Thread: Navara gearbox hot?

Tell us what model year etc it has a big bearing on any answer we can give.

It's a 2002, 3 litre diesel. It's got 320,000km on it, and it's done a lot of towing. I checked the oil level in the gearbox and it's flowing out as I remove the bung, so there's plenty in there. Around the fill/level bung was spotless, so I think perhaps it's never been disturbed before I undid it. (I could be completely wrong on that, but I've never cleaned it).
Don.

Did the oil smell burnt?

I didn't smell it, but I will. I was lying underneath the plug, so as soon as I could see there was enough in it, I put the plug back in quickly. I got more gearbox oil for it today anyway. I figured 'better to be safe than sorry'. The ute will be going back to wagga tomorrow or Wednesday. It's a bit of a mystery as to what made the oil come out. Time may explain it......or not.
Don.

We have had a 1982 HJ47 Landcruiser from new. When a transfer case seal fails they pump the transfer case dry and overfill the gearbox with oil from the transfer case. The quick fix is to drill and tap the combination filler/level plugs and connect them with nylon tube and compression fittings.

I don't know if this is your problem but suggest you at least check the transfer case oil level.

Hi Don,

Having owned and towed with a 2005 Navara (D 22) a couple of things come to mind.
While towing was 5th gear used, if so, with a loaded horse float I would expect the oil/transmission to be hot, in fact very hot.
Was it a hot day, ambient and heat radiated from the bitumen can be a big factor.
How long after the travel was it when you checked the oil. It should be checked cold, and when cold if oil still spills from the level check/fill plug then the transmission is overfull, in which case just leave the fill plug out until oil stops running from it and that will be the correct level.
If the oil was burnt you would have smelt the odour as soon as you removed the plug.
Or silly as it sounds, were the front hubs unlocked but the transfer case in hi 4wd, in which case you would expect hot transfer/gearbox oil.

The gearbox used in those D22's seems to me to be pretty much a Datsun 180B transmission therefore in the light to medium duty 4wd category.

In our car we had the transmission out at 170,000kms and became fully acquainted with it!

Hope these thoughts are of interest/help.

Rgds,
Rob

Thanks Rob, the hubs were not locked, high range 2wd was used as far as I know. I've moved the range selector since it came home.
BDNSW, your suggestion has a definite ring of truth to it. The transfer case did need quite a lot of fluid. (I used ATF dexron 3) I've got Castrol VMX 80 to put in the gearbox. I see on Castrol's web site that the VMX will do both.
Don.

Originally Posted by BDNSW

We have had a 1982 HJ47 Landcruiser from new. When a transfer case seal fails they pump the transfer case dry and overfill the gearbox with oil from the transfer case. The quick fix is to drill and tap the combination filler/level plugs and connect them with nylon tube and compression fittings.

I don't know if this is your problem but suggest you at least check the transfer case oil level.

Some LT95 Gearboxes did that too so I had the same set up on one of mine.