Front differential, rear differential, and transfer case fluid levels

[scottg]

There have been discussions about whether you fill the front and rear diff fluids up to the fill hole, or if you're supposed to fill both up to I think it was 23mm (or 31mm?) below the bottom of the fill holes -- I forget the actual values that were being bandied about.

Has anyone found confirmation from INEOS Automotive on this?

Can someone with access to the online manual (I'm still waiting for access, months now), see if there is a description of the refill process and what those levels should be?

Would like to confirm for the transfer case as well.

Not talking about the volume they're supposed to hold, just whether they're all supposed to be filled to the bottom of their fill holes, and if not, what's the spec?

Specify what MY you have, I think the manuals limit you to just the stuff that's part of your VIN sequence.

thanks!
/s.

 

[Tenac]

When I had mine done the tech told me they fill it to the bottom of the fill hole... Done that twice now on mine. Transfer case I didn't ask....

 

[Clark Kent]

There have been discussions about whether you fill the front and rear diff fluids up to the fill hole, or if you're supposed to fill both up to I think it was 23mm (or 31mm?) below the bottom of the fill holes -- I forget the actual values that were being bandied about.

Has anyone found confirmation from INEOS Automotive on this?

Can someone with access to the online manual (I'm still waiting for access, months now), see if there is a description of the refill process and what those levels should be?

Would like to confirm for the transfer case as well.

Not talking about the volume they're supposed to hold, just whether they're all supposed to be filled to the bottom of their fill holes, and if not, what's the spec?

Specify what MY you have, I think the manuals limit you to just the stuff that's part of your VIN sequence.

thanks!
/s.

There are no servicing procedures in our view of the docs portal.

For the diffs the only spec I've seen is the fill volume of 2.1 litres per axle. I don't know the original source. Another doc in circulation, maybe it came via @Logsplitter, is the level measurement below the filler holes. 32mm below for the front axle and 22mm below for the rear axle. That's an odd setup for sure. I suspect it was reverse engineered from 2.1 litres on a level surface. Most workshops have their bulk oils on pneumatic dispenser pumps. Some might be metered, probably never calibrated. The diff oil is common 80W-90 GL5. No busy workshop is going to measure out 2.1 litres into a graduated jug then manually put it in the axle. But if 'full' is not 'fill-to-spill' someone had to come up with a method to know when to stop pumping oil in from a trigger gun. You stop pumping at 22mm and 32mm below the holes and that's 2.1 litres. You measure it with a dip tool. I made a set of measures on Sunday to do my diffs. No way I can drop them into the hole. 20 mins work.

The transfer case is less straightforward because of the remote oil cooler. I opened a case with IA customer service on Sunday to supply a copy of the drain and fill procedure. Standing by...

If we talk about this some more our Chinese aftermarket friends will seize the opportunity and make replacement diff centre covers with the fill plugs at the correct height so we can go back to fill-to-spill.

 

[scottg]

There are no servicing procedures in our view of the docs portal.

For the diffs the only spec I've seen is the fill volume of 2.1 litres per axle. I don't know the original source. Another doc in circulation, maybe it came via @Logsplitter, is the level measurement below the filler holes. 32mm below for the front axle and 22mm below for the rear axle. That's an odd setup for sure. I suspect it was reverse engineered from 2.1 litres on a level surface. Most workshops have their bulk oils on pneumatic dispenser pumps. Some might be metered, probably never calibrated. The diff oil is common 80W-90 GL5. No busy workshop is going to measure out 2.1 litres into a graduated jug then manually put it in the axle. But if 'full' is not 'fill-to-spill' someone had to come up with a method to know when to stop pumping oil in from a trigger gun. You stop pumping at 22mm and 32mm below the holes and that's 2.1 litres. You measure it with a dip tool. I made a set of measures on Sunday to do my diffs. No way I can drop them into the hole. 20 mins work.

The transfer case is less straightforward because of the remote oil cooler. I opened a case with IA customer service on Sunday to supply a copy of the drain and fill procedure. Standing by...

If we talk about this some more our Chinese aftermarket friends will seize the opportunity and make replacement diff centre covers with the fill plugs at the correct height so we can go back to fill-to-spill.

The transfer case cooler is an issue for me, I want to drain and refill my transfer case before 9 or 10k miles, not confident in doing that yet. The diffs, I've read many posts, one person spoke with an INEOS rep or mechanic and they said 22 mm for front diff, 32 mm for rear, as you write above. I'm not certain that any mechanic randomly selected will realize that they need to fill Grenadier diffs to those specs, they'll fill to the bottom of the fill hole. So is it really 22mm for front, and 32mm for rear?

I've noticed over the last few decades that all vehicles essentially have settled on the same ways to arrange the windshield wipers, lights, and other stuff around the steering column. Having diffs that require fluid levels to be specific mm's below the fill holes kind of breaks things in a sense, because most mechanics will do what they have always done, fill to the bottom of the fill hole.

 

[Clark Kent]

I don't think the dimension is the key criteria. Put 2.1 litres in. If you cannot accurately dispense 2.1 litres then measure the height to the surface of the oil and adjust until it's correct. Like an old school engine dipstick.
I did my diffs on Monday. I drained them and got near enough to 2.1 litres out. I put 2.1 litres into a pump pack plus another 200ml for the trapped oil in the pump and hose. I pumped it all in then measured. Close enough to 32 and 22mm. I topped up maybe another 30ml each to hit the line on my redneck dipsticks.
A big oil transfer syringe would be the go. Prime the syringe and hose with oil. Bottom the plunger. Draw up 2.1 litres. Squirt it in. Close up. Sleep at night.

 

[Badger_4x4]

There are no servicing procedures in our view of the docs portal.

For the diffs the only spec I've seen is the fill volume of 2.1 litres per axle. I don't know the original source. Another doc in circulation, maybe it came via @Logsplitter, is the level measurement below the filler holes. 32mm below for the front axle and 22mm below for the rear axle. That's an odd setup for sure. I suspect it was reverse engineered from 2.1 litres on a level surface. Most workshops have their bulk oils on pneumatic dispenser pumps. Some might be metered, probably never calibrated. The diff oil is common 80W-90 GL5. No busy workshop is going to measure out 2.1 litres into a graduated jug then manually put it in the axle. But if 'full' is not 'fill-to-spill' someone had to come up with a method to know when to stop pumping oil in from a trigger gun. You stop pumping at 22mm and 32mm below the holes and that's 2.1 litres. You measure it with a dip tool. I made a set of measures on Sunday to do my diffs. No way I can drop them into the hole. 20 mins work.

The transfer case is less straightforward because of the remote oil cooler. I opened a case with IA customer service on Sunday to supply a copy of the drain and fill procedure. Standing by...

If we talk about this some more our Chinese aftermarket friends will seize the opportunity and make replacement diff centre covers with the fill plugs at the correct height so we can go back to fill-to-spill.

What do you mean "There are no servicing procedures in our view..."?

 

[Clark Kent]

What do you mean "There are no servicing procedures in our view..."?

Our 'view' is what we can see in the portal.

The access permissions that IA have granted excludes any servicing procedures. We get some general docs, the parts catalogue, the body repair manual, and a workshop manual. That's all remove and install docs. Nothing on servicing, inspections, adjustments, damage limits, etc. The workshop manual does include installation torques.