Hey I'm new to the site and just want to say great forum with alot of good information.
I have a 2001 Cherokee sport 181k , a few minor issues that I need to address but I would like to start with the Oils. I've done a standard oil change and I' m going to change Trans. oil. While they have it up should I change all the other oils ,Transfer case and differential and will the so called cheat method of just pumping it out and putting fresh oil in be ok?

Thanks,
UrBan 4X4

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Yes. Replace everything. You don't know how old it is.

 

I'd say to change all the oil/fluid. The diffs and transfer case is real easy to do. I'd drop the tranny pan rather than use the vacuum method. I hear it's better that way, plus you can check/clean/replace the tranny filter/screen and check for evidence of metal damage. And I hope you're doing all this yourself; places charge big bucks for letting gravity do it's thing!

 

You would be better off pulling the differential covers to change the oil. The gaskets are only a couple dollars each and it will give you piece of mind to know the oil was changed properly and you will also have a chance to take a look at the gears and check for metalic debris in the bottom of the pumpkin.

Make sure you look at your owners manual to find out what kind of gear oil they recommend.

 

Who uses gaskets on their diff covers? Black RTV FTW

 

181k I'd skip changing the tranny fluid.
If it works don't fix it. I've had customers do this on high mileage automatics and end up with problems. Brand new ATF will wash out all the friction material from the old fluid.

 

X2! No need for a gasket, just use a quality RTV and be done with it.

 

JeepingDan, I have to disagree with you about changing the ATF. I have a '98 F150 with a bad tranny (it's toast now). It didn't like to egage drive properly so we had it flushed and it was like like new. About a year later it was exhibiting the same problem so we flushed it again with the same results. We kept it alive for several years like that until the truck was loaned to a friend. I'm still tempted to change the tranny fluid just to see if I can get it moving again but I don't want to waste $40 when I have another truck anyway.

 

Don't just pump the fluid. Then you cant inspect the gears! And keep an eye on t case fluid, ive seen alot of them blow up from having only muddy water as fluid! If your gonna wheel it take those axle and t case vents into the engine bay to keep the water out. I like lubelocker gaskets over rtv, as long as u don't damage them u can reuse over and over. Rtv makes a mess and looks hillbilly. And with some rtv it needs to setup or it will leak. I know u can buy the immediate ready to use but the last tube of that I bought wad abt 20 bucks and the gaskets are like 15. Oh and change that tranny fluid, you wouldn't wait till the engine knocks to add oil would you? My trans has 310,000 on it and since I wheel it hard I change it 1 time a summer at least. And it shifts like bran new!