Disco 3 diff oil

[doug.jones]

I can't find a mention of diff oil in the manual. The Cairns agent added "longlife" oil after a recent seal replacement and charged me $80 per litre for it!
Does anyone know which oil should be used?

[sheerluck]

Are you talking front or rear diff (if you have the rear e-diff)?

If it's the front, then a fully synthetic 75w-90 is required, like Castrol SAF-XO. $80 a litre sounds a little over the top, cheapest I've found is just under $30 a litre.

[101RRS]

As Dave said.

· Rear diff oil – 1.1 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oil
· Front diff oil – .61 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oil

[BigJon]

$80 a litre sounds a little over the top, cheapest I've found is just under $30 a litre.

Depending on the oil $80 per litre could be a reasonable price. Wait until you change the transfer case oil. Land Rover oil only, no aftermarket equivalent.

[RR P38]

These long life oils are expensive and I would say lead to premature failure and damage to gearboxes and such.....in my opinion.
Case in point is the "sealed for life" transmissions in late model Landys.
OK these oils increase the time between services......but if you have an oil change every 12 months instead of, well never, or until the "protected" equipment fails how is this beneficial to you the owner (most likely a second hand purchaser)...Warranty is up...
If you are looking at used drained oils and you see a hint of chrome you may choose to drain the oil in a few months again to see how things are going with a Diff you might decide to get a rebuild before a component fails.
If we are using "sealed for life" oils we run things until they fail.

[101RRS]

Case in point is the "sealed for life" transmissions in late model Landys.


Lets kill this myth - they are not sealed for life and do have a service interval - yes a long service interval, and probably too long but they are not sealed for life.

These huge time frames are thrust on manufacturers by European emission and pollution requirements to minimise waste oil - i guess it is easier to recycle a gearbox rather than the oil that could just end up in a drain.

Garry

[Ean Austral]

Well, I dread saying this but here goes,

I have been using a 75w/90 mineral oil in my D3 diffs for the last 40,000kms. Admittedly I changed it every 5000kms for the first 15000ks, but now change it every 10,000ks.

The oil comes out clean, no sludge or metal so far on the magnet plug, so have every intention to keep using it.
The car has done long distance trips , thru 45 plus degree temps, plus its used as a daily driver.

My personal opinion is for the small amounts of oil in these diffs, the long oil drain intervals are more concern than the use of a good mineral oil changed more regularly.

These of course are my ideas and its being done in my car so I wear the consequences, but if a good 75w/90 mineral diff oil has been good enough for cars for the last 50 yrs then its a thing I was happy to try.

The diff oils can be changed in 30 mins if set up for it, so changing it every 10,000ks or so is not to hard.

OK am ready to be shot down for using a non synthetic oil.:p

Cheers Ean

[rick130]

Oh Ean.......


I saw you'd replied to this thread and I'm thinking, "he's not going to, surely he's not gong to, there'll be hell to pay..." and sure enough, you have. :o

Brave man :lol2:

[Ean Austral]

Oh Ean.......


I saw you'd replied to this thread and I'm thinking, "he's not going to, surely he's not gong to, there'll be hell to pay..." and sure enough, you have. :o

Brave man :lol2:

Yeh I know Rick, but hey, theres no Soapbox, no Cantina, the P word is all but banned, the Gallen punching Miles in the head thread has died, so needed something to get the masses fired up...What better way than to use a thread about oil, especially a non synthetic oil for a D3,..:wasntme:

Havent been struck down yet, so maybe should ask mods to move this to the D3/D4/RRS section to really get the blood pumping.:p

Cheers Ean

[CanadianRyan]

Hi all,
Quick question - what oil for the rear electronic diff? I can find lots of info about the front taking 0.61L 75w/90, and the non-E rear taking 1.1L of the same... but the only thing I've read about the electric option is that it takes 1.5L of "special oil"... what's so special? Cheers
Ryan

[loanrangie]

Hi all,
Quick question - what oil for the rear electronic diff? I can find lots of info about the front taking 0.61L 75w/90, and the non-E rear taking 1.1L of the same... but the only thing I've read about the electric option is that it takes 1.5L of "special oil"... what's so special? Cheers
Ryan

I'm guessing the price is very special.

[scarry]

I'm guessing the price is very special.

It is because LR oil is the only oil to use,unless you want to pioneer with something else....

