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Big Juss



Member Since: 03 Mar 2025
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 14
United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Bonatti Grey
R380 holes - please restore my sanity!
I was looking under my TD5 110 DCPU (to see where the oil was leaking from if I'm honest) and I saw 2 threaded holes without plugs!
I know, I know, everyone unfamiliar with Land Rovers seems to have a moment of panic when they first see this - so I check online and sure enough it's a hole to allow oil out so it doesn't foul the clutch etc - but I can't see anything about the second hole (I've marked each with a circle).
Please restore my sanity - could someone explain what both holes are for and if everything is ok?
Thanks in advance
Edit:

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Post #1065884 19th Apr 2025 7:03pm
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bankz5152



Member Since: 02 Feb 2017
Location: South London/North Kent
Posts: 2213
 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Epsom Green
Drain plugs to let stuff out when stuff has gotten in. Replace them.
Post #1065889 19th Apr 2025 7:23pm
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Big Juss



Member Since: 03 Mar 2025
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 14
United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Bonatti Grey
So you're saying that there should be plugs in them all the time?
Post #1065890 19th Apr 2025 7:34pm
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bankz5152



Member Since: 02 Feb 2017
Location: South London/North Kent
Posts: 2213
 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Epsom Green
Correct
Post #1065891 19th Apr 2025 7:40pm
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Big Juss



Member Since: 03 Mar 2025
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 14
United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Bonatti Grey
Thanks for your help! Sorry for the repeated questions - will this have harmed my gearbox? It's tricky going into 2nd when cold - separate issue?
Post #1065893 19th Apr 2025 7:43pm
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htb2



Member Since: 02 Nov 2018
Location: Carmarthenshire
Posts: 547
Wales 
I leave red bottom one out. The higher blue circled one i leave plug in, Its to allow setting engine to TDC.
Post #1065894 19th Apr 2025 7:46pm
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Big Juss



Member Since: 03 Mar 2025
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 14
United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Bonatti Grey
Perfect, I'll order a plug in that case. You've set my mind at rest! Thanks
Post #1065895 19th Apr 2025 7:58pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2736
Scotland 
Drain plug (lower one) should only be fitted when wading or for heavy mud work. Leave it out the rest of the time so you can spot any leaks.
Post #1065896 19th Apr 2025 8:01pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5902
2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Leave both plugs in permanently and remove lower one on a service to check.

There is an oblong hole at front of bell housing that remains open all the time check this is clear. Poking a cable tie up works well for this.

That is how it was designed to be used.

No plugs in there won’t have caused any gearbox issues, and being tight going into gears when isn’t a rare problem. Get an oil change done on the box, and see what it’s like. But these boxes just like you to take your time to change gear. Thumbs Up Thumbs Up



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Post #1065907 20th Apr 2025 6:56am
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Grouse



Member Since: 16 Apr 2012
Location: on the hill
Posts: 531
On earlier Land Rovers - it specifically stated in the handbook to leave the drain plugs out and to only install them if wading or extreme off-road conditions.

This was to allow any oil that had seeped out into the bell housing to drain out and not contaminate the clutch plate.

The plugs were also in early 90’s and 110’s stored from new in the toolkit roll.
Post #1065912 20th Apr 2025 8:32am
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5902
2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Yes. Earlier ones told to leave out, later ones leave in. Don’t think the early boxes has the extra little drain like R380
Post #1065916 20th Apr 2025 9:08am
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rustandoil



Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 824
England 2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS DCPU Bonatti Grey
My Series 2 has a neat little bracket to store the plug when not in use 😎
Post #1065923 20th Apr 2025 12:19pm
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