Correct gearbox oil choice

Hi all,

This question relates to my 2003 TD5 which has a gear selection problem when it's cold.
To be specific, in cold weather for the first 5 - 10 minutes, it's nearly impossible to change from 1st to 2nd gear. However, During the summer, this problem doesn't arise at all, so I'm guessing someone has put the wrong grade of oil in the gearbox. With colder weather coming soon I'd like to get this problem fixed in advance. So...
Is this a gearbox issue or - less likely I'm guessing - a transfer box one?
What grade of oil should I change to for winter (and is there a multigrade option for all temps?)

Ta, LL

main box (r380) use dextron 2 oil
basically an auto trans oil but must be dextron 2 or or same equivalent

Believe Land Rover now recommended MTF94 for the R380 rather than ATF?

For the TD5, Land rover recommend MTF94.

Mines a 1995 with the same r380 gearbox. And I have exactly the same issue with MTF94. I may try atf dexron 2 or 3 as I beleive it could be slightly thinner?

The R380 benefits massively from the difflock evolution gearbox oil, it is the dogs bollacks, transformed my td5 disco box a few years ago.

I think you might be onto something there, Lynall. Uncanny! http://www.difflock.com/evolution1

But I'm going to try this German stuff as it's a third of the price and since I'm selling the vehicle, I won't get much benefit from the fancier oil anyway:

http://mannol.de/en/?action=accessory_chemical_preview&name=Extra Getriebeoel 75W-90

If it does the trick, I'll report back here in due course....

lynall said:

The R380 benefits massively from the difflock evolution gearbox oil, it is the dogs bollacks, transformed my td5 disco box a few years ago.

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+1
I've used that for nearly ten years. Makes a massive difference. Expensive, but long change interval.

The R380 is perfectly happy with ATF. MTF94 was introduced by Rover when they had a brief love affair with Honda who's oil spec it is.

Is ATF better when cold been as its thinner rather than mtf94?

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:

Is ATF better when cold been as its thinner rather than mtf94?

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in what way ,its more important to change oil regularly

jamesmartin said:

in what way ,its more important to change oil regularly

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Easier to select the stiffer second gear when cold. Like the OP, mines nearly impossible to get 2nd gear when its cold. With the winter coming i will have to avoid 2nd completely untill the engine is up to temperature. Mines running MTF94 for the last 5k miles

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 said:

Easier to select the stiffer second gear when cold. Like the OP, mines nearly impossible to get 2nd gear when its cold. With the winter coming i will have to avoid 2nd completely untill the engine is up to temperature. Mines running MTF94 for the last 5k miles

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try changing the oil for atf , different boxes react differently to different oils,if baulk rings were perfect oil choice wouldnt matter

When I first got my TD5 I thought the box was fooked as 2nd gear not good, changed the oil to the difflock stuff, complained to the guy I bought the car from, he drove it and reckoned it was one of the nicest 380 boxes he had driven! did another 50 odd K with no further issues, it was tuned to the bollacks and took some serious ****.
I can remember when the 380 first came out and all it issues, people were trying all sort of oils, I can remmber one guy even tried mobil 1 which at the time was mega expensive.

The Difflock Evolution oil also transformed my R380 gearbox, but when it was time to replace it I opted for the far cheaper Smith & Allan fully synthetic heavy duty gear oil 75w-80 API GL-4.

Link: http://www.smithandallan.com/produc...lan-fully-synthetic-gear-oil-75w-80-api-gl-4/

I find this to be on par with the Difflock oil.

Would the LT77 also benefit from the Difflock oil, or the seemingly better value Smith and Allan oil above?
I've got to change mine soon and would be prepared to pay more if there are genuine improvements to the shifting, without increasing wear etc! Cheers

Since I've had my R380 I've tried various things in it. First was the grey sludge with sparkly metal bits in it that the vehicle came with. Second was some expensive Difflock evolution, and presently I've got MTF94 (Land Rover part no STC9157) in there. I can't say I've noticed a massive amount of difference, and if I didn't know what was in there I wouldn't be able to tell the difference from gear lever feel or cabin noise. It needs a particular technique to change the gears, but I think that is more to do with the selector mechanism than the oil. For example getting second needs a firm push over to the left (you can't just pull back from 1st) and going from 2nd to 3rd is easier if you let go of the gearstick in neutral so the springs find the correct position for the gate. If you just try to push it in it won't go. That's been the same whatever oil is in the box.

There's also a little noise when the clutch is depressed sometimes first thing in the morning. I suspect that is the bush where the gearbox shaft meets the flywheel and/or the release bearing rather than the box itself.

I have used both ATF and MTF, with good results from both.
I don't think spending a lot of money on expensive oil will make any difference to gear change, Mine is as good as it gets in a Landrover with either.
Whichever, change every year, maybe even more important if the vehicle doesn't do a lot of miles.

bluedog333 said:

Would the LT77 also benefit from the Difflock oil, or the seemingly better value Smith and Allan oil above?
I've got to change mine soon and would be prepared to pay more if there are genuine improvements to the shifting, without increasing wear etc! Cheers

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I believe you'll notice the difference with Difflock ev1 (or Smith & Allan) in your LT77 (but not suitable for very early 4 speed LT95 gearboxes).

I use s&a oils,my r380 gearbox is so much better when changing up,down and from cold,good stuff,never tried ev1 tho,happy with s&a.