Need advice - transfer case drain was lose after servicing and driving

Need advice - transfer case drain was lose after servicing and driving

2011 Tacoma 70,000 miles

Tuesday 12/19: had Tacoma serviced while visiting back home
Wednesday 12/20: minimal driving
Thursday 12/21: drove back home 445 miles
Friday 12/22:
- noticed some oil under the car in the morning
- moved the truck out of the drive way and parked it on the street, didn't get a chance to look into it until later in the day
- turns out the drain plug on the transfer case was not tight, I could turn it by hand
- checked youtube to learn more about transfer case, don't have torque wrench but tightened up the drain plug with force


oil puddle in the morning was about 4 inches in diameter and maybe 2 inches for the one later in the day before I tightened the drain

I am smart enough to see an oil puddle and tighten a bolt but not really interested in working on my vehicle, need advice what to do now?

- Can I easily measure how much fluid is currently in the transfer case? Maybe it is still enough?
- Can I just add some more fluid or is it best to drain and replace all of it again?
- Do you think it would be ok to drive or should I get it dealt with immediately, guessing damage caused by not enough fluid is going to be crazy expensive

Happy Holidays!

 

I doubt you can measure how much is in there. It requires a hand pump to put oil in (separate bolt for filling). I believe the transfer case holds a little over a quart total from what I've looked up online recently. Basically you add the appropriate fluid until it begins to seep out of the fill hole. Then you put the bolt back in.

My GUESS, is if the bolt was still in there you didn't lose a ton. But I could be terribly wrong. If there's not enough fluid damage could certainly occur.

How to:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-and-transfer-case-oil-change-howto.147631/

 

Should be in the owners manual on changing/checking transfer case fluid. If you could tighten the drain, then you have the means to open up the fill plug and check the level/top it off, just get a length of hose to put on a quart bottle of gear oil and top it up. If there was a problem you would have an Exxon Valdez type spot in one place and no oil stain anywhere else.

 

If the plug was in place but just not tight, you didn't lose enough to be of any concern. If the plug was missing, that would be a whole different story.

 

You’re fine

 

Park on a level surface and remove the fill plug. Take a piece of wire bent 90 degrees, about 1 inch on the short leg. Insert it into the hole, leg down, and remove it. You will see the oil level on the wire. If it comes out dry, try a longer piece. I would do this so that you know where you are. A little oil goes along way, so I doubt you lost much. If it is low, just top it off. If it is way low, not much you can do anyway. Refill and say your prayers.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted.

The truck has been sitting the past few days, just went and checked the fluid via the fill plug - it was totally full
I guess the drain plug didn't get loose enough to lose oil until the long drive home.

 

A finger works as well, or better. Just saying.

 

Sweet!

 

If it's near full yes, if it's down a ways, a wire is better. In any case it was just a suggestion that has worked for me. He can use any body part that fits if he wants.

 

Good answer

If my first knuckle won't reach to the gear oil, I'm adding oil.

 

Absolutely. In his case, he had no idea where he was. I would want to know, even if it horrified me