bert Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I've recently serviced my V8 90 and ever since it's been leaking oil from the gearbox. So it's now leaving about a quids worth a day on the drive. Box was level filled on level ground. The most obvious (and hopefully only) place for this leak is oil seems to be dripping down from the breather hoses that come up onto the bulkhead. But it's doing a lovely job of preserving the front cross member . I've used it a few times now and each time it chucks the oil out. Although the 90 is a 1988 model it has the engine and gearbox out of a 110 from about 1992. From what I can establish it's an R380 gearbox judging by pictures showing the T55 torx filler fitting above the drain plug which are approached from the drivers side and reverse gear is directly below 5th. I've put Unipart MTF 94 into it as advised and bought from Landranger services. Anyone had the same problem or got any advice on how to sort it would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboy Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Bert, I can't see how a properly filled box can generate pressure to force oil up the breathers... Actually, I can't see how the oil would get to the inlet for the breather either because they are not "in oil" on the casing. If the symptom is oil on the crossmember and the driveway, I would think it is more likely coming out of the bellhousing, in which case you might have a worn seal on the mainshaft? Possibly, the old oil level was below the seal and the seal has run dry and worn... You have then filled it up to the proper level and the oil is passing the seal now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 But it's doing a lovely job of preserving the front cross member . I've used it a few times now and each time it chucks the oil out. if you have oil on the FRONT cross member then it's more likely to be power steering fluid & not from the main gearbox, check the steel pipes that are clipped to the rear face of the front cross member, the steel clips rub through & cause leaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 Thanks for the advice both. I've looked at it again and as always the ends of the breather hoses are wet with oil and there is a trail of it that runs directly below them. Some of the oil had even got caught on the back of the bulkhead in a tiny pool . I've previously been wiping it away to check it is coming from there. I'm certain it's oil, even when it started I could smell the gear oil before I even saw it. It's also nice and clean whereas the steering fluid is filthy old stuff that needs changing (part of a very long list). My only other thought is whethetr there it a breather from the transfer box that's leaking it out. Would it be possible that a breather hose has sunk too low in the box and is picking it up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Would it be possible that a breather hose has sunk too low in the box and is picking it up? No, the breather hoses are attached to a brass banjo fitting that screws into the box above the oil level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboy Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Bert, I'm still slightly at a loss. It is worth trying to confirm which breather it is... I can't imagine the oil seal between main and transfer boxes is bad enough that you could have filled the transfer box to the top via the main box but it would be worth pulling the transfer level plug to see if you get a gallon of oil up your arm. It may also be worth pulling both the level plugs (main and transfer) and blowing back down the breather pipes to check they are clear... or not submerged... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 To prove it is the breathers you could put a catch bottle under each of them. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 OK I will pull the plugs and hopefully not drown in oil to see if it's transferring. I didn't think of that . Then as soon as I liberate some containers from the kitchen tonight after she's gone to bed I can try and fix them to the breathers to see what's going where. I've spoken to a couple of local mechanics I know about this. One just couldn't give any suggestions but one who's ex military said that it may be some sort of blockage causing a vacuum or that the oil may not have settled properly after re-filling as the plug should be left out for some time after. I'll post with the results ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 it may be some sort of blockage causing a vacuum or that the oil may not have settled properly after re-filling as the plug should be left out for some time after. Was he smoking anything at the time? Sorry but both of those sound rather random - oil being liquid kinda settles itself, and the breather being basically an open bit of pipe I don't see how it can create a vacuum that would eject oil from the box to the atmosphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 as you have a R380 & a seperate LT230 transferbox, it's very unlikely to be a cross feed of oil from one to t'other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Was he smoking anything at the time? Sorry but both of those sound rather random - oil being liquid kinda settles itself, and the breather being basically an open bit of pipe I don't see how it can create a vacuum that would eject oil from the box to the atmosphere. Well we were in a pub drinking some very good local stuff ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 If you've oil coming out of the breather then it sounds like the box is filled to the top ! Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Fatboy and Mo, you were both onto something there. I added some plastic bottles to the end of the breather hoses. (See pic) But before taking it for a drive I thought I'd check the level in the transfer box (as suggested) as when it went for an MOT I asked them to check the oil levels as I had been busy working. Anyway I took out the level plug and nearly drowned in oil ! . There must have been over two litres too much in it. Naturally I'd forgotten to think ahead and have something to hand to catch the oil but after scrambling into the workshop and back I still caught well over a litre in the bucket. There is a suspect bolt towards the top of the transfer box that has a spot of oil under it and my guess is they've filled it through that. I've been out in it since and not a drop in the oil and oil isn't running onto the floor from the front cross member. Still I suppose it was like having a Scottoiler for a Land Rover! It's given me my next task now to figure why it's kangarooing and the petrol light flashes on when it feels like. Me thinks it's time those carbs were stripped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Result! I was wondering how you got on so thanks for posting the result! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 blimey, somebody wasted money by filling it too the top, no wonder it was squirting oil all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Yes was a bit of waste, but he didn't charge very much at all really and he charged me trade price for MOT, with an offer of free parts for my XR4x4 project. That and ear ache that I should have done it myself and need to underseal it etc. Thanks to all who've contibuted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 good to read the truck is feeling much better & you too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Did you check the level in the main box too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert Posted February 16, 2008 Author Share Posted February 16, 2008 Yes I did check it and was full to the fill level plug so doesn't seem like there's any problems there. I took it for a drive and there was no oil in the bottles fitted and none of the usual puring of oil underneath. There must have been loads in there under pressure to come out of the breather. It rewarded me with a new puzzle by running like a bag of nails, kangerooing popping spluttering. Got a fuelling problem to look at next I think. I've checked the engine oil too as there's a bit of a leak from the front end I think too but they've topped that up too much and is above the max mark! As the old saying goes if you need it done properly you got to do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Good show, Bert ! Glad you've sorted it Well, that bit anyway Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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