Thread: Using Lucas oil stabiliser in the transfer case - D1

It will not do any harm. Whether it will do any good I can't answer.

However in a previous life I worked at a manual transmission specialist and we used to add Molybond to gearboxes.

We had no doubt that this product was good through comparing gears that were run with it against ones that weren't.

Seeing it is just very viscous oil , why not just use 85-140 instead of 80-90.
I note that when I got my LT230 deleaked recently, it was filled with 85-140 by the LR specialist.

I filled my rear diff with 85-140 before my recent lap of OZ.

When I got back the 80-90 front diff oil was black as was the 80-90 transfer but the rear diff was still a nice honey brown, which indicates to me that 85-140 or maybe a 50-50 mix of 80-90 and 85 -140 giving about 82-112 is a good thing in the heat of OZ while towing.

There is an recent thread on this and lots of Defender owners apparently do this.
Regards Philip A

I've run it like an additive in LT 95 TC's with engine oil for years with no probs. Quietens things down a bit.

Also use it straight in swivel balls.

cheers, DL

Cheers for the feedback guys!
I ended up using 85w140 .. figured that itd be every bit as good as adding an additive.. will also be a little bit of piece of mind when on the beach at Fraser, its also done 375xxx kms.

I am doing diff oils next, but only using 80w90... probably should've went the heavier weight with the diffs, too!

Hi there, I serviced my transfer gear box with Nulon and oil stabilizer when I bought my Defender at 160,000 kms. I swear by it. My transfer gear box ran for 10,000 kms with no oil. It started to get noisy pulling a trailer to Melbourne. When I went to drop the oil and change it to get me home there was none. I decided to fill the box with 2 tubes of Nulon and oil to get home pulling the car trailer and my series 2a. The intent was to pull the box once home and overhaul it. The box was quite so I just kept driving.That was six years and 60,000 kms ago and the box is still going strong. P.s. I use Morley's oil stabilizer!

Just on the 85W-140 . I have to hitch up my camper and climb a hill into my driveway from dead cold at about 12C. I had to bash the transfer lever into low and I was afraid I was going to break something.
I changed to about 60%-40% 80W-90 and 85W -140, which should give about 82-110, which is much thinner.
I tried to change into low after about 4Kms and it did it easily.

So if you are in cold weather and want to change into low straight away, then IMHO 85W-140 is too heavy but probably OK for warmer climates.

I intend to use this mix in my diffs also as they come up for change.
I am thinking to maybe buy one of those extended sumps when I can afford it.
Regards Philip A

Oil stabiliser is completely different to heavier oil and shouldn't be confused. Heavier oil has its uses when the gears are running hot and/or used for a long time. it has protection at higher temperature and bearing loads. It isn't a good lubricant when cold and can increase fuel consumption quite dramatically when cold.
The Moreys/ Lucas stabiliser are an additive that transfers heat and makes the oil improves lubrication. If you have problem gears you can reduce the temperature quite dramatically and quieten noisy gears down a huge amount.
I had a delivery driver customer with a Mitsubishi L300 van and after 150,000 k's of use he added Moreys stabiliser to the engine on its next service as it was getting tired and noisy. He was absolutely blown away by the temperature reduction in the cabin of his van, he was so happy to not be sitting on top of a hot engine during summer that he would always use Moreys from that day on. The engine was quieter and ran better but the heat reduction was his main joy!
I have always added Moreys since then for heat reduction if I have a heat problem.

What about using an oil supplement on a 'new' (<20,000km) gearbox?
There would have to be a wear-in time wouldn't there? or is it a matter of get into it early?

A old timer Landie nut / machinist told me he ran moreys in all his defenders, and swears by it.