Thread: Defender 300tdi - slipping clutch + leaking live a sieve!

First cab off the rank for me would be the O ring etc on the intermediate shaft of the transfer case. But if budget isn't an issue then a freshen up of the bearings and seals in the gearbox and transfer case while it's out.

Plenty more, but others can tell you those.

Originally Posted by Tins

First cab off the rank for me would be the O ring etc on the intermediate shaft of the transfer case. But if budget isn't an issue then a freshen up of the bearings and seals in the gearbox and transfer case while it's out.

Plenty more, but others can tell you those.

Have a steel bush put in the intermediate shaft bore, the shaft pushes sideways into the soft aluminium housing and any box with a bit of age will have a very non-round bore there, a new O-ring will start leaking again ten minutes down the road. A steel bush fixes that leak long-term.

Originally Posted by POD

Have a steel bush put in the intermediate shaft bore, the shaft pushes sideways into the soft aluminium housing and any box with a bit of age will have a very non-round bore there, a new O-ring will start leaking again ten minutes down the road. A steel bush fixes that leak long-term.

True. Mike at Britrest does that as a matter of course.

Originally Posted by jay_guess

Afternoon All,

Looking for some advice - I have a '97 130 300tdi with a few issues. She has been my daily driver for the past 5 years and is in need of some much needed TLC.

Clutch has started slipping - Rear main seal leak for sure. It pretty much leaks from everywhere and has ever since I got her. So my question is while doing the rear main (and new clutch) what else is worth doing while she is apart? ....

Other common point of a leaking nature are the vacuum pump. Changing it doesn't guarantee a long term fix either. Mine leaked from one of the core plugs, and I gooped it up with some sealant and it's still holding fine.
Another common leak point is the fine o-ring on the oil pump thermostat housing(cover). Mine looked for all the world like it was coming from the oil cooler hoses, but after cleaning the area was easier to see it was the housing cover.
Oil pressure switch also can be notorious for leaking too. And finally the hoses to and from the crankcase cyclone filter leak oil vapour, which over time amasses to look like an oil leak. O-ring, for the cyclone, on the port that slips into the head too.

I've attended to all of those issues, and mine has now been oil leak free for a good couple of years and about 50-ish K klms. I do have a rear diff pinion leak that I'm far too lazy to look into at the moment, but it's a 5c piddle that isn't of an urgent requirement .. which is why I have the severe lack of enthusiasm to get onto it. But, it is good to see no other marks left underneath.
I reckon, my first of about 25 Rover vehicles that I've had, that has actually stopped leaking oil(pending the, soon to be fixed diff pinion seal) ... so now I stress about it rusting like a normal vehicle does!

I've attended to all of those issues, and mine has now been oil leak free for a good couple of years and about 50-ish K klms.


Love the idea that someone actually succeeded in stopping these leak - has me motivated to try!

Originally Posted by jay_guess

I've attended to all of those issues, and mine has now been oil leak free for a good couple of years and about 50-ish K klms.


Love the idea that someone actually succeeded in stopping these leak - has me motivated to try!

Or it possibly run out of oil