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Matt110

Member Since: 29 Jun 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 685

Motul 300 in a TDCi gearbox, transfer box, AND axles??

So firstly, top notch service from OPIE oils as always, and free and knowledgeable advice always given and gratefully received.

Sounds like Castrol's a bit hard to come by at the minute for all the known reasons. So I was having a webchat with one of their agents, who suggested I could in fact use Motul 300 75/90 in all three of gearbox, transfer box, and axles, and that despite the viscosity being 75w90 not 85w90 that because it was a much much more modern oil and thus appropriate for the axles and potentially protects them better.

Given the age of Castrol EPX as a product - i am perhaps not surprised. I'm OK putting a stone age product in a stone age design of diff, it's a fairly simple thing. But having lost one transfer box under warranty probably due to heat exposure on a french motorway, I would be really interested if it was better protection for the transfer box.

Doing the Motul would be a truely horrendous costly exercise, but I wondered if anyone had ever used it as above, and if so, what are your findings.

I've got Motul 300 in my TDCi gearbox and I think it shifts slightly better when cold, but that may well be placebo. It certainly wasn't cheap stuff.

Again - absolutely not questioning OPIE here, just looking for whether others had done it, and what you found if you had.

20th Oct 2021 9:37am

jim4244

Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 804

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver

Not used Motu before but recently, after a chat with one of the Opie advisors, I used Red Line oil in my gearbox and transfer box, along with Castrol TRANSMAX long life in the diffs. Since the fluids change I have never driven a Defender with such a smooth gear change….

Gearbox - Red Line MTL
Transfer box - Red Line 75W90
Diffs - Castrol TRANSMAX Axle long life 75W90

Not cheap oils but they make a very noticeable difference in the drivability fo my Defender.

Jim

20th Oct 2021 9:47am

jim4244

Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 804

I should have added that I have a 1997 300Tdi with an R380 gearbox.

Jim

20th Oct 2021 9:49am

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3425

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black

Keep in mind that diffs and transfer box have different requirements to a gearbox... as they do not have synchromeshes to align.
For the diffs, I prefer a thicker oil. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

20th Oct 2021 10:01am

Matt110

Member Since: 29 Jun 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 685

I'm absolutely with you - i'd always have preferred a thicker oil. But I've never got into the engineering behind that... why do we both prefer a thicker oil? I've no idea myself it's just a gut feel and something i've always done.

If a more "modern" high shear oil is capable..... perhaps it's just as good. OPIE's thoughts were certainly that way.

I keep trying to find a google test or spec sheet or anything for something like a motul 300 vs a more traditional oil like an EPX as a direct comparison. Nothing really exists that i've found yet.

20th Oct 2021 10:08am

Matt110

Member Since: 29 Jun 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 685

jim4244 wrote:
Not used Motu before but recently, after a chat with one of the Opie advisors, I used Red Line oil in my gearbox and transfer box, along with Castrol TRANSMAX long life in the diffs. Since the fluids change I have never driven a Defender with such a smooth gear change….

Gearbox - Red Line MTL
Transfer box - Red Line 75W90
Diffs - Castrol TRANSMAX Axle long life 75W90

Not cheap oils but they make a very noticeable difference in the drivability fo my Defender.

Jim

Thanks Jim, Redline sounds interesting. What was the reasons given by OPIE for it being a better oil?

20th Oct 2021 10:09am

Porny
Site Sponsor

Member Since: 31 Aug 2009
Location: Sutton Coldfield - West Midlands
Posts: 809

I'd also have a look at Swepco Oils.... I run their oils in quite a few Defenders now (and the grease is exceptionally good as well).

http://islubricants.co.uk

Mark is the man to speak to.... IRB
The home of the first modified Keswick Green 90 - and the first 2.4 Puma through both the 200bhp and 550Nm barriers.

www.IRBdevelopments.com

www.facebook.com/irbdevelopments

www.integrated316.com

www.facebook.com/integrated316

22nd Oct 2021 10:55pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4217

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

I did run Gear 300 in everything for a couple of years with no apparent problems, but it is very expensive if you want to change quite frequently. Instead, I still have it in the gearbox and transfer box, and use the cheaper Motul Gear HD in the axles. I dont do enough miles to know if this is a wise long term choice, but Motul are a proper company and the oil meets the required specs so I'm confident it’s a good choice,

I think, particularly with the axles, any reputable brand will have a good oil for the job. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

23rd Oct 2021 6:49am

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