To Diff-lock or not

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
storm99

storm99

Spreading Joy & Harmony
Posts
21,065
Location
Brexited. Living on an island.
ok, got a bit of a 'discussion' started on the Danish landy site..

Off to work in an hour, 25 miles country lanes, 20 miles motorway, all got a light, half inch so far, covering of snow..bit icy some parts of the way, other parts a couple of inches drifted onto the road, other parts i.e motorway mainly clear,,you can see tracks ahead of you.

Now shall i put the difflock on for entire journey...or disengage at motorway...or not bother using difflock at all...

My opinion was to use it all the way and play safe..its there so why not use it...other folks disagree...i'd like to hear the knowledgeable english meaning!!

cheers, Mark
 
... and there's also the chance that if the roads have clear patches there just might be enough clear and grippy to wind up the transmission and blow something.
 
Sorry I don't agree. If it is very likley that you are about to loose grip you should engage difflock. I had it engaged on and off through the back roads up to 45mph around my area when there was snow covering the entire road. Do not just use it when you get stuck its far too late then. On a Series landrover it states that you should not use permenant four wheel drive for prolonged periods when you have grip.

A defender is no different people say oh no transmission wind up and you will damage the transfer box (LT230's are very robust strong units and I have only ever seen them fail when either: they have been low on oil and driven for miles or the output seals are fooked and have let water in and damaged the unit) How many have you seen failed due to transmission wind up? As long as it is used when there is little or no grip i.e on a snow covered road/lane you will be fine and it will drive very well and you will be in more control. If you have grip i.e you can see tarmac I wouldn't use it.

No doubt this will stir up some people but this is what I have always done and have been told to by a Land Rover trained instructor who has over 25 years driving and mechanical engineer. Ok so land rover may even reccomend not to use it but I trust my judgement rarther that a reccomendation stamped into a plate for the clueless to read. Jai
 
Yes I have driven for many many miles offroad with difflock engaged in my landy. I also had an old Hylux in Afghanistan with permenant 4Wd and I used to drive from Kabul to Gardez and Gardez back to Kabul regularly over a mountain pass (if it was passable) in deep winter up to -20Deg C with 200ft sheer drops down a mountain where many jingle truck end up. It was about a 5 hour journey in the snow at speeds up to 50-55Mph. In the summer the trip was about a 3 and a half hour trip 2Wd tho. Jai
 
Down town Gardez view from my hylux,



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



In the above pic I was just starting back up the mountain pass with empty trucks back to Kabul after giving an armed escourt of 22 Trucks carrying pre fabricated buildings and equipment for the RTC I was building.All 22 trucks got stuck on the mountain pass where a tanker ground out ahead of us and we had to go around it through a stream. I drove to site and brought back a 8 tonne 6x6 russian crane to tow all vehicle out and carry on the rest of the journey. Jai
 
Last edited:
only used diff-lock when we had to cross some wet sand around oueds. not very often. not on the dunes though. just 2nd high and flat out. I tend to not use diff-lock much to be honest, I rarely get stuck anyway.
 
Well I like my difflock, and my lowrange TBH. Although not suited to desert driving I use it when I feel appropriate and in the last lashing of snow when there was no road just ice and snow cover roads I was more than comfortable driving at speed with difflock well and truly engaged.
 
Yeah, horses for courses ... full cover snow & ice maybe, but when it's windblown and patchy you're more likely to feck the tranny than get through!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
L322 4.4tdv8 change oil cooler
Replies
8
Views
319
roythebus
R
Cornishdefender
Clutch pedal travel suddenly changed - now bite point in last 2 inches towards floor
Replies
4
Views
432
Cornishdefender
Cornishdefender
I
Series 3 Diff Pinion Spacer
Replies
7
Views
636
steve2286w
steve2286w
T
New to the world of old landys and would be very grateful for some advice
Replies
8
Views
892
Tommyk28
T
B
Discovery 2 vibration not listed
Replies
3
Views
649
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
Back
Top