Thread: Front and rear diffs - oil full of metal flake

Originally Posted by trout1105

I can't believe anyone would be foolish enough to think that 10years or 100k is a reasonable time frame to service a diff regardless of who made it or what oil was in it.

I think you would be very surprised at the number aka the majority - of car owners who have no idea about mechanical maintenance, fluid/oil changes etc. They not only own and drive in total ignorance of such matters but often have a distorted erroneous view of such matters...ergo disregard the manual about engine oil changes for the first couple of years because they don't need it. And this - due to perceived cost effectiveness aka zero expenditure never get the car serviced and simply move the car on near warranty expiration time.

Originally Posted by Arch

^^this. I would add that from my personal experience that even servicing from independent mechanics can be hit and miss as well.

I've had to battle my indy to change diff oils.

10,000km - Engine oil + filter + check all other fluids.
20,000km - Fuel filter + Air filter
40,000km - gearbox, transfer, diff oils - depending on use/condition.
Anything over 40,000km is neglect IMO.

Originally Posted by DiscoClax

How fragile are these diffs in reality? They are only just making a tiny bit of noise. Have to be a trained operator to pick it, windows up, no audio on, etc. Could just be tyre pattern noise to hear it. Is it about to lunch itself or still good for a few tens of thousand of kms no worries?
My experience is with my trusty D1 with monster bearings that could go another 100,000kms easily after starting to disintegrate. Very robust.

Although the oil was filled with sparkly metal there were no chunks or anything you could really feel per-se. And filled with top quality synth lube now. What says the brain trust?

Good that you have changed the oils etc but you are not getting any feed back re your issue , if it was me i would just carry on and see if it gets worce or just stays the same as it is now , cant hurt .

Yeah, I'd just change it all and see how it goes. Make sure it is properly flushed. Warm the oil before draining so it runs out more freely.

Originally Posted by Milton477

So what is the consensus then? What should the service intervals for diffs, transfer case & gearbox be for a D4?
Mine just reached 60k km with lots of towing & the engine has been done every 12K km. I am thinking that I need to at least change the gearbox oil now.

Are you going to keep it or "move it on"

with "lots" of towing I'd do it earlier than 60,,, ( yes I know I'm not paying for it)

Are you traveling 20K a year? regardless-- somewhere between 20 -25K IF you are towing,,,
keep your trans oil cool and its all good,,

Definitely not moving it on. In for the long haul. Just got it and it is a marvellous machine. I got it at a good price so was always willing to throw some money at it.

Given the relatively minimal noises, and recognising that you can build up a lot of swarf in 110k I think I'll suck it and see. Get it RWC and on the road, drive it a fair bit to see what it's like, get it all nice and warm and circulated and then dump it and see what comes out. If it looks like it's eating itself I'll face reality. If not I'll plonk some fresh oil in there, monitor it and see how it goes. Fall back is take the mighty D1a out of mothballs, give it some overdue TLC and then point it at the centre of Oz and let it off the leash.... towing a trailer full of jerry cans.

I'm going to try and get under it to do the trans tonight. Bit of a stretch to squeeze the time in, but it needs to be done anyway and if I don't keep plugging away it'll never happen... I really wish I had a hoist.... and that my shoulder wasn't buggered... By posting here I hope that'll motivate me to go out in the cold and dark and pour ATF down my arms and over my head. Judge me if I don't report back on the trans tomorrow

Originally Posted by Milton477

So what is the consensus then? What should the service intervals for diffs, transfer case & gearbox be for a D4?
Mine just reached 60k km with lots of towing & the engine has been done every 12K km. I am thinking that I need to at least change the gearbox oil now.

For Disco3/4,sport,my indie suggests
engine oil and filter every 12K
Both diffs every 40K
Transfer case every 40K
Auto 80K,if towing,40K
Brake fluid 40K
Fuel filter 24K
handbrake clean and adjust every 24K
Coolant 5yrs

i have fuel filter changed on mine every service,no matter what the k's are,as it gets filled from jerries every so often.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Mine? Just turned over 250K. When I purchased at 200K it had followed factory servicing. I did the front, rear, transfer, and gearbox at that point.
Last weekend did a fluid level check and checked the oil quality, perfect. Crystal clear, no smell, 50K done.
So proof is in the pudding?

*Not really any proof there, your pudding sample is 1.
*The average Land Rover mech prolly has a sample of at least 100 D3 / D4, most are like the OP found.
*And nothing to say the diff/s hadnt had a warranty change.
*As hypoid oils separate out quite readily from crud, when checking levels it always looks clean, drain the fluid, I bet its not clear.