Landies and their oil leaks.

**gromit** · 12th September 2011, 07:50 AM

My '95 Defender leaks a few drops from the rear main oil seal (the original), the more it's used the less oil it drops. Otherwise it's oil tight.
My '56 Series 1 leaks a bit from the rear main oil seal (probably not the original), the rest of the engine is remarkably oil tight. I did replace a few leather seals, they need to be 'wet' to work and were past their prime.

I used to get into the same oil leak comments years ago relating to British bikes vs. Japanese bikes. I ran a BSA Thunderbolt, Triumph Trident and a Panther M100 outfit at the time. The only one that leaked a bit was the Panther because there's no seal at the back of the chaincase (just a lip in the casting to try to get the oil to run round the hole !). Oh and the Trident 'breathed' oil through the porous rocker box castings, but not a leak as such.....

If put together properly there shouldn't be a reason for oil leaks unless the design isn't that clever (ie. the Panther chaincase). I remember the BSA leaked gear ol from the gearchange shaft so I took it apart, machined an O-ring groove in the shaft fitted an O-ring and the leak was cured.

Maybe the reason for the leaks is that Land Rover/British bike is pulled apart more often to fix things and then relies on the person fixing it to seal everything up properly.......

Colin

**PhilipA** · 12th September 2011, 10:35 AM

In my experience most leaks from Land Rovers are from oil seals rather than gaskets.
My RRC currently has bad leaks from the front main seal, rear output shaft seal and steering box sector shaft seal.
To me it seems the poms may not machine the shafts accurately enough on centre so that the seal surfaces are slightly out of true and or the shaft seal surfaces are too soft and wear a groove very quickly.

My front main seal and rear output shaft seal are quite new .
If the japs can do it why can't the poms?

Regards Philip A

**JDNSW** · 12th September 2011, 12:46 PM

Probably leak simply because it has not been viewed as a sufficient problem to fix, with the emphasis being more on ensuring oil gets everywhere it is needed rather than ensuring it does not get where it is not wanted.

As commented, most leaks are due to oil seals, and it is likely that this reflects the finish on the sealing surface, possibly the quality of oil seals specified.

John

**VladTepes** · 12th September 2011, 01:37 PM

When the car parl at wprk is empty its EASY to see where I usually park.

**ade** · 12th September 2011, 01:51 PM

my 95 disco 300tdi 241thou on it still doesnt leak or use a drop of oil or any fluids, still the original motor etc

**justinc** · 12th September 2011, 03:49 PM

I think some of it IS designed to be like it, Take the swivel housing wiper seals for instance, the oil / grease acts like tears in our eyes, keeps the surface 'washed' of corrosive and abrasive particles each time the seal traverses it. I have seen swivel ball surfaces in mint condition still after 250,000km, yet a lolux or 'cruiser can be pitted and rusty etc in a fraction of that time, and let water etc IN...

JC

**sumo** · 12th September 2011, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by VladTepes

When the car parl at wprk is empty its EASY to see where I usually park.

At Least your Honest!!.

Cheers Sumo

**slug_burner** · 12th September 2011, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by VladTepes

When the car parl at wprk is empty its EASY to see where I usually park.

Driving the defender in has marked the car park where the D2a had been clean of drips.

**jimbo110** · 17th September 2011, 06:27 AM

It took Toyota 3 goes to stop the leaking of the gearbox on my 3 year old work Hilux. Last resort was a remove, strip and rebuild. Mind you, it does't compare with the faulty brakes, steering problems and now non existant LSD in my brand new 4WD Ford Ranger! At least the Toyota dealer owned up to the problem, Ford are a lying bunch of assholes!

**justinc** · 17th September 2011, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by jimbo110

It took Toyota 3 goes to stop the leaking of the gearbox on my 3 year old work Hilux. Last resort was a remove, strip and rebuild. Mind you, it does't compare with the faulty brakes, steering problems and now non existant LSD in my brand new 4WD Ford Ranger! At least the Toyota dealer owned up to the problem, Ford are a lying bunch of assholes!

Hmmm, I have noticed this too, I actually thought the LSD wasn't fitted to the last 2 I serviced, there was NO resistance at all!!!

. Must be a totally useless diff then as one of these vehicles had 80,000km of road use.

JC

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