was fine when it left and it must have been you messing with it. But the best scenario is that it is in fact not torqued enough or needs a new copper crush washer.

 

Thanks guys. I'm gonna search for the torque spec and maybe do it myself....but if you guys happen to know it, please share.

 

So far I've seen 16 lb-ft, which sounds like very little torque.

Anyone used a Time-sert in that hole?

 

I stripped out some threads on mine and had bought a timesert kit to fix the drip. But was able to stop the leak without having to use it.

But yeah, its something that can get drilled out and tapped. Just make sure to pour fluid through it with the drain open after drilling to get out any filings

 

I managed to get a half-turn or so on it and cleaned stuff up ..since then no more drips. So fingers crossed it was the scenario in which they hadn't tightened it enough. Much appreciated to the board!

One observation, it took some torque....I mean it felt pretty loose at first but by the time I was done it was in there good and tight...probably more than the low torque spec I found, but I'd think that being able to torque it down that tight likely means it was just loose and that the threads are not stripped.

Next worry: Did I lose sufficient fluid such that I should be concerned?

 

At least it wasn't the drain plug, fill plug is unlikely to lose much unless you are constantly running on a side angle. That pic looks bone dry to me ?

 

Agree that the filler plug is a better scenario. Probably safe to drive it 30 miles to the shop. The photo was after I'd cleaned it up.

 

You sure it's a steel plug? I just bought one (from the dealer no less) and it sure looks aluminum to me! Could they have changed it in all these years?