Changing Drivetrain Oils

[101RRS]

The front and rear diff oils have to be changed every 10 years and the tfr case oil every 120K.

Now my car has only covered 84,000km of relatively easy use but I think like other aspects of service items, the time frames are too long so I am changing all the lube fluids between 84 and 85,000km.

Today was the front diff and hopefully the tfr case.

I just took the front diff oil out. :(
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/Forum%20Posts%20Album/P3120288_zps020e1265.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/Forum%20Posts%20Album/P3120288_zps020e1265.jpg.html)

And then drain plug :(
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e334/gazzz21/Forum%20Posts%20Album/P3120286_zps3ddc49f4.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/Forum%20Posts%20Album/P3120286_zps3ddc49f4.jpg.html)

And there was more swarf in the bottom of the diff housing.

Maybe wishful thinking but I am hoping that this is just the swarf from the new diff when the car was built but in reality I think things are starting to fail - not obvious symptoms as yet though. I will change the oil now and again at the next service and take things from there.

Also why not put the filler plug about 3cm above the drain plug on the same side where there is plenty of room rather than on the opposite sode of the diff where it is hard to get at.

Now to the transfer case.

Garry

[Ean Austral]

G'day Garry

That is the exact reason I went to a mineral oil in both diffs and change it every 10,000 ks, oil comes out clean and no traces of metal.

The car has now done about 40,000 ks on mineral oil in the diffs and no noises or metal when I drop the oil.

I done the transfer case at 70,000 and again at 110,000 using the recommended oil. Not cheap but it don't even hold 2 Ltrs so think its a bit much tobexpect it to last the recommended time or ks.

Cheers Ean

[101RRS]

Changed the transfer case oil - was twice as dark as the new stuff but still transparent and smelt a bit. Was at a state that was still OK but needed changing. Is an easy job. The oil had microscopic brass bits in it of the type you get when wearing parts in.

Also changed the rear diff - oil and drain plug similar to the front diff but the oil did not have the bad smell that the front had.

On the basis of my observations I would say that all these oils should be changed at the first major service so that the metal bits from the wearing in process can be removed.

120,000km for the transfer case is far too long and about 80,000km would be closer with about 60,00km for hard working vehicles.

As far as the diffs are concerned 10 years is not on and should be kms linked. The front diff oil really needs to be replaced at half the distance of the rear. Based on the condition of the oil in my lightly used car I would say about 40,000km for the front and 60-80,000km for the rear.

Next week I will order a steel pan and fluid and do the gearbox. I would like to do the change through the gearbox cooler hoses but I am not game to try so will use the drain and refill, drain and refill method etc.

Garry

[Graeme]

I had my D4's diff oils changed at 10K because of the gear design and then diffs again and TC done at 90K and intend changing them all at 50-60K intervals.

[scarry]

FWIW,MR auto now put this on their invoices.

For D3/4 and RRS

Front and rear diffs,every 24K
T/C every 60K
Auto every 80K,if towing 40K
Coolant every 5 yrs
Fuel filter,handbrake adjustment,pollen filter every 24K.
Timing belts every 160K

[flagg]

If you are a keen offroader then changing the drivetrain oils once a year is cheap insurance imo. A couple of times I've found and fixed problems doing this that would otherwise have been a trackside failure.. Esp water ingress to the oil!