puma transfer oil change interval

[justinc]

After a few instances of finding putrid oil condition, and 1 complete case failure, it has come to my attention these pumas need more regular transfer case oil changes.

if you are towing or operating at highway speeds in high ambient temps then 20,000km should be adhered to, and use a synthetic 75w90 gear oil. it is only 2.5 litres capacity, and good oil like penrite sin75 is about $50 per change. small price to pay.

i am thinking the increased output of these engines allow the trans to work hard without you noticing, they do it so easily.

jc

[newhue]

thanks JC,

I'll take your advice on that, but it does seems strange.

I'm guessing a LT230 has the same oil compactly regardless wether it's in a Tdi, Td5, or Tdci. And without the spec charts they all produce around 90Kw and 340-360Nm. I regularly drive with a Tdi, and Td5, and my Tdci is no rocket ship that leaves the others for dead.

Do earlier models have bigger oil compactly? Can a Lt230 be made to hold more oil? Is there a type of oil that should not be used in a trans, that maybe some dealers do quietly due to cost lowering?
Surly the Tdci doesn't have another quirk :D

[vnx205]

When I was at Modern Motors, Dungog a year ago, redeeming the voucher they had donated as a prize for the AULRO NSW 10th Anniversary gathering, they had a fitting with cooling fins that bolted onto the bottom and increased the oil capacity.

I cant find it on their site.
Modern Motors Dungog (http://www.modernmotors.com.au/)

Maybe they still have them.

They look like this.
OIL COOLER SUMP COVER FOR LT230 TRANSFER CASE | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OIL-COOLER-SUMP-COVER-LT230-TRANSFER-CASE-/170697726785)
Global Roamer Corporation (http://roamerdrive.com/ds_access.html)

Maybe they are a good idea for people towing.

[justinc]

These observations are based on current service practice findings, IE we change all LT230 oils at 40K, BUT When the Puma came along I have seen LOTS of filhy stinking blackened oils at 40K. I serviced a '11 90 on Thursday it had 40,001km(:p) and had been towing a small camper trailer for lots of those KM. IMO its oil should have been changed at 20K. It was quite dirty and stank.

Maybe the oil quality from factory fill isn't so good? Not sure BUT It seems prudent to halve the change interval where what seems like 'hard' use is encountered. (I wouldn't call towing a small CT with a small 90 hard, though:confused:)

Trans Oil is cheap. (Unless you are a D3/4 owner:()


JC

[jplambs]

Thanks for the info Justin, any thoughts on the gearbox oil change?

JP

[Blknight.aus]

the oil capacity is down abit because they've cocked it over to make it fit in with the transmission being more centered.

[LowRanger]

When I was at Modern Motors, Dungog a year ago, redeeming the voucher they had donated as a prize for the AULRO NSW 10th Anniversary gathering, they had a fitting with cooling fins that bolted onto the bottom and increased the oil capacity.

I cant find it on their site.
Modern Motors Dungog (http://www.modernmotors.com.au/)

Maybe they still have them.

They look like this.
OIL COOLER SUMP COVER FOR LT230 TRANSFER CASE | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OIL-COOLER-SUMP-COVER-LT230-TRANSFER-CASE-/170697726785)
Global Roamer Corporation (http://roamerdrive.com/ds_access.html)

Maybe they are a good idea for people towing.

I was at Modern Motors on Thursday,redeeming a voucher I won at the Expo,and used it towards a recond. LT230,so my oil is nice and clean:D
And yes they do still have the adaptor for the LT230 to increase oil capacity and cooling,they were selling them at the expo.

[justinc]

The main gearbox oil is a 60K interval IMO. I have done them at 90K and they were getting pretty average by then.

The main gearbox oil is of very high quality, and the trans is overrated for Puma power and torque outputs.

JC

[JDNSW]

Is it possible that the exhaust layout etc results in the transfer case getting a lot hotter than previous incarnations? Or does the slightly more civilised interior attract drivers who spend more time on the highway at high speed?

John

[Blknight.aus]

I blame a combination of the solution of the hot passangers side footwell and the angling of the Tcase.

Big red used to do long distance trips at highway speed with a moderate to heavy trailer on the back and I wasnt getting Tcase oil issues but I Was changing all fluids at 50 K Km.

[Blknight.aus]

I blame a combination of the solution of the hot passangers side footwell and the angling of the Tcase.

Big red used to do long distance trips at highway speed with a moderate to heavy trailer on the back and I wasnt getting Tcase oil issues but I Was changing all fluids at 50 K Km.

[skoller]

Blknight.aus
What type and brands of oil do you use in the transfer and gearbox.

[Hoges]

FWIW I'll put a plug in here from personal experience for Mobil Agrifluid 424 SAE 80 tractor transmission oil for use in transfer cases. I put it in the TF case of my P38 several years ago and change it out every three years regardless, as there is both a time and heat cycle deterioration on lubrication fluids. It's great for extreme heat, shearing stresses caused by heavy bearing loads and resists moisture deterioration etc. Further, the TF case became substantially quieter in its operation... It's not readily available in the "city". Prob. need to get it from a farm supplier/produce store etc. or a Mobil depot
cheers

[PhilipA]

FWIW I'll put a plug in here from personal experience for Mobil Agrifluid 424
SAE 80 tractor transmission oil


I would hesitate to use that as it is twice as thick at 100C (approx) than the ATF that Land Rover and Borg warner recommend. &0-80 about 14.7 centistrokes at 100 C vs ATF at about 8.
I did some research a while ago and all chain drive BW transfers had ATF recommended and Borg Warner only recommended ATF on their site. I was hoping for some thicker recommendation but it wasn't to be.
The reason it seems is that they have an oil pump which can break with heavy oil on a cold morning.

[130man]

Hi All. I did the modification to the transfer case by using the enlarged, finned sump and it took approximately 0.9 L extra oil to fill. This is on a TD5 130. I bought mine from Ben at Modern Motors as well. Cheers, 130man.

[Blknight.aus]

dex III for the box 80/90 for the Tcase unless I was expecting the next 50K Km to be predominately high speed work in which case it would get dex III as well

[cal415]

I dropped my transfercase at about 8-10k KM after i got mine, The oil that came out already looked a bit off and the new stuff that i used quietened down the drive train noise quite a bit, i was surprised at the difference considering the stock oil was so new. Reason for the change was i accidently dropped some oil out playing with the output flange so i decided i didnt want to mix new/old oils so dropped the lot.

[justinc]

as mentioned, this affliction seems to be confined to the puma models only.

jc

[Allan]

On my now sold Puma, every six months. I only did long distance trips in it with a load and boat behind. Not worth the risk at the cost of a couple of litres of oil.

Allan

[Rick Fischer]

as mentioned, this affliction seems to be confined to the puma models only.

jc


Very simply, I think it is to do with exhaust pipe routing. Puma pipe cuts across in front of Xfer case. Radiant and blow back heat off the pipe provide additional heat to the nice conductive aluminium Xfer casing. Apart from molecular shear, heat kills oils.

TD5s go down the LH side. Can't remember Tdi.

Was going to wrap pipe for drivers foot-well and under seat. Now more wrap!

RF

[scarry]

And while you are underneath draining the T/C oil,have a look at the gearbox mounts.

If it is a Puma and has done a lot of miles on corrugated roads,there is a good chance they are shagged as well.:(