Fluid colors

[dubb57]

Anybody got a quick rundown on the color of what color all the fluids should look like?

I'm embarking on the 60,000 mile service journey per Mikes instructions. Even though i'm going to replace all the fluids, I want to know what they look like when/if bad.

Anybody in the Southern Cal Land Rover club?

[Disco Mike]

The gear oil is usually a dark greenish color, the trann a reddish brown, same with the power steering/ACE, coolant is an orangish/pink and the brake fluid is clear with a touch of brown depending how old it is.
The newer synthetic power steering fluid is clear instead of red.
Just change them all, not matter what color they are that way you will be set for the next 30,000 miles and don't need to worry about it.
Mike

[Bamafan485]

so whats the difference between orange and green coolant?

[Disco Mike]

Depends who you talk to. Bottom line though, Rover says Dexcool, OAT, no green or yellow.
Mike

[Bamafan485]

you just get this at the local parts store? where is the plug to drain the coolant that is in it now?

[dubb57]

thanks mike,

I was planning on changing them all. Just wanted to know what they look like when bad or in need of change in case it happens before the next scheduled change.

Can you go from a non synthetic to a synthetic with no prep? Does it matter? Or is it that you can't go back to a non synthetic from a synthetic.

[Disco Mike]

Your truck came from the factory with synthetic in both diffs and the t/case, everything will switch over except for the tranny that will need to be flushed and then add synthetic Dextron.


Yes, Dexcool can be found at any auto parts store, if you don't see it just ask one of the guys at the counter.
Mike

[YellowFever]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

Depends who you talk to. Bottom line though, Rover says Dexcool, OAT, no green or yellow.
Mike

Uh oh. I used yellow because it said on the bottle can use with any color fluid. I just made sure to look for the safe for aluminum block information.

[XtremeMarine]

Your engine will explode in 3, 2, 1...

[PeteRice]

Did the engine come with synthetic oil in it from the factory? I know synthetic oil will remove caked oil deposits that regular engine oil wont, so if you are switching to synthetic you may want to only run it for 500 KM then change the oil and filter again because you'll have a lot of build up on the filter and maybe in the oil depending on the miles it was run with regular oil.

Just what I would do.

[Disco Mike]

No, the engine did not come with synthetic, only the diffs and the t/case.
Use it in your engine, it will over time improve some performance and help keep the engine cleaner.
As for when to change it the first time, just use the color of the fluid as a guide. If you are not doing a flush first, run the oil change out to at least 3000 and no more then 5000 miles.
Mike