Madcowz Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Now the weather is a bit better, I am looking at replacing the fluids and thought I should start with the Gearbox before moving on to the Transfer box but have come up against a problem at the very first stage. As far as I know... I am looking in the correct place for the drain and filler plug on my R380 Gearbox (reverse to the right and down) but the filler plug is not a T55 Torx (as mentioned elsewhere on this forum), but instead is a square shape. Am I: A ) Looking in completely the wrong place and am an idiot. B ) Have an R380 gearbox with a 'rare' square plug. C ) Have an R380 that has had the standard one replaced with a square one in the past. Sorry the picture isn't great as the filler is partly in the shadow. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Somebody has probably rounded off the T55 or got p***ed off with losing the spanner and put one of the old type ones in - my old 300 90 had a square 1/2" drive bung in it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 it's been swapped by a previous owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneten110 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Ashcroft transmission fit these to their reconditioned boxes as a matter of course. It is a much better idea than the silly torx thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 my Ashcroft R380 has the T55 torx plug fitted. so maybe not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcowz Posted April 5, 2009 Author Share Posted April 5, 2009 Thanks for the replies. At least I have put my mind at rest and I know what a gearbox looks like :-) Shame I bought the TX55 bit before looking. Thought I was being clever and getting everything in advance. ATF (Meeting Dexron III) is good enough for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Yep, use that in my R380. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneten110 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Thanks for the replies.At least I have put my mind at rest and I know what a gearbox looks like :-) Shame I bought the TX55 bit before looking. Thought I was being clever and getting everything in advance. ATF (Meeting Dexron III) is good enough for this? NO!! Land Rover no longer specify ATF for manual gearboxes and have not done so for years. they specify MTF manufactured for Land Rover by texaco. It was found that ATF gave poor lubrication, protection and shiift quality in manual gearboxes, especially at higher temperatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 I have a male square level plug on my 380gearbox. I threw the T55 plug away. If anybody has some male square plugs lying about I'd be only too happy to give them a home on my Defender..... mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 NO!!Land Rover no longer specify ATF for manual gearboxes and have not done so for years. they specify MTF manufactured for Land Rover by texaco. It was found that ATF gave poor lubrication, protection and shiift quality in manual gearboxes, especially at higher temperatures I've had no problems running a R380 on ATF my previous R380 covered 10 years/ 200,000 + miles before it had a problem [nothing to do with the fluid] & I fully expect the current box to cover the same or more mileage. changed to MTF94 in March 2000 see tech bulletin below, but it does not say that ATF cannot be used. note the chassis number ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 NO!! Land Rover no longer specify ATF for manual gearboxes and have not done so for years. they specify MTF manufactured for Land Rover by texaco. It was found that ATF gave poor lubrication, protection and shiift quality in manual gearboxes, especially at higher temperatures It's always worked perfectly well in R380s just that the MTF is synthetic and lasts better. I know somebody who changed from MTF back to ATF because they reckoned the shift was better with ATF. It seems to depend on the gearbox - mine is fine with MTF but I'd happily use either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murray l Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Why did LR fit the Torx plug other than to focus attention on TF being used in a manual gearbox . Have heard of several instants where hypoid was used anyway , with disasterous results . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 more likely fited the T55 torx to act as a visual ref that it's a R380 gearbox & not the previous LT77/77S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcowz Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 I bought a 5 litre bottle of MT94 as my gearbox deserves the best. And to be honest, after seeing diagrams of whats inside one of those things, anything I can do to save me ever having to open it up is worth its weight in gold. Will have to do a half day of overtime just to pay for the oil though My next questions if you don't mind... Do I need a washer/gasket for the Transfer box drain plug and if so what is the part number Where do I find my Transfer box model? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Transfer box is a LT 230T, on the rear face below the fill/level plug maybe a sticker that says 1.410:1 that's the high range ratio. you should find a serial number stamped into the casing as well, it should start with a 22 & a letter & numbers, Ashcrofts website Transfer box section will tell you more. worth replacing any drain plug washer/seal with new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Twig Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 At risk of dredging up an old topic, does anyone know if it is possible to get one of these square plugs so I can swap it in for the irritating Torx bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 At risk of dredging up an old topic, does anyone know if it is possible to get one of these square plugs so I can swap it in for the irritating Torx bit? I would think a plumbers merchant. Or a scrappy that has some old series diffs lying about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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