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pope10001

Member Since: 15 Oct 2011
Location: Dulverton
Posts: 489

1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Zermatt Silver

Best oil for an R380

Hi guys,

I know its been covered before but what are people experiences with gearbox oils in an R380? I have put the Ashcroft R380 conversion kit on my 200Tdi.

The problem is, it is really difficult to get into 2nd, 3rd going up the gears and difficult to get out of 5th and reverse. I am thinking of changing my gearbox oil to the Difflock Evo 1. Any experiences with this 20,000 miles down the line?

I have also just heard that GL5 oils eat bronze phosphor parts and therefore are no good for gearboxes now. Anyone also heard this?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Regards,

Mark

24th Oct 2013 7:06pm

ibexman

Member Since: 13 Dec 2008
Location: Essex
Posts: 2945

Redline MTL

24th Oct 2013 7:09pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

2002 Defender 110 Td5 Black LE Java Black

Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID SAE 75W-80 synthetic manual transmission fluid

I put this in, bought from opie oils. I don't normally believe in witches potions but this genuinely transformed my gearbox. The crunch between 1st and 2nd when cold disappeared and changes in General became so much smoother

24th Oct 2013 7:33pm

dorstsmith2

Member Since: 06 Aug 2012
Location: On the third rock from the sun in dorset
Posts: 188

Esso DEXRON lll MTF94

24th Oct 2013 7:51pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

If it'a an Ashcroft supplied box i'd call/email Ashcroft and ask them! BM52

24th Oct 2013 7:53pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5724

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Diff lock oil

24th Oct 2013 7:53pm

Alex1976

Member Since: 23 Jan 2013
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 596

I have used Difflock Evo oil and it was good but expensive! I have also used Millers XSS 10w40 oil which is MTF94 rated and that seemed to be good (and a lot cheaper than evo) as you can buy it in 5 litre bottles for about £22.

24th Oct 2013 7:59pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID SAE 75W-80 is exactly the same as difflock oil but a lot less money

24th Oct 2013 8:00pm

VeeTee

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

dorstsmith2 wrote:
Esso DEXRON lll MTF94

MTF94 as adviced by LR

Quote:
Defender Date: 25.11.98
AFFECTED RANGE: All R380 manual gearbox derivatives - refer to text for specific change points
PROBLEM: GEARBOX OIL - CHANGE TO SPECIFICATION
CAUSE: At the following VINs, the original oil fill specification for the R380 gearbox was changed to Texaco MTF94 high performance oil:
Range Rover - WA 384300
Discovery - WA 752315
Defender - WA 131138
New Discovery - All vehicles
The Freelander PG1 gearbox has used the new oil since introduction of the model.
ACTION:
MTF94 will be recognised by its orange/honey colour as opposed to the red Dexron II oil previously used, and is now available from Land Rover Parts.
It is now the only oil which should be used for topping up and complete fill on R380/PG1 gearbox applications.
The new oil is compatible with the old and to enable earlier vehicles to benefit from its introduction, should be used retrospectively on vehicles prior to the above VINs for all top up and refill requirements.
Refer to PARTS INFORMATIONoverleaf for details.
Until further notice, current Service Schedule gearbox oil change periods are retained and must be adhered to.

Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite

24th Oct 2013 8:34pm

Interlet

Member Since: 10 Oct 2011
Location: Norwich
Posts: 461

1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Alpine White

The first time you put oil in it, just buy some official Land Rover oil for it, make a note of exactly what type it is, then buy from a more reasonably priced supplier afterwards.

1998 110 300Tdi White Hard Top

24th Oct 2013 10:37pm

Martin
Site Admin

Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6609

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red

http://www.defender2.net/forum/post85528.html#85528

1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top

2015 D90 XS SW

24th Oct 2013 10:49pm

pope10001

Member Since: 15 Oct 2011
Location: Dulverton
Posts: 489

Thanks guys,

I'll give the Difflock/Fuchs oil a go then. Thanks Martin, i did do a search and found that one and other posts, just wanted to see if there was anything else new on the market.

Regards,

Mark

25th Oct 2013 7:34am

Will.I.AM

Member Since: 16 May 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 416

2005 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Kaikoura Stone

i dont know if you have ever used it but i use lucus oil stabaliser and additive in every oil tank on my whole landy. The engine runs smoother, tranny all runs quiter and smoother and on my 110 v8 i runn it real strong in the main gearbox as it helps the syncro and keeps it quie. Just an advise, i normally just use the recomended oil but make sure that i use the best quality oil i can get with in a reasonable price.

25th Oct 2013 12:58pm

Carlosbeldia

Member Since: 13 Oct 2013
Location: Cartagena
Posts: 43

Can I mix Dexron with MTF94? it seems to be ok in the bulletin...

26th Oct 2013 3:15am

pope10001

Member Since: 15 Oct 2011
Location: Dulverton
Posts: 489

Well i plumbed for the Difflock Evo 1 oil and i must say i am astonished! Gone are the crunchy gears and it now virtually falls out of 5th and reverse on its own! Definitely a huge

from me!

Thanks for your advice guys.

Regards,

Mark

26th Oct 2013 9:05pm

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