I noticed drops of oil beneath the X (4.4 2002) over the weekend and when I got underneath there was oil EVERYWHERE! I got underneath the car and noticed that my driver side front axle was about 3/4" separated from the front "transfer case"(I think that's what that thing is) and it looks like that's also where the fluid is leaking from. (attached image) So my few questions are:
1) What color is the transfer case fluid?
2) There's no way to check it is there? I just have to drain what's left and refill? (what are the specs for this? Type of oil, and how much (4.4) for the transfer case)
3)My guess is that the lock ring broke or came undone from the axle tip, I can grab the axle and push it back in and it moves freely. The car runs and shifts PERFECTLY so my question is... Does/can fluid leak from there? Does that lock ring really hold in the fluid as it holds the axle snuggy in there? And what fluid is leaking? Is that Tranfs fluid or does that front "transfer case" have it's own fluid?

Has anyone experienced this? I'm just wondering if my transfer case is f#cked althought it seems to run smoothly. Well... I take that back... I cleaned everything underneath really well and wanted to make sure that's where the fluid was leaking from, so I drove around the block and did feel a bump every 10 seconds near the gas pedal. I assumed that the bump feeling was because the transfer case is now near empty in fluid.

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