Going to refresh all the fluids in my van... What do I use?

[ert01]

Van is a quigley'd 2002 Ford E350SD with the 7.3td and auto transmission.

I want to replace all the fluids in it for some peace of mind and being a new owner to this van, I'm not sure what to use for everything. I know I could flip through the manual, but I also know that sometimes vehicles still prefer one type or another. I'd rather rely on the collective experience here than the generic dummy manual in the van.

-brake fluid (dot 3 or 4 or...?) I have a pneumatic brake bleeder I will do a power flush with so I'm assuming I won't want to be mixing different types of fluids during the flush process? Just stick with what was original in the van?

-coolant (anything special or just regular old prestone green mixed 50/50?)

-engine oil (I'm thinking synthetic, probably She'll rotella of some variety... But what weight for wintertime?)

-gear oil in both diffs... I have no idea what axles are under the van currently. My build sheet from Ford says I have limited slip in the rear but would Quigley have changed the rear axle at all? If the rear is still stock, do I need the additive for it or is it a gear style limited slip that just uses regular gear oil?

-ATF (I liked to use Amsoil in my Jeep... Should I keep with it for the van or is something else recommended?)

-transfer case fluid? Do I use gear oil or ATF in it? If gear oil, what weight? The tcase is the Borg Warner unit



And how much should I be buying of each type of fluid?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mwilliamshs]

Owner's manual, dealer, Quigley, parts store...They can all answer your questions and you can see what Ford recommends then draw conclusions on possible fluid upgrades to synthetic, etc from there. Collective knowledge/opinion is good but whether your differential needs a friction modifier is a fact, not opinion, as is whether your transfer case needs ATF or gear oil, what your local winter weather demands for engine oil viscosity, etc and those facts will depend on what components you actually have, how you use your van, where you live/travel to...all questions you left unanswered.

For the record, my 2002 CC DRW 7.3 PSD gets Mystik 15w-40, Mobil 1 Syn ATF, Royal Purple Synthetic Gear oil, Ford Friction Modifier, HD ELC coolant, and Valvoline SynPower DOT 4 brake fluid. 2wd so no xfer case but it's been a lot of years since a new light duty unit was made that ran gear oil instead of atf. Aluminum case gear boxes typically run ATF. Might not be a 100/100 rule but it's held in my experience.