Ford Full Size 4x4 Transfer Case Fluids

What Transfer Case Fluid Does My Full-Size Ford 4x4 Take?

Choosing the correct Ford transfer case fluid is critical for the service life and operation of your full-size 4x4 truck. Over the years, lubricant specifications and service requirements have changed which can make choosing the correct type of fluid for Ford transfer case by type difficult. This is especially true with Ford as the latest version of MerconV Fluid is NOT approved for use in 4x4 Transfer Cases. We have compiled the handy Ford transfer case fluid chart below to help you select the correct transfer case fluid for your Ford 4x4. For later model years, the transfer case fluids are VERY specific. Do NOT USE generic fluids in these transfer cases!!!! For older transfer cases, you can upgrade to newer synthetic base fluids, but you should rebuild or at least replace the old seals as additives in synthetic fluids may not be compatible with old seals. The following Chart was compiled using OEM Factory Shop Manuals and MOTOR Specification Guides. While we have made every effort to present accurate information, the information in this chart in no way supersedes or replaces the recommendations in your Ford OEM Owners Manual, Shop Manual, or other official Ford publication or specification list.

Year Range	Model	Transfer Case	Recommended Fluid	Capacity
1959-1965	F100	Dana 24	SAE 50 Engine Oil*	4.5 Pints
1959-1972	F250	Dana 24	SAE 50 Engine Oil*	4.5 Pints
1966-1974	F100	Dana 21	SAE 50 Engine Oil*	3.5 Pints
1966-1977	Bronco	Dana 20	SAE 50 Engine Oil*	2.75 Pints
1973-1977	F100, F250	NP205	SAE 50 Engine Oil*	4.0 Pints
1974-1977	F100, F250	NP203	See Note ** below	9.0 Pints
1978-1979	F-Series, Bronco	NP205	See Note *** below	4.0 Pints
1978-1979	F-Series, Bronco	NP203	See Note ** below	9.0 Pints
1980-1986	F-Series, Bronco	NP208	QU90046 or XL-12 ****	7.0 Pints
1980-1991	F-Series, Bronco	BW1345	QU90046 or XL-12 ****	6.5 Pints
1987-1997	F-Series, Bronco	BW1356	QU90046 or XL-12 ****	4.0 Pints
1996-1997	F250, F350	BW4407	QU90046 or XL-12 ****
1997-2008	F150	BW4406	QU90046 or XL-12 ****
1997-1999	F250 Light Duty	BW4406	QU90046 or XL-12 ****
1997-2002	Expedition	BW4406TOD
1999-2016	F-Super Duty	NV271F, NV273F	QU90046 or XL-12 ****	4.0 Pints
2000-2005	Excursion	NV273F	QU90046 or XL-12 ****	4.0 Pints
2003-2006	Expedition	BW4416TOD
2007-2015	Expedition	BW4417
2009-2011	F150	BW4418
2009-2015	F150	BW4419		3.0 Pints
2010-2015	F150	BW4417		3.0 Pints
2017-up	F-Super Duty	BW4464, 4465	Mercon LV ATF	3.8 Pints

*Ford Gear Drive Transfer Case 1959-1977: Many Ford Shop Manuals will List SAE 50 Engine Oil for use in temperatures Above 10°F and SAE 30 Engine Oil for use in below 10°F. Very early manuals ALSO give the option of using SAE 90 weight mineral oil WITHOUT extreme pressure additives Above 10°F and SAE 80 Mineral Oil without EP additives for use below 10°F. Single viscosity SAE 50 and SAE 30 motor oils are still readily available, but finding straight mineral gear oil today might be difficult. Dana 20, Dana 21, Dana 24, and NP205 gear drive transfer cases have some latitude for alternate fluids, but we recommend you stick as close as possible to the original Ford fluid requirements.

