Water in Gearbox??

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DIFFLOCK66

DIFFLOCK66

Well-Known Member
Posts
3,249
Location
Chipping, Lancashire
So, after an inspection at my local garage (I wanted to know what might drop off the disco in the next couple of months ;) ) and a fluid level check, water in the gearbox was "Discovered" :) On the good side, at least all the gear oil will be new as of today (axles and xfer box too)

How deep does the Landy have to wade for this to happen? I think the deepest I've ever gone is up to the bottom of the axles... at walking pace. Or is there a chance that driving through torrential rain on a motorway or splashing through the potholes on local roads could have done it?

Maybe the previous owner went wading properly; there is a botch filling job on the offside front wing where a snorkel would have been.

Ta.
 
I meant nearside for the snorkel LOL.

Don't think the oil in the axles had been changed for a long time: the front axle oil was black, the rear axle had water contamination as did the transfer box.
 
none of the units including wheel bearings are fully water proof ,water can be found in some that have never waded through condensation
 
All oil should be considered as hygroscopic; having the ability to attract and absorb moisture from the atmosphere to a greater or lesser degree. The most notable are hydraulic (brake) fluid and diesel fuel.

In the engine very small quantities of moisture can be boiled off but the heat and mechanical activity will often stir the oil and moisture up into a gooey brownish white emulsion, especially when excessive amounts of moisture are present. In other units such as the gearboxes and transmission the moisture doesn't get stirred up or evaporated off quite as much and is therefore quite likely to condense out and form water droplets which can accumulate quite a noticeable quantity.

Hydraulic fluids which become contaminated with moisture can become less effective as the heat from the brake discs causes the moisture in the oil to turn to bubbles of water vapour giving similar symptoms to air in the hydraulic system or "brake fade".

For these reasons all fluids should be periodically replaced and in the case of diesel fuels, the various fuel line filters and condensate traps replaced at the prescribed intervals.
 
brian47 said:
All oil should be considered as hygroscopic; having the ability to attract and absorb moisture from the atmosphere to a greater or lesser degree. The most notable are hydraulic (brake) fluid and diesel fuel.

In the engine very small quantities of moisture can be boiled off but the heat and mechanical activity will often stir the oil and moisture up into a gooey brownish white emulsion, especially when excessive amounts of moisture are present. In other units such as the gearboxes and transmission the moisture doesn't get stirred up or evaporated off quite as much and is therefore quite likely to condense out and form water droplets which can accumulate quite a noticeable quantity.

Hydraulic fluids which become contaminated with moisture can become less effective as the heat from the brake discs causes the moisture in the oil to turn to bubbles of water vapour giving similar symptoms to air in the hydraulic system or "brake fade".

For these reasons all fluids should be periodically replaced and in the case of diesel fuels, the various fuel line filters and condensate traps replaced at the prescribed intervals.
Click to expand...

When we put a noo steering pump on this week we changed the fluid, as it was a wishy washy orange :eek: ... God knows how long it's been in our '98 300TDi ...
 
Hello friends! I have a manual discovery td5. The gearbox has been drinking water and turning the oil to a salmon color. breaths are fine. there are no leaks. I change the oil, and 50km later, it is light pink. I don't step in puddles. I just walk in the rain rarely.
 
wilsonbelem said:
Hello friends! I have a manual discovery td5. The gearbox has been drinking water and turning the oil to a salmon color. breaths are fine. there are no leaks. I change the oil, and 50km later, it is light pink. I don't step in puddles. I just walk in the rain rarely.
Click to expand...

You would be better to start a new thread but.
Do you have a gearbox oil cooler, and how is your coolant level.
Can’t help anymore:).

J
 
coolant level is normal. it doesn't decrease. the gearbox oil cooler is free of cracks. there are no signs of leaks.

this photo is contaminated oil. just 100km, and the oil is all mixed up. without walking in swamps. just walking in normal rain.
 

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