Thread: R380, transfer case and Diff synthetic oils

Rick Penrite have a semi syn GL4 75w80 which meets the RAVE Spec oil (ie based on Texaco MTF 94 ) but Penrite also do a 75w85 Fully synthetic that says GL4 Plus.

I take it the plus aspect and 85 versus 80 should not be a problem ? Cheers

This probably answers my question the last post.

Cheers

Nulon 75W-90 full synthetic gear oil.

Originally Posted by ozscott

Rick Penrite have a semi syn GL4 75w80 which meets the RAVE Spec oil (ie based on Texaco MTF 94 ) but Penrite also do a 75w85 Fully synthetic that says GL4 Plus.

I take it the plus aspect and 85 versus 80 should not be a problem ? Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

This probably answers my question the last post.

Cheers

Nulon 75W-90 full synthetic gear oil.

Yep, as per my post above.

Penrite Pro gear 75W-85
Never used it but rated by those that have.
IMO it suits Australia better than ATF or a 75W-80, and I've had Syntrans thin out at high ambient/high loads to the point that shifting has deteriorated and bearing rattle be quite pronounced.

Which is why I moved to Gear 300.
Problem solved.

Interestingly the UK Army Wolf's have a big trans cooler in front of the radiator/intercooler for their R380.

I've also found, as did Bush65 that the R380 shears fluid pretty badly, to the point it needs to be changed at 20,000km. A small fluid capacity and iron case (retained heat) plus a pump plus gears = fluid shear.
Changing at 20k km isn't a bad thing, it gets rid of any debris as filtration is minimal.

Originally Posted by ozscott

Hi all. My D2 5 speed (which runs a stock cooler) needs an oil change.
Cheers

Is this a different thing to the engine oil cooler that some early ones had?

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Is this a different thing to the engine oil cooler that some early ones had?

Yep, TD5's use g/box cooler which is simply a piece of tube that travels up to near the front and heads back to the box, complete with a t/stat in the housing on the 'box, but no finned heat exchanger as such..

V8's used a g/box cooler too, but the poor old Tdi's missed out. Apparently not enough power to worry the R380.

motul sounds good, but would need 8l for a full change and at 32$ a bottle.
ouch

Originally Posted by Eevo

motul sounds good, but would need 8l for a full change and at 32$ a bottle.
ouch

I hear ya.

I only used to use Gear 300 it in the R380, and then the t/case after the rebuild with the ATB and new low range.
Where I used to live I could get Castrol's syns for a very good price, so they went in the other compartments.

That's why I've used Penrite in the 4HP22 in the D2 in the last few days, Castrol Transmax Z was costing $98/4 litres here in Alice Springs. Penrite FS ATF came in at under half that as it was on sale.

Run of the mill Castrol Syntrax Universal 75W-90 for the t/case and diffs is $33/litre, Penrite Pro Gear $25 here.
The D2 is going Penrite all round.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Is this a different thing to the engine oil cooler that some early ones had?

Hi Pedro. Yes mate mine has an engine oil cooler (one one the very last ones to have it) and manual trans oil cooler . The attached pic of my old radiator shows both coolers. I suspect it makes quite a difference to longevity of the oil. See also the attached screen shot from RAVE that shows capacity of the box with and without the cooler.

Cheers