Hi Scotty .
2013 Hyundai Santafe with 155000 km, 4wd.
Purchased this car from my friend over a year ago. I went through the dealership records and found that they have not changed the differential or transfer case fluid. Since I live in the middle east, mostly 80% is highway drives. This is also the case with my friend who has not taken it to any other surface apart from plain roads.
On the car manual, it says to change diff and transfer case fluid if towing or used under harsh conditions like slippery roads/ sand drives or so.
I never take it to any other surface other than plain roads. It hardly ever rains here in Kuwait so that is also out of concern.
Would it be good to change the differential and transfer case oil at this point. And is this also the reason why the dealership has not changed these fluids.
Go ahead and change the differential and transfer case fluid (gear oil). It will only make these systems work better for longer. It's not like an automatic transmission.
Would it be good to change the differential and transfer case oil at this point
Yes. You're long overdue.
You must use the fluids recommended in the owner's manual or service manual.
A differential, transfer case and transmission are three different things. A differential usually take a thick, hypoid gear oil. A transfer case usually uses a thick, regular gear oil, and an automatic transmission uses a specific transmission fluid. Best to check your owner's manual and use what they require.
Thanks for the reply. However, I did not understand your last comment stating that it is not like an automatic transmission.
I think he was trying to say that you can't harm anything by changing the fluids.