R380 gearbox oil

I am about to change the oil in my R380 gearbox on my 1998 Defender. I hate to admit this but I have never changed it (or the transfer box) since I bought it. It then had 36k on the clock and now it has 95k. I did the axles quite a few years ago, but never got around to the drive chain. Engine excepted!! But it does run superbly and the gearbox is smooth and trouble free.

Now I have got over the embarrassing bit, I am going to change the oil in the transfer box and gearbox at last. I still have the oil I bought for the transfer box many years ago, but I have researched the oil specified for the gearbox which is apparently normal transmission fluid. I have some oil which is Comma ATF Dextron II, but it's RED!! I have ordered some Westway ATF Dextron II just to be on the safe side. Now my question is, is it the same oil? Is the Comma OK? And apart from being RED, The Comma does seem a bit thin.

Any suggestions and views will be greatly appreciated, but no comments please that I should change my oils more frequently, because I know that. I have had many difficult years and the Landy unfortunately took 2nd place.

The book tells you MTF94 or dexron 2 for the 380.
Half of who you ask will swear by mtf and other half will tell you dexron atf.
I ran dexron 2 atf in both my r380s for 200k+miles and never had problems.

I bought some MTF to use in my R380. I never ordered a particular type but when looking at the label it's GL5. Unfortunately, after reading further posts, I see that GL5 shouldn't be used as it can damage the phosphor bronze and instead it should be GL4!

I certainly don't want to use it if its going to potentially damage the gearbox! So, what oil is recommended and potential suppliers?

Difflock site, their syn gbox oil is very good in the 380.

TheMunster said:

The book tells you MTF94 or dexron 2 for the 380.
Half of who you ask will swear by mtf and other half will tell you dexron atf.
I ran dexron 2 atf in both my r380s for 200k+miles and never had problems.

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Thanks for your response, but was it red and thin?

Dr Strangeglove said:

I bought some MTF to use in my R380. I never ordered a particular type but when looking at the label it's GL5. Unfortunately, after reading further posts, I see that GL5 shouldn't be used as it can damage the phosphor bronze and instead it should be GL4!

I certainly don't want to use it if its going to potentially damage the gearbox! So, what oil is recommended and potential suppliers?

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Just had a quick check on the oil I ordered and it is GL4 thank goodness. Well spotted.

lrmonks said:

Thanks for your response, but was it red and thin?


Just had a quick check on the oil I ordered and it is GL4 thank goodness. Well spotted.

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ATF is generally red and thin, atf2 and atf3 dextron 2 dextron 3 are all basically the same gear.

lynall said:

ATF is generally red and thin, atf2 and atf3 dextron 2 dextron 3 are all basically the same gear.

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Great. Thanks for that.

Just to add ashcrofts recommend using atf dexron 3 in the r380, if it's what a gearbox reconditioner says to use, it's good enough for me!

GBox always MTF94 (Dexron Red was originally recommended However Land Rover no longer recommened Dexron III ATF for the R380 gearbox,
Lots of opinions, but LR spec MTF94
Transfer EP90

Gottschalk said:

Just to add ashcrofts recommend using atf dexron 3 in the r380, if it's what a gearbox reconditioner says to use, it's good enough for me!

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Ashcrofts videos on you tube recommend MT94....... here, watch
Same when I got my r380 recon box last year

KISSMYAURA said:

GBox always MTF94 (Dexron Red was originally recommended However Land Rover no longer recommened Dexron III ATF for the R380 gearbox,
Lots of opinions, but LR spec MTF94
Transfer EP90

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Either are fine. However Ashcroft having stripped and rebuilt thousands of gearboxes found the slightly thinner atf helped the baulk ring design long term.
In older boxes that have run on mtf most of their lives , and the change starts becoming stiff (due to baulk ring wear) the difference of changing to atf can often dramatically improve the feel and quality of the gear change.

KISSMYAURA said:

Ashcrofts videos on you tube recommend MT94....... here, watch
Same when I got my r380 recon box last year

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Yes, 9 years ago.
On their Web site now and for the last few years they've recommended ATF dexron 3.

Gottschalk said:

Yes, 9 years ago.
On their Web site now and for the last few years they've recommended ATF dexron 3.

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Thanks for that. There are so many differing views on this subject so sorting through the general consensus and I decided on Westway MTF94 GL-4 so I'll stick with that for the time being. I am sure someone will have an opinion on that make too, but some say with expensive oils you are just paying for the name. That could be the case because oil companies are not really known for their honesty and benevolence eh? LOL

Gottschalk said:

Yes, 9 years ago.
On their Web site now and for the last few years they've recommended ATF dexron 3.

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Thanks G, I wish they would make thier mind up! its like the hokey cokey of advice makes you wonder if its about sponsorship etc.
How can Ashcroft go from Dexron to MTF94 then back to Dexron?
Maybe we should just do a 50/50% mix then.

have been using MTF94 and lubeguard yellow ( another Ashcroft recommendation lol ) for last 12 years, silky smooth very happy 90 TD5 130K, had dexron when i bought it.

KISSMYAURA said:

Thanks G, I wish they would make thier mind up! its like the hokey cokey of advice makes you wonder if its about sponsorship etc.
How can Ashcroft go from Dexron to MTF94 then back to Dexron?
Maybe we should just do a 50/50% mix then.

have been using MTF94 and lubeguard yellow ( another Ashcroft recommendation lol ) for last 12 years, silky smooth very happy 90 TD5 130K, had dexron when i bought it.

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Haha yeah I know exactly what you mean! I ran mtf94 in mine for a couple of years when I first bought it, I noticed in winter the 1st to 2nd change was difficult in colder weather but thought I must be imagining it, I emailed ashcroft and Dave emailed me back recommending the 'triple qx, atf dexron 3'. I noticed a difference immediately to be fair but then my baulk rings may have a fair amount of wear, I've just stuck to using it ever since because my box now feels silky in all gear changes (I've probably changed driving habits to, and always do a slow change anyway now). But that's the only reason I personally swapped to it!