CarbonSteel's 2023 Wildtrak Build + Maintenance Journal (Filters, Fluids, Oil Changes Etc)

[Nc211]

Im not sure if it's the same issue that Gen 1 Raptors had, concerning the drives shaft, but its worth trying this fix.
Raptors had this issue and it was driving several people crazy, one dude hounded his dealership and finally told him to separate the shift and apply some grease. They recommend the Ford grease for shafts, but im sure an equivalent would suffice. Low and behold, the clunk does go away.
Makes sense, high revolutions for the life of the vehicle, movement, friction and so on, grease just vanishes. Very odd that it's not a recommend regular maintenance item.

Anyone who has ever owned a 4Runner will know when the driveshaft is in need of a little "zerk" action. Our 2005 (V8, what a sweet car that was) would absolutely thump when coming to a stop. Sometimes it would feel like someone tapped the bumper behind you. A few squeezes of the grease gun into the driveshaft via the zerk connector, and no more issue. I think not having a serviceable driveshaft on a dedicated 4x4 like the Bronco, is as useless as a sealed transmission with lifetime fluids.

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[CarbonSteel]

Anyone who has ever owned a 4Runner will know when the driveshaft is in need of a little "zerk" action. Our 2005 (V8, what a sweet car that was) would absolutely thump when coming to a stop. Sometimes it would feel like someone tapped the bumper behind you. A few squeezes of the grease gun into the driveshaft via the zerk connector, and no more issue. I think not having a serviceable driveshaft on a dedicated 4x4 like the Bronco, is as useless as a sealed transmission with lifetime fluids.

Agree; I have not checked, but I am assuming there are no grease zerks on the shaft?

 

[Nc211]

Agree; I have not checked, but I am assuming there are no grease zerks on the shaft?

I don’t think so, I think I read somewhere on here of some type of super secret Ford blue lubricant sleeve or something like that on it instead.

 

[Thatguylegit69]

Agree; I have not checked, but I am assuming there are no grease zerks on the shaft?

Correct.
The Gen Jaun Raptor community eventually got tired of handling shafts and lubing them up.
At some point, we did add a zerk to the end of the drive shaft, near the rear diff. Only made sense, just hit it with the grease gun a few times while draining the rear fluid.

 

[LSW]

I’ve got pretty bad fuel dilution too. There were a lot of -20F cold starts this winter but like you said it didn’t seem to be quite as bad when the Bronco was brand new. 4.6% on this latest. I’ll be eyeing the ESP like you or some kind of 40 grade if this keeps up.

 

[Nc211]

Not an Apples to Apples comparison, but attached is an oil analysis I just had done on my wife's 2020 Mercedes GLS 450 at 93k miles. Wanted to check the engine out before writing checks on brakes, tires, fluids as part of the 100k reset I prefer to do every 50k miles (all fluids, all filters, plugs). This one will include mounts as well. But wasn't going to do it if the internals were a mess.

Sharing to note the viscosity level at 6,700 miles on the oil (M1 5W30 MB spec specific). Reinforces the idea of 5k intervals instead of advertised 10k! It was starting to creep up. The comment about Seafoam - I ran a cup in the old oil for 20 minutes idle, then let it drain out and washed the pan with a sacrificial quart before installing the-then new oil, which this test was analyzing.

I'm going to do the same on the Bronco when I change that oil again at 25k miles (5k on the oil).

 

[CarbonSteel]

Not an Apples to Apples comparison, but attached is an oil analysis I just had done on my wife's 2020 Mercedes GLS 450 at 93k miles. Wanted to check the engine out before writing checks on brakes, tires, fluids as part of the 100k reset I prefer to do every 50k miles (all fluids, all filters, plugs). This one will include mounts as well. But wasn't going to do it if the internals were a mess.

Sharing to note the viscosity level at 6,700 miles on the oil (M1 5W30 MB spec specific). Reinforces the idea of 5k intervals instead of advertised 10k! It was starting to creep up. The comment about Seafoam - I ran a cup in the old oil for 20 minutes idle, then let it drain out and washed the pan with a sacrificial quart before installing the-then new oil, which this test was analyzing.

I'm going to do the same on the Bronco when I change that oil again at 25k miles (5k on the oil).

Note that Blackstone will not give you an accurate reading on fuel dilution (if that is what you are checking). Blackstone uses a highly subjective flame test--you need gas chromatography to be 100% accurate.

 

[McRightclick]

At risk of reviving an older thread, @CarbonSteel did you ever end up installing a TC in your rear diff? Wondering if I should go whole hog to 75W-140 on mine or somewhere in between, like a -90 or -110.

 

[CarbonSteel]

At risk of reviving an older thread, @CarbonSteel did you ever end up installing a TC in your rear diff? Wondering if I should go whole hog to 75W-140 on mine or somewhere in between, like a -90 or -110.

My PhD has consumed my "play with/upgrade the Bronco free time", but I would run 75W-140. This is what Dana (who makes the axle) recommends and there is zero downside to using it versus a lighter viscosity.

There are some who will argue that you will see a reduction in MPG, but a headwind, hill, or your right foot will impact MPG more than a viscosity change ever will.

 

[McRightclick]

My PhD has consumed my "play with/upgrade the Bronco free time", but I would run 75W-140. This is what Dana (who makes the axle) recommends and there is zero downside to using it versus a lighter viscosity.

There are some who will argue that you will see a reduction in MPG, but a headwind, hill, or your right foot will impact MPG more than a viscosity change ever will.

Haha, if I wanted good mileage I would have gotten a different vehicle!

Did you go to -140 in the front too?

 

[CarbonSteel]

Haha, if I wanted good mileage I would have gotten a different vehicle!

Did you go to -140 in the front too?

I went with -110 only because I had it; the next change will be 75W-140.

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