Thread: 99 Defender TD5 Gear Oil Cooler Leak

Originally Posted by HowardSmall

I took my defender down for air conditioning work and they told me that there is a leak at the radiator for the oil cooler, which I gather is the gearbox oil cooler. They said that if I get a new gearbox cooler radiator they can fit it for me while they replace the a/c condensor.

The manual states "two smaller radiators are located in front of the cooling radiator... the lower radiator provides cooling of the gearbox oil". I am having a little trouble seeing these but will pull some bits off during the week to have a better look. Do I take it that the gearbox oil actually passes through the lower radiator? If mine is leaking I guess it could be the hose or the radiator. How difficult is it to fix the hose if that is the cause and how hard is it to find a radiator if that is needed? I guess there will be significant gearbox oil loss when I disconnect it from the radiator?

If anyone has worked on this I would appreciate some general guidance as I can't seem to find much in the service manual about it.

Thanks in advance,

Howard

if this is an Australian delivery it wont have a standard cooler apart from a hose running along the sump looping in front of the engine.
The standard R380 doesnt run through the engine radiator.
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If you look at Ashcrofts site they have one you can buy maybe this is what yours has got

Originally Posted by djam1

if this is an Australian delivery it wont have a standard cooler apart from a hose running along the sump looping in front of the engine.
The standard R380 doesnt run through the engine radiator.

Thanks for the info. It is an Australian delivery. I can't imagine the original owner had it modified but I will have a good look. If it is not leaking gearbox oil then I have no idea what the a/c guy saw...

Might be oil dripping out of the intercooler.

I think this is what he was referring to. A while back I had heaps of oil all over the engine from a leak and cleaned it off with degreaser and a pressure hose. However, some bits I could not get to and I suspect that is what this is about. The hose certainly does not look to me like an oil hose.