r380 oil-confused

[bcj]

time to do oil in r380 -1995 110 300tdi, local repco swears blind i should only use castrol TQF, I've read lotsa threads stating i should use syntrans or transmax,starting to get confused!110 normally runs around unloaded but sometimes is overloaded-mostly highway driving when fully loaded. Original box 140,000km 1st-2nd syncro prefers slow change and has some slack in drivetrain-possibly output gear? does this gear need cross drilling-I think i read that somewhere.Is this gear easy to replace as in series3?
thanks
bcj

[stig0000]

syntrans,

or if you feel its a lil notchy changing gears people put d3 in to make it all smoth agen

[Blknight.aus]

you can use dex III in the r380, I have for the last 70K Km with no ill effects. you can also use engine oil.

[PAT303]

I ran Transmax M ATF in mine for 400,000k's and it's still going strong. Pat

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

time to do oil in r380 -1995 110 300tdi, local repco swears blind i should only use castrol TQF, I've read lotsa threads stating i should use syntrans or transmax,starting to get confused!110 normally runs around unloaded but sometimes is overloaded-mostly highway driving when fully loaded. Original box 140,000km 1st-2nd syncro prefers slow change and has some slack in drivetrain-possibly output gear? does this gear need cross drilling-I think i read that somewhere.Is this gear easy to replace as in series3?
thanks
bcj

Land Rover used to use Auto transmission fluid then did a rethink and specified a manual transmission fluid.
I checked the castrol site there is a note for the R380 see bottom.

Manual Transmission https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ http://www.datateck.com.au/lube/castr_au/pics/Transmax_m.jpgCASTROL TRANSMAX M
Automatic transmission fluid formulated to satisfy the GM 6297M specification (1975), and suitable for older automatic transmissions requiring a GM type fluid.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ Service Refill Capacity: 2.7 Litres (See Note 416)416With R380 manual transmission. For severe applications or towing use CASTROL SYNTRANS 75W/85.

[incisor]

syntrans has my vote as well...

by a country mile...

[bcj]

Thanks all-syntrans it is- didn't think TQF was right.
bcj

[Tusker]

My understanding on this, and being neither a mechanic nor an engineer, is that

1. Any ATF is formulated for a high-stress environment, autos obviously.
2. There are basically 2 specs, being GM & Ford derived.
3. ATF was specified for the R380 until better, suitable gear oils came onto the market, & LR upgraded the recommended spec accordingly.
4. Conventional gear oil, whatever the spec, shouldn't go into R380. Not every shop assistant knows the R380 has a pump in it!

Regards
Max P

[Lionel]

time to do oil in r380 -1995 110 300tdi, local repco swears blind i should only use castrol TQF, I've read lotsa threads stating i should use syntrans or transmax,starting to get confused!110 normally runs around unloaded but sometimes is overloaded-mostly highway driving when fully loaded. Original box 140,000km 1st-2nd syncro prefers slow change and has some slack in drivetrain-possibly output gear? does this gear need cross drilling-I think i read that somewhere.Is this gear easy to replace as in series3?
thanks
bcj

There has been a lot of discussion about this topic. For example:

Oils According to Rick130 (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/71605-oils-according-rick130.html)

IMHO I would use Syntrans (synthetic, expensive!) and there is a Penrite light gear oil also. I would avoid any type of ATF if the vehicle is going to be used in harsh conditions, but at least it would be better than engine oil.

At a pinch you could use Castrol VMX-M 75W-85, but, not being synthetic, will require more frequent changes.

Cheers,

Lionel

[Pierre]

Used MTF94 on all our manuals (LT & R380) with good results - and the trans got a fair hiding - mainly in sand!

Pete

[PAT303]

Those people who say ATF is not good enough have no idea what there talking about.I crossed Australia three times east west and twice north south running ATF and countless other trips all over and my gearbox has never been touched. Pat

[BigJon]

Those people who say ATF is not good enough have no idea what there talking about.Pat


You mean the Land Rover technicians / engineers that decided ATF wasn't appropriate and changed the spec to MTF94 / Syntrans? :angel:

[vnx205]

Are
Those people who say ATF is not good enough have no idea what there talking about.I crossed Australia three times east west and twice north south running ATF and countless other trips all over and my gearbox has never been touched. Pat

Are they really saying it isn't good enough or are they just saying that it isn't the best available now.

