Thread: Bit has fallen off? Do I need it?

When you get a plug leave it in, check how much oil collects in there between services, how else can you keep track of oil leakes other than measuring the size of the stain on your driveway?

Originally Posted by Gavo

On the series 2a 1969 it had a bracket so you could undo the plug and store it by screwing it into the bracket.
The plug might not have been been supplied at all or it could have been in the original tool kit.
I had a disco 1 and in the book it said to order it from the dealer if you wanted it .
Don't know if it the same plaug but a place like enzed should be able to supply you one.
I have done a started repair on by disco and the 2a from water dammage.
the water gets in and you don't think of it till you go to drive the car next. The thing is that most people didn't plan on getting stuck or they would be prepared, so I say leave the plug in just incase.

The thing is, though...leave a wading plug in and the timing housing or bellhousing can fill will oil or water, depending what is leaking or - in the case of water - seeping into the housing through repeated water crossings. If your rear mainseal leaks even the tiniest bit, the plug should not be left in and forgotten. Otherwise, oil will gather in there. I once left the bellhousing plug in my IIA and after a few hundred miles I fortunately took it out to check. Lots of oil ran out...I reckon it had almost got to the level where it was about to ruin the clutch. Fortunately no harm done.*

I used to drive a few different 300 Tdi Landies in the Okavango Delta, in a job which meant pretty constant deep wading (over 5' sometimes and I am not making that up or bulldusting...once or twice we had to wait for the car to sink to the bottom to get enough traction...). When I first arrived, I checked over the cars, which had been pretty badly kept and driven. One had the wading plug in permanent residence in the bellhousing. I took it out and a torrent of grey sludge, all oil and water and sand, tumbled out of the outlet. In possibly not the greatest surprise of the century, a little later the timing belt gave way on that vehicle. The rest of them had never had or used wading plugs anywhere...so they had been forever destroying starter motors and clutches.

The best thing is to use wading plugs as they are designed. Put them in to prevent the ingress of water and other contaminants when it is likely, and take them out when it is not.

Cheers,

John

* Since then, I have somehow managed to seal my rear mainseal. There's no God, but thank goodness for Permatex Blue and butter knives....

Originally Posted by Johnno1969

When I first arrived, I checked over the cars, which had been pretty badly kept and driven. One had the wading plug in permanent residence in the bellhousing*. I took it out and a torrent of grey sludge, all oil and water and sand, tumbled out of the outlet. In possibly not the greatest surprise of the century, a little later the timing belt gave way on that vehicle. The rest of them had never had or used wading plugs anywhere...so they had been forever destroying starter motors and clutches.

*Whoops. I meant to say that that vehicle had had that plug permanently in the timing housing........

Hi
Went and had another look, cleaned around it and it looks like it has never had a plug in there!

Next time im near a hydralic hose place I'll get a suitable plug and thow it in the tool box in case of a river crossing etc.

Cant help but wonder how many land rovers are driven into creeks and rivers without having them fitted? and what sort of damage might happen?

Also wonder about a company that goes to the trouble of fitting breathers on the diffs and forgets to mention wading plugs in the hand book? Or did I miss that bit?

Thanks for all the replys as always Very helpful.

Andrew

you missed that bit. from memory in the Disco books its listed in the advanced driving section, operating off road or traversing arduous terrain.

The fording depth is listed as 500mm which is pretty much to top of the axle housing or the bottom of the fuel tank. The bell housing should be clear at that point. IF they get picky the warrenty can be voided for fording over the advertised fording depth.

big red has had one fitted from purchase.

In my experience it is mentioned in the handbooks.

I fitted low profile brass elbows with clear plastic hose running to inline filters high in the engine bay of my 300 Tdi disco.

These seal against water ingress, allow quick visual inspection for oil accumulating in the hose, and allow the housing to breath (hopefully avoiding condensation inside).