**1974-1979 NP203 Full-Time Transfer Case: The NP203 Full Time, Chain Drive Transfer Case MUST have engine oil for a lubricant. For the 1974-1977 model years, Ford lists SAE 50 Engine Oil for use in temperatures above 10°F and SAE 30 Engine Oil for use below 10°F. For 1978 and 1979, Ford specifies Ford D8DZ-19C547-A Standard Transmission Lube for all Bronco and F150-F250-F350 transfer cases including the NP203. Ford specification is ESP-M2C83-C. In 1992, D8DZ19C547A was replaced by F2ZZ-19C547-A SAE 80w Manual Transmission Fluid which was later replaced by XT-4-QGL 75w90 GL-4 Conventional Gear Lube (Ford Specification WSS-M2C203-A1) AND XT-M5-QS 75w90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid (Ford Specification WSS-M2C200-C). We had a lot of experience with NP203 transfer cases in the 1970s and 1980s and our experience was any fluid other than lighter engine oils would cause bearing problems and/or chain stretch issues. Both Dodge and GM also used the NP203 Transfer Case and both specified 10w30 Engine Oil. Since Ford is not claiming the newer manual transmission fluids are backward compatible with 1978-1979 NP203 transfer cases (and we do not think they are), we recommend you stick with Original Equipment recommended engine oils for your Ford NP203. Ford transmission fluid supersession Information is current as of July 2017.

 ***1978-1979 NP205 Part Time Transfer Case: For 1978 and 1979, Ford specifies Ford D8DZ-19C547-A Standard Transmission Lube for all Bronco and F150-F250-F350 transfer cases including the NP205. Ford specification is ESP-M2C83-C. In 1992, D8DZ19C547A was replaced by F2ZZ-19C547-A SAE 80w Manual Transmission Fluid which was later replaced by XT-4-QGL 75w90 GL-4 Conventional Gear Lube (Ford Specification WSS-M2C203-A1) AND XT-M5-QS 75w90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid (Ford Specification WSS-M2C200-C). Unlike the NP203 chain drive transfer case, the NP205 gear drive transfer case is pretty tolerant of different fluids as diverse as Dexron ATF (used in GM NP205 1980-1991) and SAE 140w Gear Lube (used in Dodge NP205 above 90°F). Ford does not claim XT-4-QGL or XT-M5-QS is backward compatible with the 1978-1979 NP205, but while we recommend you use the same SAE 50 engine oil as Ford specified for the 1973-1979 NP205, we would not be afraid to use XT-4-QGL 75w90 Gear Lube or XT-M5-QS 75w90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid in a Ford NP205 that had new seals (original seals may not be compatible with newer oil base stocks and additives).

****For the 1980 to 1987 model years, Ford recommended Dexron II Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) for 4x4 Transfer Cases. Dexron II was replaced by Dexron III. For the 1987-1996 (Bronco, F150 and 1988-1997 (F250, F350) model years, Ford originally specified Mercon.  Mercon has now been superseded by Mercon V which is NOT recommended for use in 4x4  transfer cases. Both Dexron II/Dexron III and Mercon fluid are listed in Ford Shop Manuals as meeting the same Ford specification XT-2-QDX. Until mid-2018, Ford specified synthetic base Motorcraft XL-12 Transfer Case Fluid for use in chain drive transfer cases that originally used Dexron II or Mercon, however, since that time Ford has superseded XL-12 with Mercon LV. As of May 2019, an old Motorcraft web page still lists Mercon LV as Not For Use in Transfer Cases, but the most recent LV page specifically states LV is now for all transfer cases. We are not aware of any lubrication-related issues with using either Mercon LV or Dexron III in NP208F, BW1345, BW1356, or BW4407 transfer cases in the 1980-1997 era Ford 4x4s.

*****For the 1997-2007 Model Years, most Ford Factory Shop Manuals list Mercon as the recommended transfer case fluid. Ford introduced Mercon ATF in 1987 and Mercon is the recommended fluid for most 1997 to 2007 4x4 Ford transfer cases. Mercon was superseded by Mercon V which is NOT recommended for use in transfer cases so Ford was recommending XL-12 for use in 1997-2007 transfer cases which has been replaced by Mercon LV. As of May 2019, an old Motorcraft web page still lists Mercon LV as Not For Use in Transfer Cases, but the most recent LV page specifically states LV is now for all transfer cases.