Gearbox: why is EP90 not recommended?

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Webley1991

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I have found a few threads saying that EP90 oil is not ideal for the Series gearbox. I actually saw Automatic transmission fluid recommended.

However, the Land Rover repair operations manual specifies EP90. I would prefer to refill the gearbox and differentials with EP90 as I have easy access to it.

Thanks for any info.
 
it sounds more like you've been reading about the LT77 gearbox which is fitted to defender/discos

the Series gearbox DOES take EP90 and it's commonly recommended you get GL4 spec' rather than GL5
 
It's too thick an oil as far as I'm aware. Although the army use it in their landys. I want to say its never done them any harm but having driven quite a few the gears on them are always fecked (probably due to overzealous squaddies though)
 
The GL4 or GL5 question is one I could never get an answer on definitely. Apparently GL5 can attack bronze parts of the series gearbox but a lot of oil companies say that new GL5 doesn't do this as it has buffers added to prevent pH drops. Who knows, so just use GL4 from Wilkinsons, £2.50 a litre, in the g.box. Use anything ep90 in the diffs etc... GL4 or 5.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know what sizes of copper washers I will need for the plugs on the diffs, gearbox and transfer box?
 
the_wolf said:
It's too thick an oil as far as I'm aware. Although the army use it in their landys. I want to say its never done them any harm but having driven quite a few the gears on them are always fecked (probably due to overzealous squaddies though)
Click to expand...

let's put it this way, i own two Series motors, one has a later full synchro box the other has a 2a box that's a semi crash box, both are specified in the manuals to have EP90 in them

i've also worked on a few defenders and discos and these ONLY have EP90 in thier transfer boxes and a completely different oil in the main gearbox (i can check my official workshop manual if really needed for the oil spec' in the gearbox), also EP90 in the axles but 1shot grease in thier swivels

this response was generated by the confusion your comment has created for me as i can't make up my mind if you're talking about later landys (90/110) or Series motors :confused:
 
the_wolf said:
It's too thick an oil as far as I'm aware. Although the army use it in their landys. I want to say its never done them any harm but having driven quite a few the gears on them are always fecked (probably due to overzealous squaddies though)
Click to expand...

they dont in an lt77 for long it ####s the baulk rings ,gears bearings dont care what oil they run in ,but baulkring has to shear oil from gear cone it is made with oil in mind
 
I was mistaken, the stuff I can get easily is 80W/90. Will this cause any problems in the boxes or diffs?
 
Last edited:
80w/90 can be used quite happily but as said before it is recommended that you only use the GL4 rating in the gearbox and overdrive

if it's GL5 it can happily be stuffed in anywhere else that requires EP90 as the axles and transfer box don't have the bronze components that are supposedly attacked by it

i buy GL4 in 5 gallon drums rather than mess about with two different spec' oils, it then gets tipped into my big pump container to fill everything, if i had access to very cheap/free GL5 then i guess i'd use it as well
 
I had a look and it's GL5 spec. I'll have to buy some GL-4.

Can anyone tell me what size sealing washers are on the drain plugs?

Also, I was told that leaving the box static with no oil was a bad idea as moisture could get in and corrode it. To me this sounds like a myth, is there a shred of truth in it?

I was planning to drain everything over the weekend, order the oil in and refill next weekend.
 
I wouldn't have thought it would hurt for that short length of time- only if you were laying it it for a while - even then everything would have a coating of oil still on it
 
definitely don't worry if it's only a week

put a big note on your steering wheel stating the gearbox is empty

personally i wouldn't bother draining it until you're going to refill it, doing both at the same time will save you effort and time as you'll only be dragging tools out the once plus it'll leave it mobile just in case it needs moving
 
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