PTU

[igcitng]

I need to get an oil change, so I am going to bring up the stinkiness that goes on with my Edge sometimes. In a previous thread, the likely suspects were antifreeze smell or the PTU. Two questions:

 

Last nite I was driving and turned a left corner and seemed to lose power for a few seconds, then was able to accelerate. Related to PTU or a fluke thing?

 

Also, so I can intelligently speak with the scary service guys, what does PTU stand for, where is it and what does it do specifically. Is it just a seal or gasket? A in a nutshell response would be great.

 

BBF, hope you read this.

 

Thanks.

[bbf2530]

I need to get an oil change, so I am going to bring up the stinkiness that goes on with my Edge sometimes. In a previous thread, the likely suspects were antifreeze smell or the PTU. Two questions:

 

Last nite I was driving and turned a left corner and seemed to lose power for a few seconds, then was able to accelerate. Related to PTU or a fluke thing?

 

Also, so I can intelligently speak with the scary service guys, what does PTU stand for, where is it and what does it do specifically. Is it just a seal or gasket? A in a nutshell response would be great.

 

BBF, hope you read this.

 

Thanks.

 

Hi igcitng. :D Okay, I will try to answer what I can and give educated guesses on the intangibles.

 

Concerning the loss of power going around the turn: Not sure if there is snow or ice on the ground by you (even sand/salt etc.). If there is, my educated guess would be that the traction control system sensed a loss of traction and dialed back on the throttle/applied the brakes (it can do either, or both, according to the situation). That would be the most likely scenario. You would not necessarily ever actually feel or hear the tires slip, but you would likely feel it "lose of power". That is how quickly the system can work. Hopefully, that was the cause. If not, and it happens again in high traction situations, then you may need to make a service appointment.

 

Now for the PTU: PTU = "Power Take-off Unit". Also some people alternately called it a Power Transfer Unit or Transfer Case.

 

What does the PTU do? Okay everyone, this is a simplified explanation to get igcitng through her Service Department explanations, so please don't form a lynch party to come get me over the small details :stats: : The PTU is the mechanical/viscous coupling in the powertrain, between the front wheels and the rear wheels. When the AWD system senses that your front wheels are losing traction (and other times also), this is the transfer case that activates your AWD system and transfers power to your rear wheels. Essentially, when the front wheels lose traction and spin, things connect in the PTU that then transfer power to the rear wheels.

 

It is a leaking seal/gasket in the PTU, where it connects to the rest of the powertrain, which is the problem some Edge owners are having. Again, this is a simplified explanation with some generalizations, but I am trying to make it easy to explain and understand.

 

Hope this explanation is not too confusing. If it is, let me know and I will try and do a better job of it.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited February 11, 2010 by bbf2530

[akirby]

What bbf2530 said is essentially correct. The PTU sends power from the front to the rear differential at all times. It's the rear differential that determines when to actually send that power to the rear wheels. Not trying to nit-pick, just add more info.

 

The term PTU is also used on tractors (including lawn tractors). It's a device that's attached to the engine and provides power to add-on accessories (like grass or brush cutters).

[igcitng]

Thank you so much bbf. I just want to put you in my pocket and take you home! How do you know all that you know about Fords? You must be in the biz.

 

The traction control is very likely, I took that turn pretty fast and there is a lot of everything on the ground right now-snow, ice, salt, sand. Did not feel it slip, which is pretty cool. I did not realize that the traction control robs power from the engine, nice safety feature. I had better behave.

 

The PTU explanation makes total sense and now feel able to discuss it intelligently with the boys. Hoping that the smell will be present when I take it in.

 

Thank you again. (Need some female emoticons.)