TD5 oils

[thermidorthelobster]

Time for a service of the TD5 Disco.  From another thread I'm looking at putting Dextron III ATF in the R380 gearbox, because it looks like it's smoother than MTF94, and it's probably easier to get hold of too.  I find the gearbox gets a bit stiff if it's been running a long time without changing gear;  is ATF going to be OK for this?

Do I put the same in the transfer box?  It's a long time since I've changed it myself...

And what should I stick in the engine?

Thanks, David

[diggerdog36]

I have a print out some where of oils and their alternatives.  Ill have a look and tell you in a bit!!
MTF94 is easy to get hold of but usually from the Main Stealer!!

[Paul]

Have a look here: www.discovery2.co.uk

Loads of handy info  :D

[thermidorthelobster]

Thanks Paul, very useful.  They talk about using Texaco 75W/90R or Castrol Syntrax in the diffs.  I was planning on using the good old EP90 GL5.  Any reason not to?

[thermidorthelobster]

I stuck EP90 in the diffs in the end, because I had a garage full of the stuff;  and 75/90 in the transfer box.

Is it just me, or do Land Rover go out of their way to be bloody minded sometimes?

I came to drain the oil on the R380.  First time I've done it as my other Land Rovers have had different gearboxes.

First you try to undo the filler plug, and find it has a Torx socket of a bizarre size.  Of course, there's not room to get a socket head in there, so you wrestle with it and swear and skin your knuckles.  Eventually I got it off and judging by the state of the head, every other person who has ever tried to get it off hasn't had the right tool, so I need to order a new one before it gets damaged any further.  Why didn't LR use a 1/2" drive socket, just like they do on the diffs and transfer box?  Why did they choose a head that nobody is likely to have the tool for, and which is easily damaged?  I was in a fully equipped workshop, with Snap-On tools and a two post lift, and I struggled;  had I been lying on my back in cat poop on the drive in the freezing cold, I'd have been cursing.

Then I tried to remove the drain plug;  32" spanner, which of course nobody has, and again there's not enough room to get a socket handle over it because the diff lock cable is in the way.  So I had to use a socket and a Stillson wrench.  Why the hell do they specify such idiotic parts?  I've already changed the filler plugs on my diffs, because not only did they have a stupid head, but they were made of *plastic*;  they might as well have plugged the holes with play-dough for all the good they did.

I could go on about how they've also put the TD5 oil filter in a place where it's very hard to reach, but I won't.  Do the designers have no common sense these days?

[diggerdog36]

No, they thought long and hard where to put the service items.  Hoping you'd realise what a PITA it is, and either buy the LR tools or send it to the main stealer!
They're not daft!

[Budgie]

Oh great, I've got this little lot to look forward too as soon at the rain stops.
Still, I did manage to get 10 litres of Genuine LR engine oil for the price of normal stuff, the guy said "here, I'll give you this stuff as I need to shift it and noone's buying it".  :D

[Les Henson]

I use MTF94 in the gearbox - it's better in my opinion.


Les.