ATF in 205 xfer

[LVJimmy]

Does anyone run ATF in their 205. i know several people who do who do not seem to have any problems and wanted to know if anyone else did.

 

[79k20350]

just run 80-90 weight gear oil and be done with it

 

[84gmcjimmy]

I would also like to know this regarding a 208. I have over 20 litres of the stuff to get rid off

 

[DEMON44]

ATF is NFG for gears far too light weight. Of course the gears are so tough they will still last for "x" number of miles/years.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Some 205's came factory using ATF.

 

[JpEater]

A 208 is supposed to be filled with Dextron III

 

[LVJimmy]

It started with one guy who rebuilt his tranny and could not stop it from leaking ATF into the transfer case. He fianlly said the hell with it and changed the transfer case over to ATF. He ran it for 10 (112,000 miles) years without a problem before he sold it. Since that time I have run into several others who had the same problem and did the same thing. I don't have any updates on how well thier 205 's lasted

 

[rumbly truck]

My 1985 k-3500 owners manual calls for dexron ll. I've had it for 5 years, the previous owner hauled horses and a 28' fith wheel. It has 145,000 miles on it, I resealed the case last summer and it has very little, if any wear on the bearings and gears. The atf gets changed once a year. No problems.

 

[LVJimmy]

My 1985 k-3500 owners manual calls for dexron ll. I've had it for 5 years, the previous owner hauled horses and a 28' fith wheel. It has 145,000 miles on it, I resealed the case last summer and it has very little, if any wear on the bearings and gears. The atf gets changed once a year. No problems.

Call me stupid but is that a 205 or 208?

 

[79k20350]

if its a 3500 its a 205. and jpeater a 208 and 205 cnnot be compared in this thread they are completly differant. i knew atf was ok but last time this disscusoon came up i was called crazy

 

[Seventy4Blazer]

Does anyone run ATF in their 205. i know several people who do who do not seem to have any problems and wanted to know if anyone else did.

the 85 one ton i got my 60 out of had ATF in it... it was a smooth transfer case when i drove it as well.
Grant

 

[DEMON44]

I won't dispute, that just defies logic........... Why is it ok in a 100% gear driven transfercase. Then not in a rear diff, or planetary hubs, whats the difference?

 

[79k20350]

i have no idea but the factory reccomends it

 

[85k30]

i just removed a 205 from a 89 crewcab in a junk yard and it had atf in it.

 

[DEMON44]

....I might just swap the fluid in my junk and give it a go. Might help in the winter when its -35c.

 

[85k30]

my 1986 chevy service manual says gear oil. my 1987 service manual says dextron II. so in 1987 they changed to dextron II.

 

[rumbly truck]

Remember, a transfer case has a straight through power flow. A modern differental has a hypoid cut gear set, in it you get a wipping action across the gear face. This is a different action for the oil to deal with, the oil has to transfer the power, and change its direction. Remeber it has been speced for oil viscosity and bearing clearances to match.

 

[bigkennye]

I was told that the 205 uses 80/90 gear oil (probably because it is gear drive) and the 208 uses ATF. Thats what I was told.

 

[DEMON44]

Remember, a transfer case has a straight through power flow. A modern differental has a hypoid cut gear set, in it you get a wipping action across the gear face. This is a different action for the oil to deal with, the oil has to transfer the power, and change its direction. Remeber it has been speced for oil viscosity and bearing clearances to match.

I hear ya, thats makes perfect sense.

Just like the gear train in any heavy diesel works just fine with 15-40 lube.......it's all coming together now