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View Full Version : LT230 used oil colour?


harro
25th January 2011, 09:22 AM
I have just changed the rear oil seal and flange on the t/case of my 02my defender xtreme.
The oil that came out of the t/case was black and also had a metallic sheen in it.
The oil was only changed about 5000k ago.
The oil was fully synthetic 75/90 nulon, on their recommended chart for the t/case
Full Synthetic 75W-90 Performance Smooth Shift Manual Gearbox and Transaxle Oil - Nulon Products Australia (http://www.nulon.com.au/products/Full_Synthetic_75W-90_Performance_Smooth_Shift_Manual_Gearbox_and_Tra nsaxle_Oil/)
In short, do I have a problem or is this acceptable?

The vehicle drives fine and no (unusual) noises coming from the t/case.
And about 80,000 klm's on it.

Cheers,
Paul.
It'sNotWorthComplaining!
25th January 2011, 09:51 AM
I use mineral based oil. it normally drains similar to what it went in as just a little darker.
It's normal to get some metal attached to the sump plug magnet,nothing to worry about, but never has metallic particles floating in the actual oil. Maybe the oil you are using is burning and not doing it's job?
rick130
25th January 2011, 02:19 PM
How did it smell ?

The only time I've seen LT230 gear oil black was with mismatched tyre sizes front to rear (7:50/16's-235/85's) so the t/case was constantly differentiating (and it'd probably copped a flogging prior to my ownership with the difflock possibly not engaged often enough offroad)

I changed it and the t/case has been fine for the last 200,000km (except for the oil leaks).

Change fluid and re-check in 1000km.
harro
25th January 2011, 03:09 PM
How did it smell ?

The only time I've seen LT230 gear oil black was with mismatched tyre sizes front to rear (7:50/16's-235/85's) so the t/case was constantly differentiating (and it'd probably copped a flogging prior to my ownership with the difflock possibly not engaged often enough offroad)

I changed it and the t/case has been fine for the last 200,000km (except for the oil leaks).

Change fluid and re-check in 1000km.

Thanks Rick,
It did smell a bit burnt and I may be guilty of not locking the centre diff often enough.
Tyres are the same size all round so not an issue.

So I may be the cause of the BLACK 'burnt' oil!
Is the metallic sheen in the oil a product of my mistreatment and am I looking at a potential failure?
I am thinking of going for the Disco gearing as the vehicle has been remapped ect.
so this may speed up my decision.

Cheers,
Paul.