[101RRS]

Not sure you can actually buy it other than a LR dealer but the oil is Castrol SAF Carbon Mod Plus

[DiscoClax]

Not sure you can actually buy it other than a LR dealer but the oil is Castrol SAF Carbon Mod PlusThat exact same oil is also available as a GM part you can get from a Holden dealer. I don't have the p/n handy but a quick search will bring it up.

[RANDLOVER]

Even at $80/L I'd recommend changing it regularly as my front diff had to be re-ground $1000 vs $3000 for new IIRC. I could understand long service intervals if it had a lot more than 600ml of oil, I think that's a Super-size Coke.

[101RRS]

That exact same oil is also available as a GM part you can get from a Holden dealer. I don't have the p/n handy but a quick search will bring it up.

Yep - also used by Holden.

[DiscoClax]

92184900 is, I believe, the GM part number for the Castrol SAF Carbon Mod diff oil. Comes in an ACDelco bottle. Easier to get and much cheaper than the same stuff in a white bottle with green oval sticker on it... yes, even from a Holden dealer.

I researched this when I thought/hoped/dreamed my RRS was fitted with the elusive e-diff (as advertised) but alas mine is one of the 81% of TDV8s where that option was not fitted... Stupid, stupid first owners... Now I wish I had the problem of sourcing this oil.

[loanrangie]

Does the e-diff have friction plates like an LSD ? cant see why it needs special fluid if it doesn't .

[Geedublya]

Does the e-diff have friction plates like an LSD ? cant see why it needs special fluid if it doesn't .

Yes it does. There is a motor which drives a multiplate clutch and gives variable lock up.

[shack]

As Dave said.

· Rear diff oil – 1.1 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oil
· Front diff oil – .61 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oilSo I've been trying to get this oil, apparently it's been superseded, the "new" product is Castrol syntrax universal plus 75w90, is this stuff the go?

Cheers James

[DiscoJeffster]

So I've been trying to get this oil, apparently it's been superseded, the "new" product is Castrol syntrax universal plus 75w90, is this stuff the go?

Cheers James

Castrol Syntrax Manual Transmission Fluid 75W-90 Long Life is the replacement.

Castrol Syntrax Manual Transmission Fluid 75W90 Long Life 1L 3377689 | eBay (https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Castrol-Syntrax-Manual-Transmission-Fluid-75W90-Long-Life-1L-3377689/151995376013?item=151995376013&ppid=PPX000608&cnac=AU&rsta=en_AU(en_AU)&cust=3V895289AL364021V&unptid=f23932de-5f56-11e8-a190-441ea1472d58&cal=8218f35bb3cce&calc=8218f35bb3cce&calf=8218f35bb3cce&unp_tpcid=email-receipt-auction-payment&page=main:email&pgrp=main:email&e=op&mchn=em&s=ci&mail=sys&epid=1461539442)

[shack]

Castrol Syntrax Manual Transmission Fluid 75W-90 Long Life is the replacement.

Castrol Syntrax Manual Transmission Fluid 75W90 Long Life 1L 3377689 | eBay (https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Castrol-Syntrax-Manual-Transmission-Fluid-75W90-Long-Life-1L-3377689/151995376013?item=151995376013&ppid=PPX000608&cnac=AU&rsta=en_AU(en_AU)&cust=3V895289AL364021V&unptid=f23932de-5f56-11e8-a190-441ea1472d58&cal=8218f35bb3cce&calc=8218f35bb3cce&calf=8218f35bb3cce&unp_tpcid=email-receipt-auction-payment&page=main:email&pgrp=main:email&e=op&mchn=em&s=ci&mail=sys&epid=1461539442)So that's the go in the L319 diffs then?

[DiscoJeffster]

Well the bottle itself says on the front it’s the replacement for the SAF-XO oil so yep. That’s what I used last time and my diff is still working fine.

[shack]

Well the bottle itself says on the front it’s the replacement for the SAF-XO oil so yep. That’s what I used last time and my diff is still working fine.Thanks for that, I'll give it a go....

[shanegtr]

For any without the E-diff you should be fine with any GL-5 spec diff oil - theres nothing particually special about the normal D3/4 diffs. Obviously the E-diff is a little different and you'd be wanting the correct spec to ensure the diff locks as intended.