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bigfatsi



Member Since: 07 Sep 2018
Location: Teesside
Posts: 48

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Aintree Green
MTF or Dexron III?
I'm about to do a service on my 2003 TD5 110CSW.

Happy with EP90 for Transfer and Diffs, but I'm stuck on the gearbox oil.

Lots say MTF as do LR, but Ashcrofts (who I presume know a thing or two about GBs) say Dexron III.

I've got Dexron III in my cart at ECP right now. Any recomms before I hit BUY?

TIA

S
Post #758165 12th Feb 2019 2:26pm
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Mike c



Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Maldon, Essex
Posts: 904

England 2004 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Belize Green
Hi,

As far as I am aware, LR recommends MTF94 for the R380, which is what I used on last change for main gearbox.
I am sure other oils are suitable but I wanted to stick with what was recommended by LR.

Mike
Post #758175 12th Feb 2019 2:53pm
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andrewlandy



Member Since: 07 Feb 2016
Location: Graz
Posts: 82

Austria 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Alpine White
https://www.opieoils.co.uk/pv-1131-motul-g...Case%20Oil

I used this in Axles, transfer and gear box. Good oil and no waste.

Here is a useful post also on here

https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic8707.html
Post #758180 12th Feb 2019 3:15pm
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Tommo



Member Since: 19 Dec 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 830

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 Black LE Java Black
As with Mike C, MTF 94.
Post #758209 12th Feb 2019 5:41pm
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 3993

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
Have you asked Ashcroft why they recommend Dexron III? Can't really decide without knowing that. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #758212 12th Feb 2019 5:50pm
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4RF RDS



Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 890

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Epsom Green
As I recall... Back in the late 90s LRNA issued a tech bulletin saying either was good. Rolling Eyes After market rebuilders suggest the same though most seem to use MTL. Officially all LR product literature such as the owners handbook says MTL94.

I use MTL and found it shifts slightly smoother and runs quieter than Dex. JMTCW Thumbs Up 2010 Range Rover MkIII Autobiography Super Charged (Idris)
2003 Range Rover Mk III (Desmond FitzWilliam)
2000 Defender 110 CSW TD5 (CTX)
1992 Range Rover Classic (Lizzy)
1972 Series III 300 Tdi (Stanwood)
1967 MGB GT

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Post #758214 12th Feb 2019 6:15pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
We just changed to dextron iii on Dave's suggestion on r380 with difficult shift. Problem solved. Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #758266 12th Feb 2019 9:18pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5408

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Redline from opie oils. They are the specialist that know what oils are best for what job.

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1019-red-line...0-gl4.aspx

They recently made a post saying how poo and basic MTF is. Have a search and read.
Post #758296 12th Feb 2019 11:05pm
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bigfatsi



Member Since: 07 Sep 2018
Location: Teesside
Posts: 48

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Aintree Green
Thanks for the feedback guys.

Bluest wrote:
Have you asked Ashcroft why they recommend Dexron III? Can't really decide without knowing that.


I rang Ashcrofts yesterday to make sure as the 'answer' is a link and these can easily go astray, but they just said they recommend Dex III. No reasons why.

S
Post #758315 13th Feb 2019 8:50am
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5408

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Opie oils opinion on mtf


The genuine stuff s not that fancy, really it is just a slightly modified 10w-40 engine oil. Back then MTF's or 75w-80 oils were not readily available so a modified 10w-40 was used. This was also handy for Defenders across the globe as no matter where in the world they are, or how remote they just needed a 10w-40 engine oil, rather than having to find a specified gear oil that might bot be available.

So these days a good 75w-80 meeting API GL4 is ideal, but if you wanted to stick with the traditional stuff then the Millers Trident 10w-40 meets LandRover MTF94 https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60215-millers...0w-40.aspx
Post #758327 13th Feb 2019 10:06am
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Justtellme



Member Since: 23 Nov 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 305

Canada 2003 Defender 110 Td5 SW Oslo Blue
Isnt Dextron 111 an automatic transmission fluid?
Looking to change the oil in my R380, but want to ensure I pick the best available out there currently.
Patrick
Post #758425 13th Feb 2019 5:40pm
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4RF RDS



Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 890

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Epsom Green
Pat, yes Dex is ATF it works in the manual box as well. However... as I posted above LR says to use MTF(L) 94 (see owners handbook page below) I use Redline MTL, you can get it online or there is shop here in Ottawa that carries it as well.



Click image to enlarge
 2010 Range Rover MkIII Autobiography Super Charged (Idris)
2003 Range Rover Mk III (Desmond FitzWilliam)
2000 Defender 110 CSW TD5 (CTX)
1992 Range Rover Classic (Lizzy)
1972 Series III 300 Tdi (Stanwood)
1967 MGB GT

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Post #758428 13th Feb 2019 5:51pm
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ashtrans
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Member Since: 08 Nov 2008
Location: Harpenden
Posts: 252

United Kingdom 
bigfatsi wrote:
Thanks for the feedback guys.

Bluest wrote:
Have you asked Ashcroft why they recommend Dexron III? Can't really decide without knowing that.


I rang Ashcrofts yesterday to make sure as the 'answer' is a link and these can easily go astray, but they just said they recommend Dex III. No reasons why.

S


We just find that the ATF in the link on our FAQ's generally gets better shifts than MTF, oils are very subjective, either are OK but some people prefer one over another, Dave
Post #758505 13th Feb 2019 10:23pm
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MadTom



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 556

Czech Republic 1999 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Baltic Blue
There was change of LR specification - from Dextron 2 to MTF94 - it is in RAVE - Technical bulletin 0007 from 29. 03. 2000.
This is probably origin of confusion of right oil for R380 gearbox. There is also written to destroy th eold copies of manuals with old oil specification. This can work for paper manuals, but not for PDF files somewhere on net.

It has no connection to Ashcroft recomendation of Dextron 3 as better oil. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "BlufĂ­nek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo Smile
Post #758554 14th Feb 2019 8:46am
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