Differential Fluid Change - Land Rovers Only

drewclare25 · 02-21-2005, 01:51 PM

could somebody walk me through how to change my differential fluid on my 1997 disco 1

TerryS · 02-21-2005, 02:32 PM

Go for a 20 minute drive (to get the 90 weight warmed up). Put a pan beneath the drain plug, put your 1/2" ratchet head (the square end of the ratchet, without a socket) into the plug and unscrew it, normal, righthanded thread. Same for the fill plug (the one halfway up the banjo) give it a few minutes to drain out. Fill with 1 3/4 quarts of 90 or 1 1/2 quarts 90, and a pint of lucas gear oil. While you're under there, unscrew your axle breathers and check to see they aren't plugged up. Before you dispose of the old gear oil, take a magnetic tool wand, if you have one and swirl it around in the oil for a minute, and see if you collect any steel shavings. Hopefully not!

TerryS · 02-21-2005, 02:37 PM

Buy the gear oil in the one quart bottles with the little clip off spigots. (preferably the day before you plan on doing this) and leave it in doors so it, too, is nice and warm. Do your front axle first, because, on a disco, it's nearly impossible to get the bottle up high enough up front, to get it all in, so after about half the bottle is squirted in, refill it and do it again. You won't have any trouble back aft, it's just a tight fit between the front of the front axle and the steering.

Bogatyr · 02-21-2005, 02:57 PM

drewclare25,
I always tell people to get the fill plug out first. That way if you can't get it off (ie your breaker bar isn't large enough) you won't have an empty diff that you can't refill.

Bogatyr

Andre-Georg · 02-24-2005, 07:18 PM

Did you ever try to build a pressure bottle ???
Using the oil plastic bottle, drill a hole near the neck and insert an air valve. Drill a 1/2" hole in the cover and insert a small size (but a bit bigger then the hole)clear plastic hose in it all the way to the bottom. Fill in the oil into the bottle. Clear hose in the upper filling hole. Connect a foot(or low pressure air compressor) air pump to the air valve. Voila !
Start pumping and look to see the oil going up into the differential. It worked for me, especially when the bottle does not fit between the boddy and the feeding hole.

Yes the bottle will expend (blimp) but the air pressure will push out the oil via the tube especially if you oil is warm. It is not magic it's Physic my dear Warson !

texasrover · 02-25-2005, 06:22 AM

There is always the option of simple buying a pump that fits on top of the oil bottle. Amsoil has one! Has a little pump and tube. Makes life a lot easier!

02-21-2005, 01:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
drewclare25 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 391 Gallery: 0	Differential Fluid Change could somebody walk me through how to change my differential fluid on my 1997 disco 1

02-21-2005, 02:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
TerryS Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life. Posts: 2,236 Gallery: 0	Forgot to mention. Buy the gear oil in the one quart bottles with the little clip off spigots. (preferably the day before you plan on doing this) and leave it in doors so it, too, is nice and warm. Do your front axle first, because, on a disco, it's nearly impossible to get the bottle up high enough up front, to get it all in, so after about half the bottle is squirted in, refill it and do it again. You won't have any trouble back aft, it's just a tight fit between the front of the front axle and the steering.

02-21-2005, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bogatyr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: upstate NY Posts: 317 Gallery: 0	drewclare25, I always tell people to get the fill plug out first. That way if you can't get it off (ie your breaker bar isn't large enough) you won't have an empty diff that you can't refill. Bogatyr __________________ Current Rover Fleet: 1996 D1 120k (finally on the road) 1970 IIa 88" (the running one) 1970 IIa 88" (parts truck - need any parts?) 1966 IIa 109" (next project...)

02-24-2005, 07:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Andre-Georg Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 29 Gallery: 0	Did you ever try to build a pressure bottle ??? Using the oil plastic bottle, drill a hole near the neck and insert an air valve. Drill a 1/2" hole in the cover and insert a small size (but a bit bigger then the hole)clear plastic hose in it all the way to the bottom. Fill in the oil into the bottle. Clear hose in the upper filling hole. Connect a foot(or low pressure air compressor) air pump to the air valve. Voila ! Start pumping and look to see the oil going up into the differential. It worked for me, especially when the bottle does not fit between the boddy and the feeding hole. Yes the bottle will expend (blimp) but the air pressure will push out the oil via the tube especially if you oil is warm. It is not magic it's Physic my dear Warson ! __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Land Rovers Only - Land Rover Forum Advertisement

02-21-2005, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
TerryS Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life. Posts: 2,236 Gallery: 0	Go for a 20 minute drive (to get the 90 weight warmed up). Put a pan beneath the drain plug, put your 1/2" ratchet head (the square end of the ratchet, without a socket) into the plug and unscrew it, normal, righthanded thread. Same for the fill plug (the one halfway up the banjo) give it a few minutes to drain out. Fill with 1 3/4 quarts of 90 or 1 1/2 quarts 90, and a pint of lucas gear oil. While you're under there, unscrew your axle breathers and check to see they aren't plugged up. Before you dispose of the old gear oil, take a magnetic tool wand, if you have one and swirl it around in the oil for a minute, and see if you collect any steel shavings. Hopefully not!

02-25-2005, 06:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
texasrover Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 490 Gallery: 0	There is always the option of simple buying a pump that fits on top of the oil bottle. Amsoil has one! Has a little pump and tube. Makes life a lot easier!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)