left over washer???

[billnjim]

I recently serviced the defa with one of the filter kits you buy of ebay (big step for me - not really mechanically minded) and for some strange reason I have a left over washer. I put the copper one where it came from on & I've check the fuel, air & oil filters & have not noticed any there, so where does it belong or could the last place I left to do my servicing not put it somewhere? Oh its a galvinised looking type washer.

[rainman]

Which model Defender? Do you have a link to the kit you bought?


James.

[Loubrey]

Same question as Rainman really, but a lot of service kits have a soft alloy type washer (sometimes a silverish alloy over copper) in stead of the normal copper one and from your description it might be one of those.

As a rule the copper washer needs replacing when you do a service, but if it's not leaking it might remain ok for this service.

[rainman]

Same question as Rainman really, but a lot of service kits have a soft alloy type washer (sometimes a silverish alloy over copper) in stead of the normal copper one and from your description it might be one of those.

As a rule the copper washer needs replacing when you do a service, but if it's not leaking it might remain ok for this service.

:cool: I was leading to "is it galvanized (not likely) or alloy". The easiest way to determine this is to put it on a magnet.


(big step for me - not really mechanically minded)

Good on you for giving it a go yourself billnjim by the way!

[billnjim]

sorry about the skipped details - its a '98 300tdi 110, the kit was purchased online from an ebay shop/buy now supplier a fair while ago but as I hadn't driven the defa since february I kind of forgot about it, I just can't remember who from. There was only one washer (copper) on the sump which iI replaced with the copper supplied. This remaining washer appears galvinised only in colour if that makes sense and is light (weight) so could well be alloy. My concern is I will be towing the jayco down south & just don't know what/where this washer is for - on short runs (since I serviced) of less than a hour I have not noticed any unusual leaks anywhere that I touched ( yep I'm amazed I had my doubts) but don't know if this will still be the case after towing a tonne & a bit for a few hours.

[dswatts]

Is it for the water drain on the fuel filter?

[camel_landy]

Gearbox plug??

M

[rainman]

billnjim, if you can give the measurements (outer and inner diameters, and the thickness) I should be be able to work it out. I have all of the sump, gearbox, t/fer case washer sizes written down at home somewhere.


James.

[billnjim]

Thanks James, I'll be home later tonight from site & will see if I can remember where I put the washer. The Kit I purchased had the three filters (oil, air & fuel) and the two washers only. I did not touch the gear box or transfer case as both of these were replaced/rebuilt less than 10 thousand km ago & I dont have one of those little pump bottle thingys to refill them if I'd change the oil in them.

[rainman]

Good morning,

I found the piece of soiled, singed paper with the 300Tdi/R380/LT230 drain plug washer sizes. For some stupid reason (probably drunkenness) I only wrote down the ID of the sump washer, but this should give us some idea anyway.

Sump - ID 12.9mm
Gearbox - 35 x 24.85 x 1.6mm
Transfer case - 18.85 x 12.15 x 1.6mm


James.

[billnjim]

thanks for the information James, the wife was being helpful and tidying up after me and has put the left over washer somewhere safe - so no doubt it will turn up when I buy the next kit. I'll keep all the info for future reference. One last crazy question though (maybe I should start another thread?): Service intervals - I'm lucky if I'd do 10k km a year, more like 5 or 6k km (& possibly less); given that the defa is parked up 9 times out of 10 do I need to do services every six months or can I leave it to every 10k km?

[rainman]

Hehehe :). I have the opposite problem - I'm the sucker tidying up after my wife.

Servicing is a bit of a matter of opinion. Some owners change Tdi engine oil every 5000km, especially if doing mostly short trips. I would say if you're doing less than 10000km a year, change it every year.


James.

[justinc]

The Tdi has 2 different diameter thread sizes depending on year of manufacture. SOME very late 1997 and ALL 1998/99 Tdis have larger diameter thread, they use a 15mm spanner size, whereas the early smaller thread plugs use 19mm spanner size. Perhaps this is why they supply both washers?

JC

[rainman]

The Tdi has 2 different diameter thread sizes depending on year of manufacture. SOME very late 1997 and ALL 1998/99 Tdis have larger diameter thread, they use a 15mm spanner size, whereas the early smaller thread plugs use 19mm spanner size. Perhaps this is why they supply both washers?

JC

Both my Defenders are pre '97 so the measurements I gave are for the earlier type.

Thanks Justin - there's always an exception isn't there :(?


James.