Gearbox and Diff oil change

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 13:29
ThreadID: 48557 Views:4306 Replies:11 FollowUps:7
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I want to change the oil in my gearbox and also the diffs since I have never done that since I have owned the car. Is it as easy as changing the engine oil or am I better off paying someone to do?
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Reply By: Member -Signman - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 13:36

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 13:36
Get ya self a 'syringe' with flexible hose for filling up. Apart from that- have the transmssion a líl warm, so the old oil drains easier.
Maybe add a dose of Nulon Transmission Treatment while you're at it ??
AnswerID: 256590

Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 13:58

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 13:58
Its easy enough to do it yourself, you can buy a pump that fits into a 4/5 ltr bottle that has a hose on it, this makes the job easy and only cost about $25, as apposed to $100 an hour for a work shop + oils.

I use 80/90 in my front diff and transfer, I use 75/90 in my gearbox (Toyota cruisers ) and LS 90 in the rear diff.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Steve.
AnswerID: 256593

Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 14:45

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 14:45
Thanks Steve

I might have a crack if it's that easy. Do you think it will make a diference if I have air lockers fitted?
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FollowupID: 517642

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:01

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:01
The only problem I could foresee, is that the diffs require a different oil than I have suggested, if this is the case then just use the said oil it requires.

Cheers Steve.
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FollowupID: 517659

Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 16:01

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 16:01
1 BIG trap for the unwary , rule no1 when doing diffs is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, always ,not just the first time but always , crack open the filler hole before you go to open the drain hole , if this rule needs any form of elaboration you should be paying a mechanic ,,,,,,
AnswerID: 256611

Follow Up By: Boony - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 13:20

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 13:20
G'day Axel.

I do pay someone to do my mechanical work but am curious about the reason why the filler plug has to be removed before the drain?

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Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:10

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:10
As stated , it is a BIG trap , if you open and drain the diff oil without opening the filler plug hole 1st and said filler plug is siezed you are litterally up the creek in a canoe wthout a paddle , no point in draining a diff if you cant refill it. ,lol.
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FollowupID: 517793

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:14

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:14
Two reasons 1 is to help the flow of oil as opposed to glug glug glug,the second imagine you have drained the oil, then you can't get the filler plug undone.

Cheers Steve
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FollowupID: 517795

Follow Up By: Boony - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:25

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 14:25
And its so darn obvious once you have been told!!!

I guess its a mistake even the budding home mechanic would only ever make once!!!!

Thanks Axel.
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FollowupID: 517796

Reply By: George (NT) - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:38

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:38
G'day mate

Get someone else to do it on a hoist. It is a bugger of a job lying under the truck on the floor getting dirt and grime (not to mention oil spills) in your eyes. Also make sure that you take the correct oils along with you. The job shouldn't cost more than $80 excluding oils. So ask for a price before you choose the right mechanic.

Cheers

Willem (on George's computer)
AnswerID: 256626

Reply By: Member - Tom V (WA) - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:51

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 17:51
Troll
have a look @ the DVD attached to the latest 4WD monthly mag. Glenn shows u how it's done.
good luck Tom
AnswerID: 256628

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 18:15

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 18:15
If you are into outback travel, you need some familiarity with the underside of your chariot anyway - changing oils in the various widgets under there is quite straight forward - just read the manual re what, and how much to put in - all of the auto shops have the gear you need (pumps - pans etc) and they are not expensive. One thing is for sure - you will be paying infinitely more attention to the quality of the work, than the average dealership would ever do.
AnswerID: 256631

Reply By: Max - Sydney - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 19:46

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 19:46
Troll

You can't beat rolling around underneath the car and looking for trouble while you change the oils.

The posts above talk about how to do it, and if you've got a bit of lift in the suspension should have plenty of clearance room.

A couple of tricks to save learning the hard way - first, gear and diff oils stink so wear old clothes that you don't want to use for anything else. If you wear overalls that you roll up and put in the back of the car for trips you will be irritated by the smell every time you get in.

Second - make sure that you don't spill it on the drive or garage floor or anything as it stains worse than sump oil.

Apart from that its not hard to do and worth knowing how.

Beats mowing the lawn!

Max
AnswerID: 256642

Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 08:24

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 08:24
Thanks for all the help I might have a bash and see how I go
AnswerID: 256672

Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 09:32

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 09:32
Suggest have a look at the Valvoline site- under applications will tell you the grade & quantity for your vehicle. Other brands may have similar..
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FollowupID: 517754

Reply By: ross - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 11:44

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 11:44
I do my landcruiser's with a small hand pump as others have suggested.
However to make it easier I attached a 1200mm of hose to the pump spout.
I put the hose end into the filler hole on the gearbox/diff and pump with the handpump higher than the filler hole(so Im pumping downhill).
I usually sit the handpump on old chair.

I watch the level on the container to judge how much I have got to go.

This way is much easier than laying underneath trying to pump gear oil up hill;)
AnswerID: 256704

Reply By: Member - Earvin (NSW) - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 15:41

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 15:41
Mate I have just done mine for the first time. I had trouble getting the filler plugs out even with a breaker bar so I used an impact drill.

Apart from that it was easy as something really easy! Woth doing yourself for the reasons stated above.
AnswerID: 256734

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 15:45

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 15:45
I use an el cheapo 5l weed sprayer to fill the diffs etc. just rip the nozzle off and the viscosity of the oil allows pressure to build up while pumping and fills the diff. Just keep an eye out for it overflowing and release the pressure valve
AnswerID: 256736

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