[tom1979]

I recently changed the oil in my transfer box. It had been leaking anyway and looked like it was coming from the inspection plate on the bottom of the transfer box - I don't know the technical name for this - and I was probably getting a good few drips a day.

While the oil was out I thought I would take this plate off and put new RTV in, in the hope it would stop the leak. However it seems to have made it worse and I am now getting a small puddle after 1 day parked up.

I put the RTV all round the edge and around each bolt hole (on the plate), bolted it all up etc. I left it 48 hours to set and then refilled the oil. As this did not work I am now wondering if the leak is from the actual bolts - possibly worn threads or something - since it is worse since they have been off and back on again.

Most of the bolts are the same with a few that are just threaded bar with a nut on.

Does anyone know what spec these bolts are or what they are called or if this is a possible reason for the worsening leak? I am wondering if the threaded bar and nuts need to be correctly adjusted or something.

I have attached a photo of the inspection plate in case anyone has no idea what I am on about! Also attached is a pic of the small puddle after only a day of doing nothing.

 

[Monkey13]

What's rtv? Is that a silicon or liquid gasket ? Personally I'd always use a proper paper gasket as that is always better where oil is, or get a sheet of gasket paper and make your own

 

[tom1979]

What's rtv? Is that a silicon or liquid gasket ? Personally I'd always use a proper paper gasket as that is always better where oil is, or get a sheet of gasket paper and make your own

I thought about it and spoke to the people who rebuilt a gearbox for me a few years ago and they said that's all they use anyway. RTV is a heat/oil resistant instant gasket and is almost as useful as gaffer tape! 1 x QUALITY BLACK RTV SILICONE SEALANT 310ml INSTANT GASKET HIGH TEMP AUTO | eBay

 

[Monkey13]

Oh ok when I used to rebuild tractor gearboxs etc we used an orange gasket compound made by loctite called loctite 574 which worked well

 

[tom1979]

Oh ok when I used to rebuild tractor gearboxs etc we used an orange gasket compound made by loctite called loctite 574 which worked well

I just had a quick look for it - I should hope it would be good for what it costs!!

 

[Monkey13]

Where abouts are you? As may be able to get something similar by loctite as I repair train's now and have to seal the valve blocks etc

 

[sierrafery]

click + on the number of piece you want and you'll get the part number then google it out Allbrit.de - Ersatzteile für LAND ROVER & MG ROVER

 

[tom1979]

click + on the number of piece you want and you'll get the part number then google it out Allbrit.de - Ersatzteile für LAND ROVER & MG ROVER

Brilliant! Cheers.

 

[sierrafery]

i think that's the one isnt it? FS108251ML | BOLT M8 X 25MM FLANGED HEAD | Land Rover | Defender 1983 To 2006 | Britcar (UK) Ltd

 

[tom1979]

i think that's the one isnt it? FS108251ML | BOLT M8 X 25MM FLANGED HEAD | Land Rover | Defender 1983 To 2006 | Britcar (UK) Ltd

Yep - will change them soon and hopefully less of a leak.

 

[listerdiesel]

Gasket kits are available, but all of our D2 stuff is RTV on joints.

The other regular leak spot is the O-ring on the intermediate gear shaft, plus the other end of that shaft which doesn't have a seal at all.

Peter

 

[trax]

if you rtv'd the bolt head then i can't see how the oil could get past the threads.

wipe the oil off so the area is clean, then next time you look get a clean bit of tissue and dab it around, tracing where the oils from.

if you've changed the oil from ep90 to a multigrade, then it would be thinner when cold, then leak more from the original leak?

 

[ClassikFan]

I have similar oil droplets around the bolts on my transfer box. Is it common for the bolts to leak and why is there one stud in there?

 

[jamesmartin]

only 2 bolts holding sump plate on have holes open to inside of box , 2 of the 3 nearest sump,m8 x25mm flange head bolt ,you put silicone on threads so it seals threads ,though in your pic oil seems to be running down from further up more likely intermediate shaft

 

[jamesmartin]

What's rtv? Is that a silicon or liquid gasket ? Personally I'd always use a proper paper gasket as that is always better where oil is, or get a sheet of gasket paper and make your own

rtv silicone is just like the clear silicone sold in diy shops except temp and oil resistant, you can fit gasket to the sump though doesnt help seal threads ,and if used in otherplaces the thickness of the gasket would alter the preload (shimming)on shafts/gears

 

[jamesmartin]

Gasket kits are available, but all of our D2 stuff is RTV on joints.

The other regular leak spot is the O-ring on the intermediate gear shaft, plus the other end of that shaft which doesn't have a seal at all.

Peter

it does front end oring is on shaft rear end o ring is in case

 

[tom1979]

only 2 bolts holding sump plate on have holes open to inside of box , 2 of the 3 nearest sump,m8 x25mm flange head bolt ,you put silicone on threads so it seals threads ,though in your pic oil seems to be running down from further up more likely intermediate shaft

Thanks James. I didn't actually silicone the threads, just a bead around the outside then around each bolt hole. I'll drain it and try again, and with new bolts. Two of them are just threaded bar with nuts, am I right in thinking it doesn't matter what position they are in? All the diagrams I have seen show all bolts.

Would the leak on the intermediate shaft, if it is that, require the gearbox out do you think?

Many thanks, Tom.

 

[jamesmartin]

leak on intermediate shaft would require box removing ,2 are often studs for attachment of earth leads etc

 

[tom1979]

Replaced all the bolts, loads of RTV and still got a leak. Seems to be coming from above - I have attached some pics. The vehicle has not been driven or moved since filling up yesterday. Getting about 6-10 spots of ATF over about 4 hours. The ATF seen in the photos was wiped off this morning and has now reappeared.

There is another bolt shown with some sort of PTFE around it - I have not touched it and don't know what it is - but the ATF doesn't appear to be coming from there.

 

[trax]

Replaced all the bolts, loads of RTV and still got a leak. Seems to be coming from above - I have attached some pics. The vehicle has not been driven or moved since filling up yesterday. Getting about 6-10 spots of ATF over about 4 hours. The ATF seen in the photos was wiped off this morning and has now reappeared.

There is another bolt shown with some sort of PTFE around it - I have not touched it and don't know what it is - but the ATF doesn't appear to be coming from there.

it's silly to apply rtv like that. you need to remove the part, clean off old gasket and apply a thin even layer. thick enough to fill imperfections, thin enough to not squeeze rtv everywhere when you tighten it up.

however, the lt230 is filled with ep90 and that is red gearbox oil (atf).. so looking at your initial post of you replacing the oil.. you've filled it with the wrong thing (if it was red atf).

i'd step back and make sure you are clear on what you are doing before you completely feck up your gearbox and transfer.

btw, atf is a lot thinner, so that probably why it's leaking worse.