Wading plug or drain plug missing ? Help

Driving myself nuts here !! Been going through my range rover today (1991 vogue se Auto) and on the bottom of the bell housing / gear box there is a hole with what appears to be a bolt missing ( as per photo ) .

I think its the wading plug but before I blow the gear box up can someone confirm please !!!

Thanks

Phib

If I remember from my course, that is for the water to escape and not fill up the bell-housing with water, leading to clutch slip. It is at the bottom edge of the housing.
Small vehicles used a split or cotter pin, inserted from inside and left to spin. Can't you use a small bulb on a length of stiff wire and look inside at night. I get those small dashboard bulbs, wire them up and use heat shrink wrap on the wires then attached to the stiff wire can maneuver it out of the way and has it's dark, look inside the hole.

just a wading plug. stick the bolt in when deep wading so you don't get the clutch full of water, else leave it open so any oil or whatever can escape and not contaminate clutch

No oil will be contaminating any clutch in there - cos there ain't one! tis an AT

fair enough

Disco1BFG said:

No oil will be contaminating any clutch in there - cos there ain't one! tis an AT

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Save your torque converter rusting then

Yep wading plug hole.

:behindsofa:

For info......The wading plug thread size is the same as the radiator drain plug-1/2"BSP parallel.
Used to be able to buy a brass replacement from a company called "Zeus Engineering" which were better than the original plastic as the heads did not chew up when trying to remove/refit them.
The plastic would be fine as a wading plug but don't go mad with the tightening torque !!!

!/2" bsp is a standard plumbing thread if you want plugs, available in parallel or tapperd brass or steel , if its of help .

brianp38dse said:

!/2" bsp is a standard plumbing thread if you want plugs, available in parallel or tapperd brass or steel , if its of help .

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:behindsofa:
Don't use steel unless it's galvanised, use brass or plastic.
We all know what happens when steel and ally come together

brianp38dse said:

!/2" bsp is a standard plumbing thread if you want plugs, available in parallel or tapperd brass or steel , if its of help .

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bit of a bugger to find the flat rubber washers in the shops mind and an oring slips out

i'm totally wrbling on about using them for 300tdi replacement rad and therm housing btw, not wading plug

The hole is a breather, allowing for heat expansion of the components and air inside to expand without blowing seals. You are only supposed to plug the hole for the duration of wading, then remove it afterwards. You are not supposed to run with the hole permanently sealed.

Bladerunner919 said:

The hole is a breather, allowing for heat expansion of the components and air inside to expand without blowing seals. You are only supposed to plug the hole for the duration of wading, then remove it afterwards. You are not supposed to run with the hole permanently sealed.

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makes no sense for a breather.

they wouldn't stick it on the bottom, they would put it higher up with a tube.. like axles and gearbox, so less chance of crap getting into it.

it would have to be airtight, ie sealed bell to flywheel housing.. and they aren't.

it's to allow fluids out so they don't contaminate

trax said:

makes no sense for a breather.

they wouldn't stick it on the bottom, they would put it higher up with a tube.. like axles and gearbox, so less chance of crap getting into it.

it would have to be airtight, ie sealed bell to flywheel housing.. and they aren't.

it's to allow fluids out so they don't contaminate

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Plus, when wading is when you would want a breather the most due to rapid cooling getting dunked in cold water.

Periodic removal is fine but I always run without and pop the plug in when I know it's likely to go for a swim.

Personal preference.

trax said:

makes no sense for a breather.

They wouldn't stick it on the bottom, they would put it higher up with a tube.. Like axles and gearbox, so less chance of crap getting into it.

It would have to be airtight, ie sealed bell to flywheel housing.. And they aren't.

It's to allow fluids out so they don't contaminate

Click to expand...

+1