Limited Slip Diff oil change

[11redrex]

Just been reading up on oils, particularly what the letters and numbers mean. It's all a bit confusing .

API = American Petroleum Institute. They set standards for oil performance.

SAE = Society of Automotive Engineers. They do the same thing, but use numbers to define the cold and hot viscosity (thickness) of oil.

SO, the manual says API GL5 for both axles OR SAE 80W-90 for the rear IF it's the LSD type. IS that right ?

 

[geoffdown]

hi guys just changed rear lsd, gearbox and front diff oil got to go back under to change the transfer box as didnt have enough as gearbox took more than 3.6l:doh
front diff abit tight to get oil in but is all done now for 36k miles

 

[Terranosaurus]

Just been reading up on oils, particularly what the letters and numbers mean. It's all a bit confusing .

API = American Petroleum Institute. They set standards for oil performance.

SAE = Society of Automotive Engineers. They do the same thing, but use numbers to define the cold and hot viscosity (thickness) of oil.

SO, the manual says API GL5 for both axles OR SAE 80W-90 for the rear IF it's the LSD type. IS that right ?

Both.

As you say the SAE is how thick, the API sets the performance standard.

GL5 oils are specced to take the shearing action associated with hypoid diffs (where the pinion is not cetral on the side of the crownwheel) these are much harder on the oil than conventional oils so for a complete list


2.7l diesel engine 6.2l 15w/40 with filter changed.

Rear diff 2.8l 80w/90 API GL5 LS

Front diff 1.3l 80w/90 API GL5

Gearbox 3.5l 75w/90 API GL4

transfer 2.3l type dexron or 2.3L 75w/90 API GL4 - see whats in yours and replace with the same, Dexron is red.

 

[11redrex]

righto, I was really just wondering what the difference was between the front and rear diff oils, if any.
The fitter at work reckons they should have the same oil in them, and he's coming out to replace the stinky oil in my track sprockets next week, so he should have some spare

 

[Terranosaurus]

righto, I was really just wondering what the difference was between the front and rear diff oils, if any.

The rear diff oil needs the friction modifiers in to allow the LSD to work properly. You can put the same oil in the front diff but as its 3-5 times as much to buy the LSD oil you may as well use ordinary GL5 Gear oil.

Most separate (not in the gearbox) diffs use GL5 oils as they have hypoid axles. IIRC the exception is Landrover. FWD transaxles don't turn the drive through 90 degrees so just use GL4. There are also GL3 oils for older gearboxes with brass parts that can be corroded by some of the additives in GL4/5 oils.

 

[geoffdown]

righto, I was really just wondering what the difference was between the front and rear diff oils, if any.
The fitter at work reckons they should have the same oil in them, and he's coming out to replace the stinky oil in my track sprockets next week, so he should have some spare

if ur rear diff is a lsd one then it needs coma ls80w-90 the front just needs 80w-90 but i put in front the left over ls 80w90 in as it is abetter grade of oil compared to the just 80w90 oil might get shouted at for doing that but cant c the harm unless some 1 can tell me different.

 

[geoffdown]

my coma ls80w90 oil only cost £2.99 + vat for 1L not bad really:thumb2

 

[11redrex]

well the oils not costing me anything, but I don't want to get into an argument with the fitter when I don't really know what I'm talking about
He's a very experienced mechanic, and he has about 20 landrovers, so it could be difficult convincing him he's wrong about the rear diff oil. He's a bit of a sulker too. I can just see him now throwing his tools back in the van and disappearing off down the lane.
I think I'll tell him I've already done the rear :augie

 

[solarman216]

I am getting confused here about LSD oil, it is not the quantity that the diff takes that determins if it is a LSD or not, as, as far as I can see they vary, when I did one recently, pulled the rear cover plate off looking for damage, found none but was interested to see the LSD plates, cover back on filled with LSD oil, do not know exactly how much it took but had two one liter containers and only used less than half of the second one, so less than 1.5 liters, now it could be that the diffs bolted in from the front could take more oil, I have not seen one yet to tell, Rick

 

[geoffdown]

I am getting confused here about LSD oil, it is not the quantity that the diff takes that determins if it is a LSD or not, as, as far as I can see they vary, when I did one recently, pulled the rear cover plate off looking for damage, found none but was interested to see the LSD plates, cover back on filled with LSD oil, do not know exactly how much it took but had two one liter containers and only used less than half of the second one, so less than 1.5 liters, now it could be that the diffs bolted in from the front could take more oil, I have not seen one yet to tell, Rick

my rear lsd bolts in from the front and took about 3.2 ish litres if that helps

 

[solarman216]

my rear lsd bolts in from the front and took about 3.2 ish litres if that helps

Yes it does, thanks, it is just what i figured, both LSD's but different oil capacities, Rick,,,,,one for Zippy to note

 

[briggie]

page 38 might help :nenau

http://bebrs.pie-dabas.net/Webs/Terrano/R20/ma.pdf

 

[geoffdown]

Yes it does, thanks, it is just what i figured, both LSD's but different oil capacities, Rick,,,,,one for Zippy to note

look here bout 6 posts down its says in this manual there r two lsd 1 with 1.3L and 1 with 2.8L guess thats what went in mine as might of over filled a bit:doh
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7033&highlight=diff