Just because there is something better around now does not mean that the original oil won't do the job.

[101 Ron]

Castrol TQF is the correct spec oil, but as stated oils have improved.
I am now trying the new penrite light gear oil........seems the same so far.

[PAT303]

You mean the Land Rover technicians / engineers that decided ATF wasn't appropriate and changed the spec to MTF94 / Syntrans? :angel:

Well why have I never had a problem ever?,mine doesn't even clash into 2nd. Pat

[BigJon]

Maybe if you used the current spec oil you would get double the life from your gearbox. You just don't know and can't tell. It seems to me that using the highest spec oil available is a good idea. You can keep using whatever you want, but I know what I put in my LT77S.

[Blknight.aus]

the reason why the newer oils are specified is becuase they make fast shifting easier.

which means you no longer have to worry about correct shifting technique you can just go an hoik the dogs to merry hell and the oil makes up for it.

ITs amazing how many people think that large gearboxes should shift just like small ones and complain that the unimogs and perenties have bad gearboxes because they dont shift as quickly or as easily as their little hairdresser wagon.

[incisor]

Well why have I never had a problem ever?,mine doesn't even clash into 2nd. Pat
but when it does start to clash, i will bet london to a brick that within days of putting syntans in it it will go back to being a good little puppy for quite some time...

ask me how i know....

you can argue that old technology is all you need till you go blue in the face

those that have tried the newer technologies know that there is a big improvement.

thats an entirely different thing to saying that the old technology does not work at all.

[jazzaD1]

i just changed the oil in my LT77, it previously had ATF in it, no idea what type as it is what was in the box when i bought it, but upon removing the sump plug i have never seen so much brass swarf, synchros im lead to believe, now i know its not an R380 but surely it can't be good for it, as it has different characteristics to regular gear oil at different temperatures and is rated for different pressures etc, since i put a 75w gear oil in, as far as i can remember it may be a different weight to what i recall, it shifts beautifully

[Mocky]

Try belray 40W just as good as syntrans IMHO and cheaper

[PAT303]

but when it does start to clash, i will bet london to a brick that within days of putting syntans in it it will go back to being a good little puppy for quite some time...

ask me how i know....

you can argue that old technology is all you need till you go blue in the face

those that have tried the newer technologies know that there is a big improvement.

thats an entirely different thing to saying that the old technology does not work at all.

Has your gearbox got 430,000k's on it?,didn't think so. Pat

[PAT303]

i just changed the oil in my LT77, it previously had ATF in it, no idea what type as it is what was in the box when i bought it, but upon removing the sump plug i have never seen so much brass swarf, synchros im lead to believe, now i know its not an R380 but surely it can't be good for it, as it has different characteristics to regular gear oil at different temperatures and is rated for different pressures etc, since i put a 75w gear oil in, as far as i can remember it may be a different weight to what i recall, it shifts beautifully

Modern motors have a disco that had 505,000k's on it 2years ago running ATF it's whole life and never had the box out. Pat

[incisor]

Has your gearbox got 430,000k's on it?,didn't think so. Pat

and that has what to do with what?

horse, water...

plonk...

[Blknight.aus]

how about we compare it to water and cordial.

in order to survive we need water but we like cordial more so we drink that.

its the same for the R380.

in order for it to survive it NEEDS ATF but it LIKES transmax more.

accordingly

water and ATF are cheap whereas Cordial and Transmax are more expensive.


hows that go for an anology.

[Pierre]

Dave, you are the riddler...


Pete

[PAT303]

and that has what to do with what?

horse, water...

plonk...

Maybe you shouldn't write things off so easily.It's been my experience with the R380 that thier isn't the ''right'' fluid,mine doesn't like Castrol only ATF or MTL,my mates didn't go Castrol either but Penrite light gear oil,I couldn't change gear with Penrite even when hot so they are a law until themselves.Do a search and there isn't a clear winner for or against Oil or ATF. Pat