Hey all,
I got a 1997 Isuzu Trooper (3.2L/auto/4x4 shift on the fly)that has been thru hell and back. Previous owner went fording across a river .. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> and about 50ft in, she died. Water went into the engine, rear end, transfer case, and possibly front differential.

Question would be, what kind of lubrication does the transfer case use?

Does the front differential use same fluid as the rear diff.?

And lastly, I see the fill hole for front diff., but didn't see a drain plug. Is it a hidden 24mm bolt or do I have to remove the diff cover?

Any help would be great,
Thanks in advance,
Jay

Transmission and transfer case should both be 5W-30, and the differentials should both use the same fluid. Can't help you much on the drain hole, but if you can't find an obvious plug, I'm gonna guess it's one of the outside ring. Something in the back of my head is saying around the 7 o-clock position, but that's just a wild hair, so I'd wait until you get better confirmation.

James

Thanks for a quick response James. I went on a limb and removed the top (fill) plug and only thick clean gear oil came out, so Im pretty confident the front differential should be fine. I did read that the 91 Troopers used 5-30 motor oil in transfer case, but I wasnt to sure if it applied to a 1997.

Thanks again for your help,
Jay

D'oh. Re-read and saw it was an auto. The tranny will use standard ATF, not 5W-30, like I said. Sorry about the brain fart.

James

P.S. Welcome to the board. There's a wealth of info here for your truck.

Yes, unless you have a limited slip rear axle. IIRC when I did mine ('91, but I think it's the same) the manual called for 75-90W gear oil.



The 'drain plug' is the lowest bolt on the differential cover. Take it and the fill plug out and it will drain fine. I recommend the extra few bucks for one of those little hand pumps to refill the axles!

If it's been a while since the fluids were done, you may want to think about doing them anyway, even if they looked OK.

Good luck,

Jay

Yep, it is the one at about 5 O'clock as you look at the cover.