Front diff oil level

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,


I have been wondering why the front diff recommended fill level is 0.61ltr so decided today that I would see how much oil it would take if I was filling it the old conventional way of letting it come out the fill point.


0.70ltr was what it took , there cant be much room inside that diff housing.


Waste of time I know but what the hell I had to satisfy the curiosity.


Cheers Ean

[jonesy63]

I'm guessing that if you put too much in there, that it expands when hot and blows out the seals. :-\

[scarry]

So why didn't they just put the fill plug a bit lower,then it becomes the level plug as well?

I bet there are a few around with .7l in them.

[jonesy63]

Maybe for the first (dry) fill at the factory when built? Who knows, they obviously have their reasons - however twisted they are! ;)

[Disco W.A]

Ean, just before I left on this trip I changed both front and rear diff oils and they were both filled to the level plug, I know the the last time they were changed was a one of the Perth dealers so even they over fill them.

regards Roger

[shanegtr]

When I done my front diff I put in the measured amount and it turned out to be just on the fill plug, just started dribbling out as I got around the .6L mark. But then again my "measured" amount might not have been all that acurate

[Ean Austral]

When I done my front diff I put in the measured amount and it turned out to be just on the fill plug, just started dribbling out as I got around the .6L mark. But then again my "measured" amount might not have been all that acurate

0.70 had it coming out so its more likely 0.67 or so to the bottom of the hole. I cant see you blowing seals if the breathers are doing there job.

Cheers Ean

[haydent]

I'm guessing that if you put too much in there, that it expands when hot and blows out the seals. :-\

This make no sense at all considering LR has been fitting diff breathers since 4 ever.

My guess is just to maybe be more 'eco' as not encouraging people pour oil on the ground to get the fill. Or maybe to stop something going up the breather and coming out the other end and leaking on the ground.

I just did my front and rear diffs (MY10 RRS (same as D4)) and they both overflowed at the amount they are meant to take to fill, I mean think about it. There is a going to be variation in how much oil you get out depending on its temperature/viscoscity and how long you wait for it all to drain out if even possible to get it all out in a practical time.

Also I found the torque specs for the fill hole to not be correct.

The lower spec was 28NM and this is the 3/8" bigger plug, and easy to do, but the fill is spec as 34NM (smaller allen socket) and i had this screwed in deeper than i took it out and it felt no where near clicking off so i just stopped, and figured that has to be enough and ill just check it for leaks later.

[PerthDisco]

Yep after measuring precisely a few times the exact quantity it is so close to the overflow point it could not make any possible difference to overflow in my mind.

[DiscoJeffster]

I just fill to overflow given there’s about 20ml in it.

[Pippin]

I just fill to overflow given there’s about 20ml in it.
From the manual but I fill mine to overflow.CAUTION: Do not fill the differential with lubricant up to the filler plug. The filler plug is only used to fill
the differential with lubricant, not to act as a level indicator.

[DiscoJeffster]

From the manual but I fill mine to overflow.CAUTION: Do not fill the differential with lubricant up to the filler plug. The filler plug is only used to fill
the differential with lubricant, not to act as a level indicator.



Blah blah. Then there is the reality that they’re one and the same

[BradC]

From the manual

This is the same manual that casually says "Reposition the crankcase vent oil separator.". 400lb of salt with that one!

[PerthDisco]

This is the same manual that casually says "Reposition the crankcase vent oil separator.". 400lb of salt with that one!

Yeah that task could be made into a squid game. Time allowed is 5 minutes, start now.

[haydent]

Exactly, I rounded the numbers up to the nearest 100ml and it overflowed with some left over, theres no way that small amount makes any difference, as the fill plug is not at the top of the diff and oil is getting thrown around inside there everywhere anyway.

[haydent]

This is the same manual that casually says "Reposition the crankcase vent oil separator.". 400lb of salt with that one!

Like I said initially too, it also says 7 Nm more torque for a smaller plug, that if i put the listed 35Nm on it im sure it would disappear into the diff...

[PerthDisco]

And I think diffs run at about 50-60 degrees C so not like incredible expansion of oil on that capacity.

[haydent]

actually it may not be LR trying to change the method, as the transfer case fill method is still the same