Where do you get Diff oil

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

Been trying to source the diff oil for my next service, but have had no luck.

Where are others getting their diff oil from?

Thanks and Cheers Ean

[wrinklearthur]

Hi Ean

Try the 24/7 help line for one of the major oil distributors, ask for what type of oil they recommend and then ask for the name of a retail outlet that they supply that oil to.

With a bit of luck, you should then find one that is open all weekend, and get what you need.

The oils I use, I bypass the Local chaps and go into Glenorchy to that super shack place, I can make a saving of about *30 on a 20ltr drum that way, it's cheaper to travel the extra kilometres and buy in town, than it is to source it locally and I stock up on filters while I am there as well.

[connock]

hi Ean Austral

Have you got a e diff because this oil is differant to the open diffs like the front diff.
I have just purchased 2 lts of Castrol Bot 720 ( for e diff ), apparently Castrol wil not sell this to you as it is made exclusively for LR and you can only get it from LR ( apparently ) :(

connock

Sorry this didnt tell you where to get it from but may stop you putting the wrong oil into a e diff

[dmdigital]

Ean,

The Castrol distributor in Darwin is where you want to go. Even if they can't sell you the oil that can at lest confirm what you need. The Castrol BOT 130M for the Puma's gearbox is one such product and has to be ordered direct from LR in Australia. No doubt the D3/4 suffer the same problem.

[Ean Austral]

Ean,

The Castrol distributor in Darwin is where you want to go. Even if they can't sell you the oil that can at lest confirm what you need. The Castrol BOT 130M for the Puma's gearbox is one such product and has to be ordered direct from LR in Australia. No doubt the D3/4 suffer the same problem.

Thanks Derek,

We have accounts with castrol so may be able to swing it, will give it a try.

Cheers Ean

[IvanR]

The oil for the D3 diff is Castrol SAF-XO (No E-Diff) which my mechanic had to special order from castrol in Melbourne as the local distributers dont carry it.
The transfer case oil can only be sourced from Land Rover.

Ivan.

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

Went to the Castrol distributer today and as I expected none in darwin, and will only order it in 20 ltr drums..around the $500 mark.

So did some ringing around and got told that Valvoline syngear full synthetic 75/90 oil is the same oil as castrol SAF.XO, according to the price quoted it most likely is.

So has anyone tried, is using, or have any other conflicting info about the Valvoline oil.

Many thanks

Cheers Ean

[rick130]

Gday All,

Went to the Castrol distributer today and as I expected none in darwin, and will only order it in 20 ltr drums..around the $500 mark.

So did some ringing around and got told that Valvoline syngear full synthetic 75/90 oil is the same oil as castrol SAF.XO, according to the price quoted it most likely is.

So has anyone tried, is using, or have any other conflicting info about the Valvoline oil.

Many thanks

Cheers Ean

Ean, Syntrax would be closer to SAF-XO than any Valvoline oil ;)

Oh, and that's an insane price for XO, it's not that flash an oil.

Ring Castrol's Tech line and ask can you substitute Syntrax for it.

If my memory serves me right, SAF-XO is BMW car/MAN truck spec non LSD fluid.

I'm starting to think Syntrax is a bit of an Australian special as I've never been able to work out what it used to be called in Europe (UK Syntrax is something different being only a semi-syn like Multitrax here)
According to Castrol Syntrax was originally developed for the TWR XJR-12 Le Mans Sports Prototype Jag, used in F1 and used for the XJ-220 transaxle too.

I pay about $22/litre here for Syntrax.

[dangermousehouse]

Ean,

I got my oil from the dealer. Asked them to price match the Indy, which they did, to save me an extra half hour travelling.:) (I phoned local Castrol people and it was same price, if he could get it, but more travelling and mucking about).

Might be worth giving the dealer a shout to save any hassles or doubts.

I got the SAF XO for $29 a litre (you'll need around 1.2 ltrs for the front diff and around the same for the rear. As mentioned by someone else if you have the e diff it's a different oil)

Transfer case oil (from dealer) $$61.92 a litre (1.5 ltrs required)

Expensive stuff, but if you're saving money servicing yourself then a few extra dollars spent at the dealer getting parts isn't so hard.

I just get everything from them (yeah, I know I could save on ebay) but at least they know me there and they're willing to help me out if I turn up needing it.

[rick130]

Ean,


[snip]
I got the SAF XO for $29 a litre (you'll need around 1.2 ltrs for the front diff and around the same for the rear. As mentioned by someone else if you have the e diff it's a different oil)


[snip]

That's much more reasonable.

BTW, I've read that BMW fella's in the US go to the Landy dealers to get thei SAF-XO for their Bimmers. :lol:

[Ivan]

Gday All,

Went to the Castrol distributer today and as I expected none in darwin, and will only order it in 20 ltr drums..around the $500 mark.

So did some ringing around and got told that Valvoline syngear full synthetic 75/90 oil is the same oil as castrol SAF.XO, according to the price quoted it most likely is.

So has anyone tried, is using, or have any other conflicting info about the Valvoline oil.

Many thanks

Cheers Ean
Thats what they use at MR Automotive in Redcliffe. I was there last night and asked about the Castrol stuff. They said they just use fully synthetic Valvoline to GL5 spec.

HTH

Ivan

[Ean Austral]

Ean, Syntrax would be closer to SAF-XO than any Valvoline oil ;)

Oh, and that's an insane price for XO, it's not that flash an oil.

