I read once that the NP8 actually had multiple suppliers (could’ve just been the new process / new venture thing) but a few of us have gone through this from time to time. I think you’ve already figured it out, but putting a swab into the fill hole would have probably been good advice since that would’ve gotten us to “is the fluid blue or red?”
My 99 burb is now being piloted by my son, and about a month ago I got the call that something was rubbing/ kinda sounds like its coming from one of the front wheels. That was tricky to diagnose for him over the phone (haha) but I probably would’ve been just as stumped in person since it was the dreaded transfer case rub. Fortunately it has been shared on the forums and I put two and two together.
I drop-shipped him a rebuilt t-case (about 700 bucks) and that took care of that. But since I owe the forum universe now, I thought a psa was in order: (0) Mine is blue (1) I think the tcase rub is pretty much inevitable on the GMT 400 NP8. (2) wait and watch for it, because its a high milage thing that makes a noise all its own, and (3) its a pretty easy rebuild, but you could also get in front of it with a sonnax plate saver that protects the case (but to do that you’ve dropped the case and mostly disassembled it anyway)
Happy trails!
