Ford 4600 rear axle oil level

Andy4600

Member
How much oil does a Ford 4600 rear axle hold? My manual say 33.9 quarts, but that does not seem to be correct. Here is the story:

Ok, so I decided to change the oil in my rear axle/hydraulic system in my Ford 4600. I had not done this before, as I haven't had the tractor very long. My manual says to use 33.9 quarts of oil, and gives me a location for the oil level plug, to check level. First problem: My tractor oil level plug isn't in this location. So, I look around and find a likely candidate for a level plug, do an internet search, and confirm this is probably it.

So, I drain the old oil, which is very dark, and only get about 5 gallons out. Ok, that isn't good, but I don't know when this job was done last...if ever.

Then, I add the new oil. I bought 2 5-gal buckets of oil. I dumped in the first bucket. From the second bucket, I poured about 2 gallons into a 2 gallon container I had, and then dumped the other 3 gallons into the tractor. I figured that had me at 32 quarts, and I could then use the 2 gallons I had set aside to add the extra 2 quarts and top it off. So, I add some...and nothing comes out the level plug hole. I add more...nothing. I add more...nothing. I add all of it...nothing.

So that is 10 gallons added, or 40 quarts, and it still doesn't show full. Anyone else have this experience? Is my manual wrong? (It is definitely wrong about the level plug location.) How much oil should this thing have?

Thanks
 
Page 60 of the owners manual sez 33.9 quarts. The level plug shown on page 48 is right beside the brake release handle on the rear of the right running board. It is a square ended pipe plug. Fill till oil comes out this hole.
 
was your plug onthe round cover or off to the side? Is your rear ( or tractor ) really a 4600 or a 4000 or mixed?
 

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23041.jpg"/>

This isn't my tractor, but it has the same plug location, conveniently marked "Here it is". Credits to the original poster, whoever you are.
 
"Is your rear ( or tractor ) really a 4600 or a 4000 or mixed? "

Good question. I don't know the answer. The engine has been right on for 4600 parts, and is a 1979 model. The rear has been hard to match. I had a real hard time finding a lift yoke to fit it. How does one tell what rear you have?
 
check top cover and rear axle center section. I would not check the trans, because it could be a put together.
 
I'm posting this here to keep all of my threads in one spot, on one forum. I'll get some pictures and hopefully a date code tonight.

"I saw your post over on the Yesterday's Tractors Ford forum. Those guys will get you the proper information, you just need to provide enough information for them to know exactly what you've got. You posted a picture from somebody else's tractor and said that your level check plug is in the same spot, but what you didn't say is whether your flow control valve looks like the one in that picture, or better yet, post pictures of your tractor's rear axle center housing and hydraulic top cover. Also mention exactly which transmission and PTO options your tractor has, as the location of the level check plug can vary depending on those. A 4600 would most likely have independent PTO and an 8 speed transmission with a gear type hydraulic pump mounted in the side of the center housing below the flow control valve, but there were some that had other transmissions and/or other options that might result in it having the piston style hydraulic pump mounted on the left side of the engine, and that will change where your level check hole will be. "
 
The pic you posted shows the correct level plug as Bern has already pointed out. It really makes no difference if it's a 4000, 4600, 4610 or 4630. The rear ends are the same in all, more or less. The fill quantity is certainly the same.
I would suspect that if you have 10 US gal in there now and it's not up to the level plug... then probably the rear transmission seals are probably bad and allowing the oil to mix between the transmission and hydraulic system. Since the transmission runs a bit higher oil level what I'd probably do is fill the whole works up to the correct level for the transmission (after you've confirmed that you do have new clean oil making it's way to the transmission)... and then call it a day. The higher level in the rear end isn't going to be a big deal. I frequently over fill the rear anyway, particularly if it's a loader tractor.

Rod
 
The level check plug on my '73 4000 is farther back than the one in that picture and is blocked by the foot rest. Mine is an S-O-S though, so there are a lot of differences between mine and one with a manual trans.
 
A 4000 holds less oil than a 4600 or 10 or 30 because the level plug on a 4000 is in the pump cover and the rest are as pictured in this thread. 4600's and later should hold 7.5 gallons more or less in the rear axle/ hydraulic reservoir.
 
(quoted from post at 16:44:31 06/22/15) A 4000 holds less oil than a 4600 or 10 or 30 because the level plug on a 4000 is in the pump cover and the rest are as pictured in this thread. 4600's and later should hold 7.5 gallons more or less in the rear axle/ hydraulic reservoir.

My 3 cylinder 4000 owner's manual says the rear axle/hydraulic sump capacity is 33.9 quarts, which is the same that Andy4600 said that his 4600 manual says about that model. 33.9 quarts is a tiny bit shy of 4 gallons.

As I said, my 4000 is an S-O-S, and so it has the engine mounted pump, and the level plug is not in the pump cover, but I assume that it is at the same height as one that had a manual trans and a gear pump in the side of the center housing. When I changed the fluid out in mine the last time it took somewhere between 33.5 and 33.9 quarts to fill it to the level check hole. I assumed that the slight discrepancy was due to the fact that I didn't change the filter that time. The previous time when I did change the filter it took a hair over 8 gallons.
 
I have little faith in published capacity figures, especially from Ford. It isn't hard to see that a housing with a level plug 2 or 2-1/2" higher than another nearly identical housing will hold more oil. In fact, it's pretty difficult to make a sound defense of them being the same, other than published info. Seems to me there is a service bulletin from back in the day that addresses rear axle center section capacity, I might have to go on a mission.............
 
Ok, back with pictures:

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23081.jpg"/>
Rear View

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23082.jpg"/>
The shiny new plug is were I am checking level.

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23083.jpg"/>
Numbers on the opposite (clutch pedal) side, date says 11/7/78...if that is supposed to be a date.

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23084.jpg"/>
Opposite (clutch pedal) Side view.

<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23086.jpg"/>

Date Code on top "8J18B". This matches the plate on the hood. By the way it is an 8 speed transmission.
 
I've never really paid much attention to how much they actually hold vs stated capacity. I just fill it until it runs out the hole or it's over the full mark on the stick...

Rod
 
I agree with you Rick. I have seen numerous times where the published figures in an owner's manual are way off from what a reservoir actually holds. Cooling systems are particularly bad I've found.
 
Certainly that's always the best way. We have a guy at work that's 'retentive' about capacity numbers. I keep asking him if he has learned how to use a dipstick yet, and tell him we don't sell oil in 0.8 quart bottles.
 
That second picture shows a good view of that side, and that level check hole is quite a bit higher than the one on my '73 4000, and since mine takes right around 33 to 34 quarts, I wouldn't be surprised if your 4600 takes 40 quarts or even a few more than that.
 
(quoted from post at 13:49:20 06/23/15) That second picture shows a good view of that side, and that level check hole is quite a bit higher than the one on my '73 4000, and since mine takes right around 33 to 34 quarts, I wouldn't be surprised if your 4600 takes 40 quarts or even a few more than that.

Looks like I will try adding a few more gallons to the fill hole. I have read a few other forums that said these tractors may take about 12 gallons to fill. We will see. I need to get another bucket of oil first though.
 

It ended up being about 11 gallons to get oil out of the level check hole. Just wanted to follow up with the thread.
 

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