Ring Castrol's Tech line and ask can you substitute Syntrax for it.

If my memory serves me right, SAF-XO is BMW car/MAN truck spec non LSD fluid.

I'm starting to think Syntrax is a bit of an Australian special as I've never been able to work out what it used to be called in Europe (UK Syntrax is something different being only a semi-syn like Multitrax here)
According to Castrol Syntrax was originally developed for the TWR XJR-12 Le Mans Sports Prototype Jag, used in F1 and used for the XJ-220 transaxle too.

I pay about $22/litre here for Syntrax.

Gday Rick,

spoke to castrol tech services and they reckon syntrax was for the older style disco's and some other euro models like merc, but wouldn't seem suitable to the D3.

His advice, got to the dealer and pay whatever price they ask.:eek:

Maybe he owns a L/R dealership...Oh and I rang the lacal ( and only dealer) and $50 a ltr and they dont have any to sell..:eek::eek:

Oh what a feeling...oops wrong brand.

Cheers Ean

[PhilipA]

Don't complain. the correct oil for a BMW E36 M3 is

BMW 83 221 470 080 (large container)/83 221 467 993(small) special gear oil (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php't=416786#)
oem Castrol SAF-XJ 75W-140
1.2 Lt/2.6 Pt
I paid $118 at a BMW dealer.
Regards Philip A

[101RRS]

Oh and I rang the lacal ( and only dealer) and $50 a ltr and they dont have any to sell..:eek::eek:

Oh what a feeling...oops wrong brand.

Cheers Ean

I went to a dealer a few years back because I was having trouble getting oil and they told me they do not sell it retail as it was for car servicing only - the only way I could get it was to put my car in for the required service.

Garry

[PhilipA]

This guy imports oil from the uSA independently and sells Redline and Amsoil and will deliver anywhere by courier. I have used him for Royal Purple in the past .
The BMW forum in the states likes Redline for BMW LSDs which are inclined to chatter, thus the special oil.Have a google and look up the oil sites.

I don't think there is anything special about D3 diffs , as from reports here several posters are having problems at low mileages , the super expensive oil does not seem to be doing anything.( I guess you could look at it the other way that they depend on this special oil to live which I do not think is true. More likely to be to combat noise or chattering)

PerformanceLub.com (http://www.performancelub.com/index.htm)

Regards Philip A

[rick130]

Gday Rick,

spoke to castrol tech services and they reckon syntrax was for the older style disco's and some other euro models like merc, but wouldn't seem suitable to the D3.

His advice, got to the dealer and pay whatever price they ask.:eek:

Maybe he owns a L/R dealership...Oh and I rang the lacal ( and only dealer) and $50 a ltr and they dont have any to sell..:eek::eek:

Oh what a feeling...oops wrong brand.

Cheers Ean

Wow, SAF-XO has been around forever too (early/mid nineties) and meets the same API and US Mil specs as Syntrax, but the smart thing to do is run what LR specify to cover your backside, at least until the warranty runs out.

I've attached an old SAF-XO/SAF-XJ PDS if anyone wants a look.

[rick130]

FWIW Fuchs Titan Sintopoid 75W-90 meets the BMW diff spec too.

I'm beginning to think the oil spec is designed around low shear, extremely low oxidation properties as it's filled for life, or at least a very long time with a minimal volume of fluid.

Bring the service intervals back to a reasonable milage and I'm guessing you could use virtually any premium syn API GL5, US MIL-PRF-2105E spec fluid.

[IvanR]

HiEan Austral
your castrol distributer is telling porkies,
Castrol SAF-XO comes in 1 litre bottles as well as 20,lts I have a container sitting in front of me at the moment.

Ivan R

[rick130]

HiEan Austral
your castrol distributer is telling porkies,
Castrol SAF-XO comes in 1 litre bottles as well as 20,lts I have a container sitting in front of me at the moment.

Ivan R




They probably don't want to buy a box and break it open.
I've seen it on the shelf in bottles at one of the distributors here too. (100km away, but local :D)

<edit>
My Castrol dealer just rang me back and Castrol have dropped the 1l bottles, it's only available in 20l drums now :(

[Mully]

Greets Ean... I changed diff oils recently and after a few hours chasing everyone in Adelaide, ended up at Solitaire who are the Landy dealer here.... wasn't cheap as others have mentioned and the rear locking diff was different to the front as mentioned. Think it was around $250 all up to change both diffs...

Had no chance sourcing at Super Cheap and those places alas... everyone scratched their heads, even Solitaire when I called them. :)

Cheers.

[vbrab]

I have an 07 D3 with "normal" standard diffs NOT limited slip, can anybody tell what the oil is that is specified by LR (viscosity/SAE equivalent etc)....so can start tracking down a suitable equivalent oil to change the diff oil. Just cannot seem to find the listing for the specified oil.
No landover service around here.
Thanks vbrab

[rick130]

I have an 07 D3 with "normal" standard diffs NOT limited slip, can anybody tell what the oil is that is specified by LR (viscosity/SAE equivalent etc)....so can start tracking down a suitable equivalent oil to change the diff oil. Just cannot seem to find the listing for the specified oil.
No landover service around here.
Thanks vbrab

The stuff we've been discussing is the specified fluid, Castrol SAF-XO, a 75W-90 GL-5 non LSD, BMW/MAN spec fluid.

In Europe SAF-XO is now apparently called Syntrax LongLife, just to confuse us more.....