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Thread: The case of the appearing and disappearing transfer case leak

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    The case of the appearing and disappearing transfer case leak

    Well I've just returned to the not so warm climes of Victor Harbor, having taken the trusty 300tdi on a 10k trip up the middle to Darwin, across the Barkley to Rockhampton, down to Toowoomba and back home across the Hay plain.

    Had to get to Darwin (3300km) in a hurry first up, so we tag-teamed the driving and got there in 2 days. On arriving I noticed some oily spots on the rear bumper and up the tailgate. Upon further investigation, tracing the oil sludge forward, I soon found that the transfer case had lost about 200ml.

    So I gave the underside a good de-grease and undertook to keep a close eye on things for the rest of the trip.

    The transfer case didn't appear to lose as much on the next leg over to the Qld coast so far as visible oil deposits on the handbrake assembly, along the chassis rail and rear diff were concerned (and there was none to be noticed on the rear bar or tailgate). AND YET when I checked the levels in Maroochydore (after a further 3600km) it was down 400mls. The leak had worsened considerably.

    So with a top-up I cautiously ventured over to Toowoomba, and checked it again. This time around there was no discernible loss, and the short of it is that there was no significant loss on checking it again on return to Victor Harbor, some 1900 kms after that. Sure there had been some loss evident on the underside of the car, but the case was still virtually full on taking the filler plug out to check.

    I should mention that there's always been a drip or two deposited from the region of the transfer case on pulling up and switching off after a good run - presumably the 'intermediate seal' I'm told. But that had been nothing to warrant removing the transfer case to replace the seal, and nothing that a small top-up at scheduled services didn't remedy.

    My trusted Landie mechanic can't make head nor tail of this mystery.
    Any thoughts from wise heads on the forum would be appreciated.
    How can such a significant leak virtually go away?

    Needless to say I plan on having the transfer case removed and the various seals replaced in any case.

    Cheers

    OMV

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by omvanders View Post
    Well I've just returned to the not so warm climes of Victor Harbor, having taken the trusty 300tdi on a 10k trip up the middle to Darwin, across the Barkley to Rockhampton, down to Toowoomba and back home across the Hay plain.

    Had to get to Darwin (3300km) in a hurry first up, so we tag-teamed the driving and got there in 2 days. On arriving I noticed some oily spots on the rear bumper and up the tailgate. Upon further investigation, tracing the oil sludge forward, I soon found that the transfer case had lost about 200ml.

    So I gave the underside a good de-grease and undertook to keep a close eye on things for the rest of the trip.

    The transfer case didn't appear to lose as much on the next leg over to the Qld coast so far as visible oil deposits on the handbrake assembly, along the chassis rail and rear diff were concerned (and there was none to be noticed on the rear bar or tailgate). AND YET when I checked the levels in Maroochydore (after a further 3600km) it was down 400mls. The leak had worsened considerably.

    So with a top-up I cautiously ventured over to Toowoomba, and checked it again. This time around there was no discernible loss, and the short of it is that there was no significant loss on checking it again on return to Victor Harbor, some 1900 kms after that. Sure there had been some loss evident on the underside of the car, but the case was still virtually full on taking the filler plug out to check.

    I should mention that there's always been a drip or two deposited from the region of the transfer case on pulling up and switching off after a good run - presumably the 'intermediate seal' I'm told. But that had been nothing to warrant removing the transfer case to replace the seal, and nothing that a small top-up at scheduled services didn't remedy.

    My trusted Landie mechanic can't make head nor tail of this mystery.
    Any thoughts from wise heads on the forum would be appreciated.
    How can such a significant leak virtually go away?

    Needless to say I plan on having the transfer case removed and the various seals replaced in any case.

    Cheers

    OMV
    Fascinating. Just a thought bubble: does it have breather tubes (longer than standard, I mean)?
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Both diffs have breathers that extend up on to the firewall, but I assume that the transfer case breather is standard (although I can't see where it is).

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