 | Home > Technical > Front Diff dark oil |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16884   
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Certainly very common, probably normal, and doesn't seem to be anything to worry about.
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8th Feb 2024 12:19pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4406
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As above it is pretty normal. The inner axle seals have failed allowing EP into the swivels, mixing with the one shot grease and returning to the axle.
Item number 7 on this diagram is usually the culprit. https://www.lrworkshop.com/diagrams/land-r...afts_44783 It is worth noting that the half shaft may have worn as well so just replacing the seal may not solve the problem. To replace the seal it is a swivel removal and replacement. The job is a good 4 to 5 spanner DIY job. |
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8th Feb 2024 12:26pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5423 
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Very normal. Especially if the swivels often get topped up. You never know the correct amount, so people top them up, they then have too much in them and that goes into diff oil.
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8th Feb 2024 1:29pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16884
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Is it really a problem? The axle is well lubricated, there's no evidence of which I am aware that a bit of one-shot in the diff, or EP90 in the CV, is remotely harmful, and nothing is leaking to the outside world. As long as the levels are checked periodically I'd suggest it's not a problem and there's no point splashing the cash on an unnecessary "repair". |
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8th Feb 2024 2:29pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4406
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You are not wrong Blackwolf, not wrong at all. The purist wouldn't want there to be shared lubrication but practically it shouldn't harm either the swivel or the differential. Especially since diff additive is basically CV grease and the swivels can run with EP in them... So, like you say, what's the problem in the end.
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8th Feb 2024 2:48pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 766 
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My personal opinion is that the one shot grease is a bad solution to lubricating the CVs and swivel bearings.it is less likely to leak but that masks another problem, water ingress. How are you supposed to drain and refill the swivels to remove any water contamination? You will never know and it will just sit there, damaging the CV and bearings until it is a problem. At least with oil you can drain and refill periodically, especially if you have been wallowing in water.
As it happens, just did this to my 110 yesterday and did find that the oil from one of the swivels came out looking a bit milky so just as well I was changing it anyway. As an experiment I am trying the swivels with a different oil this time. Series 1 land rovers spec EP140 for swivels and steering box/relay and seeing as I have bought some for the series 1 I thought I would give it a go in the 110. My swivels weep ever so slightly and I wonder if the thicker oil will reduce this? Probably not, but worth trying and still better than using the one shot grease as a 'fix'. In the long term I will replace the balls as there is some slight rust that is probably the cause but not bad enough to warrant a full strip down and replacement just yet.[/list] |
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8th Feb 2024 6:34pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 19579
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Am I correct in assuming that the swivels use the same grade oil as the axle?
Another issue with grease, is it can make a nasty grinding paste if it gets any contamination in it such as sand as an example. Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧 |
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8th Feb 2024 8:30pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 766
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If you are getting sand in your swivels then there is something serious wrong!
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8th Feb 2024 8:39pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3210  
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IIRC, old axles (200tdi and earlier) that used gear oil for both final drive/diff housing and swivels had the seal because the different height in levels.
On later axles, if that seal fails, gear oil can also migrate in the swivel housing... not bad, but the swivel seal might leak earlier than to when it is designed to leak  1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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8th Feb 2024 8:56pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16884
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Oil and sand is.just as deadly as.grease and sand, or, for that matter, sand on its own.
On Land-Rovers where oil is specified for the swivels, it is the same oil as specified for the axles with the exception of some very early S1 vehicles. |
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8th Feb 2024 8:57pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3210
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Ask whoever sanblasted a gearbox casing or an engine block and having some trapped media finding its way in the system. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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8th Feb 2024 9:29pm |
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| steveww Member Since: 05 Jan 2022 Location: Uppingham Posts: 537 
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Thanks for the comments.
One shot arrived in the post today. I will be checking the levels and topping as required. Apart from that I will leave well alone for the moment. |
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9th Feb 2024 6:21pm |
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| Screbble Member Since: 26 Apr 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2040 
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Don’t forget to turn the hub to full lock to make it easier to fill - it’ll be obvious when the filler plug is removed
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9th Feb 2024 7:02pm |
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| Ianh Member Since: 17 Sep 2018 Location: Essex Posts: 1768
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And , prior to opening of course, place the sachets of one shot in a pot of hot water to soften the grease so it’s easy to squeeze into the swivels.
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9th Feb 2024 7:24pm |
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