Basic Maintenance - AX-15 Oil Change

**Mean Max** · 09-25-2009, 11:29 PM

I rebuilt my AX-15 about 3 months ago & refilled it with fresh 10W-30 motor oil, so I wanted to do an oil change to see how things looked since I completed the rebuild.

I drained the AX-15 from the drain plug located on the passenger side of the gearbox. A 15/16" wrench or socket will do the trick.

I use a piece of old cardboard to deflect the oil away from the skid plate.

While the transmission is draining I remove the T-case shifter knob & unbolt the shifter boot.

Next I remove the transmission shifter by depressing the lock ring & turning it counterclockwise to unlock it. Just pull the shifter straight up & out, then lay it aside until later.

Reinstall the drain plug on the passenger side of the transmission & tighten it securely after the oil has all drained out.

Remove the fill plug from the driver's side of the transmission & use the same piece of cardboard under the fill plug.

Refill the transmission by pouring the 10W-30 motor oil into the top of the transmission where you removed the shifter.

Fill the transmission until fluid runs out of the fill plug opening. After the excess oil runs out of the opening, reinstall the fill plug & the shifter.

BE RESPONSIBLE! Always reclaim & recycle all used oil products properly.

Max

**vosevichs** · 02-22-2010, 11:48 AM

10w-30 in a AX-15?? More like 75-90.

**UltimatE** · 02-22-2010, 11:53 AM

Here we go again... 10w30 -- I think the Jeep Engineers know their transmissions better than anyone.

**4.7stroker** · 02-22-2010, 12:17 PM

Yes 10-30 is the correct fluid.
I however like ATF now that should cause some people to get their knickers in a twist.
BTW Mean Max you always provide a good service on this forum Thank You.

Dwayne

**vosevichs** · 02-22-2010, 12:18 PM

Well if a engineer says it's ok. Then ok. My bad

E_ROCK · 02-22-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.7stroker

Yes 10-30 is the correct fluid.
I however like ATF now that should cause some people to get their knickers in a twist.
BTW Mean Max you always provide a good service on this forum Thank You.

Dwayne

??? I am confused. The FSM says 75W90.

Why suddenly the manual is wrong?

**Mean Max** · 02-22-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vosevichs

10w-30 in a AX-15?? More like 75-90.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltimatE

Here we go again... 10w30 -- I think the Jeep Engineers know their transmissions better than anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.7stroker

Yes 10-30 is the correct fluid.
I however like ATF now that should cause some people to get their knickers in a twist.
BTW Mean Max you always provide a good service on this forum Thank You.

Dwayne

Quote:

Originally Posted by vosevichs

Well if a engineer says it's ok. Then ok. My bad

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_ROCK

??? I am confused. The FSM says 75W90.

Why suddenly the manual is wrong?

Conventional 10w-30 is the new spec for the AX-15. I use the cheap stuff from Wal-Mart.

Here's why I use 10W-30 motor oil in my AX-15.

The Mopar gear oil part number used to be 4897622aa, but when you search that part number you'll see it has been superceded by part number 4761839AC which comes up as 10w-30 motor oil. Here's a link to search the Mopar part numbers.

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It's the "new factory spec" lubricant.

Based on that, I use 10w-30 motor oil. I buy the Wal-Mart "Super Tech" store brand oil because it's cheap, meets all the API (American Petroleum Institute) grade qualifications and I change mine often, at least every 6 to 12 months.

Here's a link to the Jeep Engineers Q&A thread here on JF where I questioned the Jeep factory engineers on this very thing.

Here's my question post....
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f144/09-29-q-session-jeep-wrangler-wrangler-unlimited-868049/index2.html#post8016389

And here's their reply.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f144/09-29-q-session-jeep-wrangler-wrangler-unlimited-868049/index3.html#post8016473

Max

**vosevichs** · 02-22-2010, 02:41 PM

I never heard of using 10w-30 in a AX-15 before. Heard of it in the NV3550's. Good to know.

**trw** · 02-22-2010, 03:41 PM

a note to consider.

I got a hand pump with a long hose attached to it so I can fill it up through the fill hole instead of having to mess with the shifter boot, makes it easier IMO and you can find it at any parts store.

**cubewhiz** · 03-12-2010, 07:49 PM

I'll be doing that this weekend. How do the transfer case knob and manual shifter come off? It appears from your picture that the shifter unscrews pretty far below the knob?

**rlfa83** · 03-12-2010, 08:08 PM

I have heard it both ways - 10w30 or ATF fluid. I put ATF in transfer case after I did the SYE kit, should I go with ATF in the trans or 10w30? whats the diiference?

minnbowhunter · 03-12-2010, 08:10 PM

YJMonster · 03-12-2010, 08:31 PM

i have the same question but i still have the BA5/10 in mine i will eventually change over to ax-15 but for my trans do they also use the 10w30?

**Mean Max** · 03-12-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YJMonster

i have the same question but i still have the BA5/10 in mine i will eventually change over to ax-15 but for my trans do they also use the 10w30?

As far as I know, the gear oil part number was the same for the BA-10/5 and the AX-5/AX-15. Being as that part number has been superceded to 10W-30 motor oil, I would say that it would be fine.

Honestly, I wouldn't have an issue with using motor oil in ANY manual transmission, but that's just my opinion.

Max

**Hussler** · 04-19-2010, 08:52 PM

I hate to be "that guy" but I was told that motor oil does some sort of damage to the brass components in the AX 15? Guess I was wrong but I just wanted to throw that out there so I could find the right answer. Also, I live up in the land of ice and snow (new york) should I use something thinner because of the cold winters?