Diff Oil capacity when running Oil-fed Bearings

[Robmacca]

Gents,

My Defender has been converted to running the oil lubricated bearings and it's coming up time to replace the oils in the Front and Rear Diff Oils but for the life of me cannot remember how much extra oil is required in the Front/Rear Diffs..... Does someone know off the top of their head what the amount of diff oil is req'd in the Front and Rear Diffs?

[goingbush]

just fill the diff up to the level plug , job done.

[harro]

Iirc it is about half a litre over the factory capacity.
I put a wheel up on a block when filling since this is over the invert of the filler hole when level.

Paul.

[goingbush]

Iirc it is about half a litre over the factory capacity.
I put a wheel up on a block when filling since this is over the invert of the filler hole when level.

Paul.


too much oil is worse that the correct amount.

[Robmacca]

too much oil is worse that the correct amount.

Interesting..... in what way is it worst?

I was of the understanding that when u convert your diffs to being Oil Lubricated, then u had to add "extra" oil on top of the standard amount to ensure that the bearings do receive enough oil to keep well lubricated and cool.....
I certainly added more that the normal amount last time but can't remember the exact amount and that's why I asked the question as to whether there is a standard "extra" amount people add on top of the normal capacity....

[goingbush]

Interesting..... in what way is it worst?

I was of the understanding that when u convert your diffs to being Oil Lubricated, then u had to add "extra" oil on top of the standard amount to ensure that the bearings do receive enough oil to keep well lubricated and cool.....
I certainly added more that the normal amount last time but can't remember the exact amount and that's why I asked the question as to whether there is a standard "extra" amount people add on top of the normal capacity....


Filling up to the bung hole is the correct amount , no matter if you have grease or oil bearings. If you think there is not enough go for a run & the oil migrates into the bearings, & recheck level.

Too much oil in a diff / gearbox / transfer case contributes to foaming which causes overheating / oil breakdown . Also more risk of leaking seals.

[timax]

When i did mine i remember reading about using a drinking straw as a dipstick. You want the oil to reach both hubs so 5mm or so in the bottom of the axle tube when measured through the breather hole. You need to push the straw past the half shaft.
I filled both hubs to the brim and then let it migrate into the tubes overnight.

[Vern]

Whats the recommended oil capacity for a diff with factory oil fed bearings vs greased bearings? I'm tipping its the same

[harro]

too much oil is worse that the correct amount.

True but that is what Maxidrive had in their fitting instructions for the oil lubed conversion which came as an advisory with the axles and flanges.
This was pre Hi-Tough, I first fitted mine in a Tdi ute about 15 years ago.

Paul.

[Red90]

Mal Story advised to jack up one wheel 2” and then fill the diff. This is what he told me in person, at his shop, when he removed the seals to the bearings.

[lowy]

Whats the recommended oil capacity for a diff with factory oil fed bearings vs greased bearings? I'm tipping its the sameWouldn't it depend on how it was set up ?
If the seal was removed between the swivel housing and axle. The diff oil would be slightly higher as the swivel housing level plug, Is slightly higher than the diff level plug , about 4-500ml I think ?

Maybe I should rethink how I did mine

[simmo]

The hubs need 60-80 ml of oil to run cool. I used to use 80 ml per hub front and rear then for the last 6 or 7 years I used 60 ml.
Unless you drain the hubs the oil will still be there when you change the diff oil, they can't drain back through the diff.

If you remove the seal from the rear diff, the hub can only fill to below the axle , maybe 100 mls

my rear hubs are filled from the diff now , the front ones fill through a small port in the drive flange.

cheers simmo

[Vern]

Wouldn't it depend on how it was set up ?
If the seal was removed between the swivel housing and axle. The diff oil would be slightly higher as the swivel housing level plug, Is slightly higher than the diff level plug , about 4-500ml I think ?

Maybe I should rethink how I did mineAnd what about the rear diff?

[Blknight.aus]

assuming you've removed the flange to drain the oil... oh you havent.. then the oil in the bearings stays put if you drain the diff.

jack up one side of the vehicle, get the wheel up about 15cms and then fill the diff. seal it.

lower the jack, jack up the other side. wait a few minutes, go for a short drive park it up and remove the filler catch what comes out and done.