Transfer case heat

[4x4mike]

How hot does the transfer case get while in 2wd going down the freeway? Reason I ask is that after a few 100 miles the shift lever stick portion gets hot as in a little more than really warm. OK if I touch the lever with the top of my had it is hot. I've noticed this before but I was in and out of 4wd and it didn't seem out of the ordinary. Recently on the trail in and out of 4lo and 4hi it was getting hot as well. It kind of felt like I had a heated shift knob (let's keep this work safe). Last week, 200 miles into a 650 mile drive it was hot. If you read the hot cats page I think this maybe unrelated, maybe. Makes me wonder if things are getting cooked down there or if there is something I should check. The fluid level is fine and I run Redline synthetic oil in the transfer case. FWIW the transmission shift lever is maybe a little over room temp when the transfer case lever is hot. Also of note there is no smell inside or out indicating burning or overly hot oil.

[corax]

mine normally gets quite toasty compared to teh transmision

[MTL_4runner]

Sounds totally normal to me.

[2ndGen]

mine got freaky hot after 50 miles on the highway, 10 minutes if drving in the traffic. how hot? hotter than a cup of fresh brew coffee. i thought it was a bad t-case, but it's still hot after i got it swapped out with a 80K mile junkyard t-case.

[4x4mike]

I guess it's all good to know. It just seemed too hot and I had never noticed it at all. It stays a lot cooler than the tranny which is right next to it.

[paddlenbike]

Mine gets hot too, even with synethic.

One thing you guys have to remember about Mike is he is an ex-Chevrolet owner, which means he is always waiting for something to break or catch on fire. http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/emoticons/like_a_rock.gif

[4x4mike]

Back when I had the truck I carried a 10lb fire extinguisher, new roll of duct tape, lots of zip ties, JB weld, lot's of tools, a triple A card and a cell phone.

I got in such a habit I still have most of it around with me but I'm down to a smaller extinguisher and the duct tape has been replaced with a roll of elctrical tape.

[2ndGen]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96451

[4x4mike]

That's the one I was thinking of getting. I like the description "German infrared technology at an excellent value."

Price has come down, I thought they used to be more although HF has always had the cheapest ones.

[corax]

the duct tape has been replaced with a roll of elctrical tape.


ditch the electrical tape and get this stuff, self bonding no adhesive silicone tape (another brand name is Rescue Tape, but costs much more) -> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96807
FWIW I swear by this stuff (can also be found in Hopme Depot)

[Terracoma]

The hump in the floor pan of my truck gets warm on high-RPM highway jaunts, I think it's perfectly normal.

I never took note of it until I rode in a friend's body-lifted Tacoma (with the transmission stick heat shield removed) and you can literally feel the heat off the driveline/exhaust flowing into the cab through the opening in the floor pan...

[Cabin2N]

I've been wondering about this myself too. But since my tranny has never had work done to it and will have 180,000 miles at thanksgiving, would have to say its normal. Hum, has anyone checked the temp of the actual tranny after a long drive?