Hi all I was checking over my 400i the other day and thought I would check fluid levels. Pulled the plug on the frount and rear case and no oil, checked it with a stick and level is about 3/4 inch below the fill hole.
Checked with dealer and he said this is where it is supposed to be but, I thought it was supposed to be to the bottom of the hole. Which is right?









2004 4x4 fis Lime green

 

i read on here a few days ago that it is suppose to be below the whole like yours is

 

I brought this up to MY dealer as well, and he said it was supposed to be below the hole. I seem to recall it was either a half inch or three quarters of an inch. He said his mechanics made a measure by bending a piece of wire that extended into the hole the proper depth (whatever that was...) and measured it that way. Pretty scientific stuff huh...

Of course, there's nothing in the owner's manual about this. And don't go to "shopmanual.com" (or whatever that site is) because they don't have any Cat manuals.

 

Thanks for the reply. It sure seems strange to have to level 3/4 inch below the hole, very strange.

 

The OWNERS MANUAL does tell you 1 inch below bottom of plug, at least it does on my manual.

 

I have an '02 400i and the operator manual and service manual both indicate differential oil level is to be 1 inch below hole.

This is normal. Trust me, if you fill it up any more, you will risk blowing out one of the axle seals, or if your vent is open (as mine is to prevent over-pressure seal failure), it will only blow out until the level returns to normal (1" below hole).

 

I'm glad I came across this post. I checked my front diff. fluid level last night, and couldn't feel any fluid. So I stuck my finger down into the fill plug hole...still nothing. I thought "oh no I've burned up the diff". The owner's manual that came with my ATV says nothing about it needing to be 1" below the hole. And I've never seen a case in my life where the fluid wasn't supposed to be up to the hole. So I added fluid to mine. I had a whining noise in my front end and I thought that must be why. So you guys are saying that the fluid should be 1" below the hole? Man that makes it hard to check. Weird stuff...

 

what will happen if It's right even with the bottom of the hole ?
I'm an auto mechanic and I fill all differentials that way but with my quad will it matter ?

 

I'm only asking because I recently had to replace the rear seal on one side .
I've been riding it around that way .

 

Yeah I'd like to know what will happen if you do that too. I told a professional mechanic today that I heard the fluid level was supposed to be an inch below the fill hole, and he looked at me like I was crazy. "What good is it to have the hole there if that's not where the fluid is supposed to be filled to??" was his response basically. I agree...seems really stupid. What about the rear...is it the same?