Thread: Disco 3 diff oil

Are you talking front or rear diff (if you have the rear e-diff)?

If it's the front, then a fully synthetic 75w-90 is required, like Castrol SAF-XO. $80 a litre sounds a little over the top, cheapest I've found is just under $30 a litre.

As Dave said.

· Rear diff oil – 1.1 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oil
· Front diff oil – .61 litres of Castrol SAF-XO - 75W/90 spec grade oil

Originally Posted by sheerluck

$80 a litre sounds a little over the top, cheapest I've found is just under $30 a litre.

Depending on the oil $80 per litre could be a reasonable price. Wait until you change the transfer case oil. Land Rover oil only, no aftermarket equivalent.

These long life oils are expensive and I would say lead to premature failure and damage to gearboxes and such.....in my opinion.
Case in point is the "sealed for life" transmissions in late model Landys.
OK these oils increase the time between services......but if you have an oil change every 12 months instead of, well never, or until the "protected" equipment fails how is this beneficial to you the owner (most likely a second hand purchaser)...Warranty is up...
If you are looking at used drained oils and you see a hint of chrome you may choose to drain the oil in a few months again to see how things are going with a Diff you might decide to get a rebuild before a component fails.
If we are using "sealed for life" oils we run things until they fail.

Originally Posted by RR P38

Case in point is the "sealed for life" transmissions in late model Landys.

Lets kill this myth - they are not sealed for life and do have a service interval - yes a long service interval, and probably too long but they are not sealed for life.

These huge time frames are thrust on manufacturers by European emission and pollution requirements to minimise waste oil - i guess it is easier to recycle a gearbox rather than the oil that could just end up in a drain.

Garry

Well, I dread saying this but here goes,

I have been using a 75w/90 mineral oil in my D3 diffs for the last 40,000kms. Admittedly I changed it every 5000kms for the first 15000ks, but now change it every 10,000ks.

The oil comes out clean, no sludge or metal so far on the magnet plug, so have every intention to keep using it.
The car has done long distance trips , thru 45 plus degree temps, plus its used as a daily driver.

My personal opinion is for the small amounts of oil in these diffs, the long oil drain intervals are more concern than the use of a good mineral oil changed more regularly.

These of course are my ideas and its being done in my car so I wear the consequences, but if a good 75w/90 mineral diff oil has been good enough for cars for the last 50 yrs then its a thing I was happy to try.

The diff oils can be changed in 30 mins if set up for it, so changing it every 10,000ks or so is not to hard.

OK am ready to be shot down for using a non synthetic oil.

Cheers Ean

Oh Ean.......


I saw you'd replied to this thread and I'm thinking, "he's not going to, surely he's not gong to, there'll be hell to pay..." and sure enough, you have.

Brave man

Originally Posted by rick130

Oh Ean.......


I saw you'd replied to this thread and I'm thinking, "he's not going to, surely he's not gong to, there'll be hell to pay..." and sure enough, you have.

Brave man

Yeh I know Rick, but hey, theres no Soapbox, no Cantina, the P word is all but banned, the Gallen punching Miles in the head thread has died, so needed something to get the masses fired up...What better way than to use a thread about oil, especially a non synthetic oil for a D3,..

Havent been struck down yet, so maybe should ask mods to move this to the D3/D4/RRS section to really get the blood pumping.

Cheers Ean