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BykerPete

Member Since: 02 Feb 2015
Location: Midlands
Posts: 159

2014 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Willow Green

R380 Gearbox Oil and Gear Selection Problem

Hello.

I have a 1997 110 CSW with 130K on the clock. (I've owned the vehicle from new so know that the mileage is genuine.) For info, I also have a gearbox oil cooler fitted from numerous long distance trips in hot climates.

Lately it has been difficult to select 2nd gear other than when completely stationary. I'm going to try an oil change and was wondering if this oil would be okay Comma GO45L 5L EP80W90 GL4 Gear Oil (as I have some in my shed). Also thinking of adding some Slick 50 Manual Gearbox Treatment to see if that helps.

Two questions . . .

Is this Comma oil suitable for my gearbox, and if not, what would you recommend for an old box like mine - especially with a difficult 2nd gear selection? and .......
Is the Slick 50 a good idea, or is it another 'snake oil' jobby?

I know this has been discussed plenty of times before but thinking moves on over time so I'm keen to get latest opinions.

Thanks in advance,

Pete. Drink Coffee, Talk to Strangers and Take Photos.

15th Mar 2023 8:04pm

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1041

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

Ahh a good old oil discussion thread..

As you probably know the correct oil for the R380 is MTF94. Living in France I searched for this and found nothing, but find it is very reasonably priced at your standard UK outlets. So while ordering other parts I bought 3 bottles at LRPARTS (they have some different options):

https://www.lrparts.net/vyk000010-mtf94-ge...ottle.html

So this is the right stuff and it is not pricey.

Now when I was putting it in I could not help notice that it looks, feels and smells like ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) and not your typical gear oil. So probably you would want to use ATF and not gear oil if you cannot find MTF94, it has much lower viscosity than gear oil (as in more liquid)

Needless to say that what came out was not MTF94 or ATF but fairly heavy gear oil and after oil change the gearbox changed sooo much smoother, slick almost. Still 3rd gear notchiness remains, just syncro wear - no oil will change that.

16th Mar 2023 8:58am

Penfold_6290

Member Since: 22 Sep 2021
Location: Dorset
Posts: 316

Ashcroft Transmissions recommend this -

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-qx-a...-522776012

I used this on my Ashcroft recon box, easy to get hold of as most Euro Car Parts locations stock it.

16th Mar 2023 9:39am

Mdm

Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1599

i suspect that fresh oil won't fix your issue but it might help if its not been done in a long time.

gear oil as above is fine for diffs and t box but ideal spec is mtf94 or atf if its been run on that previously.

lots of info on ashcrofts transmissions site

most likely its ready for a rebuild/ refresh.

i wouldn't waste slick 50 in it until the problem is fixed

16th Mar 2023 10:13am

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