Transfer box and diff oils

[Wasa57]

Which synthetic oils are you using in your D3 diffs and transfer box, and why?

Looking for readily-accessible and mid-priced quality oils.

(I am lousy at searching!)

2005 TDV6 HSE @ 230K

-Wasa

[101RRS]

Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 for the diffs and that is the correct spec oil.

Shell TF 0753 for the tfr case - only available from the dealer last time I checked.

Garry

[Graeme]

SAF-XO has been superseded by SYNTRAX Longlife 75W90 which is available from any supplier of Castrol oils. However a locking rear diff requires a different oil. I bought the LR locking diff oil and TC oil from non-dealer suppliers.

[Nomad9]

Hi Wasa57,
I use Royal Purple oil in my diffs and tranny case, reason I use it because for me it works. I use the RP product at work in gearboxes subjected to far more load and arduous conditions than the LR transmission. Haven't been brave enough to use it in the gearbox yet. I have attached the equivalent files RP document. I tried to upload the file however it won't upload, if you want me to send it through to you PM me with an email address and I'll send it through to you.

[Graeme]

I suspect that 75w140 gear oils for limited slip diffs would be OK for the locker and that a more common ATF would be OK for the TC but am not yet prepared to give them a try in my D4.

[101RRS]

I agree - for diff oil can be alternatives but there does seem to be something special about the transfer case but I am not sure why. I have not found any direct alternative tfr case oil that LR sells - there must be a reason.

I will let someone else be the guinea pig.

Garry

[winaje]

Royal purple in the diffs and Nulon Syntrans in the transfer case. Bought the RP from the US on Amazon for $68 for 2 quarts (1.9l) delivered, enough to do both diffs.

[Wasa57]

Thanks for all replies, seems to be a few suitable choices.

Winage, was your choice to import the RP from the US based on availability in Oz, price,or both?

-Wasa.

[Graeme]

I paid $30 for 1L Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75w90 at the local distributor.

[Graeme]

Nulon Syntrans in the transfer case.I'm surprised that a manual gearbox / transaxle oil is OK for the TC's clutch plates.

[101RRS]

I'm surprised that a manual gearbox / transaxle oil is OK for the TC's clutch plates.

I wouldn't be using it - I thought Syntrans was a Castrol Oil - great in a R380 gearbox though.

Garry

[Rich84]

You can get a Ravenol substitute for the transfer case from Europe. From memory it's about 8 pounds per litre or $50 from Rovacraft.

I just did mine. Seriously easy job.

[winaje]

I'm surprised that a manual gearbox / transaxle oil is OK for the TC's clutch plates.

Yeah, serves me right for typing without checking...

Nulon 75w-90 Performance smooth shift full synthetic in transfer case
Royal Purple Synchromax in diffs

RP imported based on availability and price, hate being gouged.

[Tinman]

Through research I have found that you can use Nulon syntrans in both ZF6 transmission and transfer case . I have travelled with Nulon syntrans in my transmission for over 20,000klms with no problems as well as the transfer case . Gave the D3 a workout in the flinders rangers in September with not a problem. For the Ediff I used a GM carbon modified oil that is used in their lsd diffs at less than half the price of the land rover equivalent with the same specs

[Ean Austral]

Through research I have found that you can use Nulon syntrans in both ZF6 transmission and transfer case . I have travelled with Nulon syntrans in my transmission for over 20,000klms with no problems as well as the transfer case . Gave the D3 a workout in the flinders rangers in September with not a problem. For the Ediff I used a GM carbon modified oil that is used in their lsd diffs at less than half the price of the land rover equivalent with the same specs


Any links to the Nulon syntrans specs you researched.


Cheers Ean

[Rich84]

I wouldn't be using it - I thought Syntrans was a Castrol Oil - great in a R380 gearbox though.

Garry

The transfer case oil is much lighter than 80/90. It's actually very similar to ATF in its viscosity. It also smells a lot like LG6 although I think it may be slightly thicker. For the sake of $100 every 80-100K km I would just use the Shell/LR/Ravenol oil.

[Graeme]

... the transfer case...I just did mine. Seriously easy job.That's good to know as I'm soon to change mine for the first time. I just changed the front diff oil - another seriously easy job using the spout on the 1L Syntrax LL bottle.

[Tinman]

I read an article on the UK Forum where a guy ordered the transfer case oil for the D3 when it arrived on one side had all the specs for the transfer case oil, when he looked at the back label it said lifeguard 6

[Rich84]

I read an article on the UK Forum where a guy ordered the transfer case oil for the D3 when it arrived on one side had all the specs for the transfer case oil, when he looked at the back label it said lifeguard 6

I've read the same thing. It does look and smell the same as LG6. I'm not able to find any specs on either so it's impossible to tell if they are the same without having them both analysed.

To my admittedly untrained eye, the transfer case fluid seemed thicker. Definitely nowhere near as thick as 80/90 though. I have a viscosity measuring funnel but I didn't test them.

Graeme, TFC is way easier than the diffs! Just put the car in offroad height and you can get easy access to it while on a creeper.

[Ean Austral]

I used the lifeguard oil when I did my first oil change in the gearbox and will do in the 2nd change, so far it has worked fine, and for a few hundred bucks every 3 years I see no reason to change, I used the recommended oil from L/R in the transfer case, and it holds just under 2 ltrs from memory so no great outlay to keep using it, think I payed $48/ltr couple years ago.


I have changed my diff oil to standard mineral oil Castrol EPX 80w90 and I change this every 10,000ks. I struggle with the fact that anyone would try and get ridiculous Ks out of oil in a diff that holds 0.61 ltr (front) and 1.1 ltrs (rear). I have clocked up about 50,000ks using this oil, and some of those ks were all day driving thru the centre of Australia in 48 degree heat.The oil comes out clean, and have no diff noise, or troubles thus far.


I have always lived by the theory that oil is cheap, and some of the hours that are expected between changes are in my eyes laughable at best.


My 2c worth of course


Cheers Ean