Where do I check the oil levels?

Hi everyone, I did search for this and what I found generally amounted to 'take up the floor' which shocked me a bit because I've never seen any vehicle you have to dismantle to do such a basic check.

I'm referring to the transfer box and main box oil levels. I do have the S3 owners' manual but the pictures and description don't actually show where the various plugs are. So my query is, where exactly are the drain and filling plugs for both gearboxes?

If it really is a 'take the vehicle apart' job then I have a lot to learn about Landies!

Joe

just in case yer google is still not working :O)

For a slightly less succinct description..

The gearbox and transfer are checked by removing the plugs shown in the photo above. The oil should be topped up to the point where it runs out of these ports - the level is correct at that time.

The axles are much the same - the diffs have plugs (the front axle in the forward-facing cover bit, and the rear diff on the top of the web to the ((left) of the diff nose). These are checked the same way.

The swivel housings have fill and level plugs as well - thesea re on the back sides of the swivel housings and are checked the same way.

ajr

Pretty sure that unless your vehicle has been lowered.........

The level plugs can be easily checked from beneath the vehicle.


Even easier on a ramp or over a pit

However if you have no access to a ramp/pit and you don't fancy crawling underneath the vehicle they can be checked from inside

Clever int it :crazy_driver:

To expand - you don't actually have to take out the passenger floor to get at these plugs, but it is MUCH easier if you do. The old fixings may be a bit of a pig to get out, but they are available new very cheaply. It is well worth making sure you can get both floor plates out when you need to, and, if you replace the screws at your leisure, then, when you have to get in there urgently, it will be much easier. Taking out the driver's floor plate gives you easy access to the handbrake and petrol tank.

Do not be alarmed, if when you take the transfer box plug out a lot of oil runs out.
There is an oil seal in the box that fails and then oil from the main box migrates to the transfer box. Mine has done this for years, just check/top up levels every 8/10 weeks.

To avoid worrying yourself, use mineral gear oil not modern stuff. It would prob be ok but some sceptics say it dissolves bronze parts of old gearboxes. I am pretty confident new oils dont do that, but to be sure just use mineral gl4 stuff from wilkos cheap enough

I've changed the oil in my main box, transfer and overdrive, by only taking out the plate under the centre seat (6screws), but as these chaps say, keep putting oil in until it runs out the hole,(a funnel and half a meter of old hosepipe make this easier) also if you do decide to do an oil change, using 2 people while filling can make it easier, more importantly, take out the filler plug before the drain plug, simply because if the filler plug gets stuck, and you empty your oil things may be difficult ( ie, difficult to fill to the correct level)