R380 gear oil alternative

Got myself a land rover, first one. A manual disco 300 tdi . Any way brought it and drove it home no bother. On the test drive it seemed to change gear pretty smoothly and the seller assured me that all oils were changed just 3000 miles ago. Any way got it home and changed the diff and transfer oils and rear diff oil was emulsified (water mix with oil) and over full with a blocked breather.. and front diff oil was black as black. Transfer case was nearly empty with a golden drip. Put API GL 5 80 - 90 in all the above. Now the gearbox, It seams that when hot it was pretty notchy especially between 1st 2nd and 3rd going up or down and also it whined medium to loud. So decided that it needed an oil change and as I hadn't even checked the level had no idea what to expect. Went to local motor factors (not actually my local but the ones I trust) and asked for MTF 94. They did not stock this and so they gave me Valvoline SYNpower 75-80w GL4 fully synthetic gear oil X3 1L bottles. This morning I emptied the gear box oil hot and it came out very runny and honey colored and pretty much seemed the right amount too. Bugger I thought, just dumped a box full of probably good MTF 94 into the drain pan. So carried on and refilled it with the SYNpower and went out for a long drive. First few miles gear change pretty much the same but by the time I had done 5 miles definite improvement in gear change - also loads quieter. I have done about 100 miles today and it is transformed. Gear change is great weather going up or down any gear is now smooth and easy, slightly notchy if you try changing like a race driver (or numpty) and the whining that was seriously intrusive has practically gone about 50 -60 and faster mph it does make a little noise on over run, can actually hear just a slight noise now from TF box now. Very happy and at just under £25 for 3L with halve a bottle left means I will only have to buy 2 next time. Very Happy. mY 2 PENCE WORTH

75-80 is to thick for the gearbox

Yet it changes really nice and is loads quieter - maybe in the morning it will be a different story but I doubt it as it was cold oil going into the box....what weight would you suggest?

johnlad said:

75-80 is to thick for the gearbox

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So, your saying don't use Rover MTF 94?
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/Auto_oils/ROVER MTF.pdf

the real test will be when temperatures will go below 0 ... then if the oil is not the best for it 1'st and 2'nd will be a pain to select untill it warms up, though for TB and diffs 75W90 is recommended not else

discool said:

So, your saying don't use Rover MTF 94?
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/Auto_oils/ROVER MTF.pdf

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No I'm saying 75-80 is to thick can you not read

johnlad said:

No I'm saying 75-80 is to thick can you not read

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So do tell us what u think the grade of MTF94 is then.

MTF94 is an equivalent to a 75w/80 and is, apparently, a long life version of 10W40

You could actually use a synthetic 10w/40 oil like Magnatec in the gearbox, gives it a nice easy slick change. Before anyone comes back with some comments, that particular gearbox was originally designed to use 10w/40, which is why refilling with a 10w/40 oil will give you a slicker and lighter change. Change it every 50K is all you need to do. The MTF94 has a recommended change of 120K but from experience 50K of MTF94 in an gearbox is enough to give a heavy gearchange.

I am not recommending ignoring the recommendations of LR or saying do not use MTF 94, only trying to give people another option if MTF 94 is unavailable (as in my case) or if maybe you have tried the LR stuff etc and are unhappy then I can say I have used this valvoline oil with good success and am very pleased with it. Gear changes today were fine from cold and when hot and as long as you don't try to change gear at lightning speeds ( for a discovery) it a nice gear change every time. I have no idea what oil was in my gearbox before I drained it and only know that it definitely was not red!! Done nearly 100 miles today no problems.
down load a spec sheet for this oil here : http://www.valvolineeurope.com/engl...oils/gear_oils/cid(6903)/synpower_gl-4_75w-80

Put atf in it next time loads cheaper

HonestJon007 said:

I am not recommending ignoring the recommendations of LR or saying do not use MTF 94, only trying to give people another option if MTF 94 is unavailable (as in my case) or if maybe you have tried the LR stuff etc and are unhappy then I can say I have used this valvoline oil with good success and am very pleased with it. Gear changes today were fine from cold and when hot and as long as you don't try to change gear at lightning speeds ( for a discovery) it a nice gear change every time. I have no idea what oil was in my gearbox before I drained it and only know that it definitely was not red!! Done nearly 100 miles today no problems.
down load a spec sheet for this oil here : http://www.valvolineeurope.com/engl...oils/gear_oils/cid(6903)/synpower_gl-4_75w-80

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if no mft use atf that is what was first used. needs to go through the transmission cooler

Update done several thousand miles and no problems. On the odd cold morning second gear is abit notchy but not always otherwise all is great with lovely changes up and down and pretty quiet, for a land rover....

just wait for negative temps then you'll see

sierrafery said:

just wait for negative temps then you'll see

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My the plan is to start the engine with the clutch pressed and just set of in second if it becomes a problem...

my point is that if it becomes a problem when it's really cold it means that it's not the best oil for it though being 75W80 gl4 it's very close to the MTF94 but it depends on which kind of additives it has

Your right on with your point, I did try comparing the actual viscosity test results from each technical data but they are done using each manufactures testing technique not a standard test so near impossible to compare by your average person and probably difficult for someone who understands these things fully but to be fair they seemed to be very similar...like I said I am happy so far and will post any problems when it gets below freezing...