KayGee
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 27, 2017
- Messages
- 1,421
- Reaction score
- 366
- City, State
- Farmington, MI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '16 & '17 PIU
I had been meaning to check the PTU fluid in my 2016 that has ~15K miles and just got around to that last night.
I was a little shocked to find that only 8 oz of fluid drained from the unit. Fluid wasn't too bad looking though and was mostly translucent. There was a pretty big ball of metal shavings on the drain plug. I was able to refill with almost 18 oz of new fluid, so it should be good to go for a while.
Mine is a 3.7L and it was somewhat tight getting the top bolt for the sensor shield loosened enough to move the shield out of the way to remove the sensor from the fill hole. The catalytic converter for the rear bank is literally right in the way and there is less than an inch to get a makeshift tool in there. I used a 1/4 inch box end wrench with a cut down t-30 bit wedged into it as nothing else would fit. Luckily it just needs to be loosened and not removed - once loosened, the shield will pivot on the back bolt which is more accessible with a socket wrench and t-30 bit.
If this is how these are being filled from the factory, and most are assuming they are "filled for life", it's no wonder these PTUs can't survive longer term.
I was a little shocked to find that only 8 oz of fluid drained from the unit. Fluid wasn't too bad looking though and was mostly translucent. There was a pretty big ball of metal shavings on the drain plug. I was able to refill with almost 18 oz of new fluid, so it should be good to go for a while.
Mine is a 3.7L and it was somewhat tight getting the top bolt for the sensor shield loosened enough to move the shield out of the way to remove the sensor from the fill hole. The catalytic converter for the rear bank is literally right in the way and there is less than an inch to get a makeshift tool in there. I used a 1/4 inch box end wrench with a cut down t-30 bit wedged into it as nothing else would fit. Luckily it just needs to be loosened and not removed - once loosened, the shield will pivot on the back bolt which is more accessible with a socket wrench and t-30 bit.
If this is how these are being filled from the factory, and most are assuming they are "filled for life", it's no wonder these PTUs can't survive longer term.