Thread: roverdrive overdrive

Originally Posted by gromit

I think AutoBarn, SuperCheap etc. would all stock GL4 gear oil. I've used Mobil and Shell but it was starting to get expensive so I buy through the blender below, about $14plus GST for 5 litres but shipping may be an issue.

Gear Oils


Colin

Thanks Colin, I have edited my post because I should have added fully synthetic.
This has been stipulated by the manufacturer because of the high temperatures the Roverdrive can run at.

Cheers,
Paul.

Orderd my Roverdrive today so hope to be fitting it soon.
At the moment I am running Castrol syntrans in my transfer case and I am hoping this will be fine for the Roverdrive as well.
Dave

Originally Posted by harro

Well I have fitted the roverdrive to my defender and so far I am very pleased with the highway cruising speed/revs and it is very quiet.

I have recently exchanged emails with Ray Wood from Roverdrive and I must say he is excellent to deal with.

He has recommended a GL4 gear oil for the T/case because of the bronze parts in the overdrive.
I am currently running a fully synthetic 75w90 GL5.
Does anyone know of a commonly available fully synthetic GL4 gear oil in 75w/90?

Fully synthetic 75w85 GL4 is easy to get so would it make much difference to run that in the LT230?
I don't know if I am splitting hairs here but it would be good to get it right.

Cheers,
Paul.

Most all synthetic GL5 oils are buffered, ie the sulphur EP additive is deactivated to prevent discolouration and corrosion of copper based components.

A buffered GL5 diff/transaxle fluid like Castrol Syntrax, Motul Gear 300, Torco RTF, etc are fine.
They have a Copper discolour rating of 1b so yellow metals are inert.

Even most straight diff oils use buffered sulphur these days to prevent copper corrosion, but you do have to check.
If in doubt find a technical or product data sheet and look for the copper corrosion number.

If you are still concerned Redline MT90 or Castrol Syntrans M (for Eaton and Rockwell gearboxes) are 75W-90 GL4 full synthetic manual gearbox fluids.
There are others but I remember these two off the top of my head.

Personally I'd go for one of the former fluids listed, they just give a measure of protection above a GL4 fluid in situations of extreme heat/loads.

Originally Posted by sdt463

Orderd my Roverdrive today so hope to be fitting it soon.
At the moment I am running Castrol syntrans in my transfer case and I am hoping this will be fine for the Roverdrive as well.
Dave

Dave, where dod you order it from? OS or one of the local dealers?

Hi Onesilop, I orderd it from modern motors As sugested by Big Harold in this thread. Thought about bringing one in from the state's but in the end decided it was all to much mucking around.modern moters had one in stock about $400 cheaper than T1aslav was quoted by British offroad and posted same day.
Dave

This has been stipulated by the manufacturer because of the high temperatures the Roverdrive can run at.

On my Series Roverdrive it burnt the synthetic oil in it while driving up through the Pilbara in extreme heat. I contacted the company and was told the finned bottom plate would help and so I got one and it made no difference. Much later on, Ray Wood contacted me out of the blue and offered the improved housing they apparently use now to deal with this heat, so I said that yes, I would like that and then I never heard from him again.

My Roverdrive was a wonderful bit of very expensive equipment and worked really well, and I'd recommend them for cooler climates. But once the ambient temperature got to about 35c or so and above, it just couldn't dissipate the enormous amount of heat it created quickly enough. Once temperatures got into the 40s, it was hopeless. Ray reckoned they'd been tested here - which was one of the big selling points for me - but I wonder if it was only in the Dry season.

I only point this out so that those of you who have one of these new versions know to keep a close eye on them in extreme heat. I didn't know, so I used it in conditions it wasn't up to.

Thanks for the info Davo. I have ordered the finned cover as both Roverdrive & modern motors told me it was advisable.
I was tossing up whether or not to fit a temp gauge but now certainly will.
I am assuming That if it starts to run hot that disengaging the overdrive will put the transfer box back into its normal running mode and allow it to cool. Do you know if this is correct ? .
Dave.

Modern Motors at Dungog NSW Ph 02 49921486. They seem real good to deal with.