There has been significant discussion about the failed pinion bearing for the rear differential but there hasn't been a lot of discussion about upgrading the fluid in the differential.

Standard disclaimers apply: preform this modification at your own risk.



Summary of what I did for my LR2 (Freelander 2)


http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic14659-15.html

For reference (approximate mileage)

40,000 miles I first hear the noise of the bearing the dealer indicates that they can't duplicate the problem

50,000 miles warranty ends, I change the fluid in the differential (the old fluid is full of small air bubbles, it should have been changed sooner)

55,000 miles I place a strong magnet on the fill bolt of the differential (some magnetic particles are attracted to the bolt)

80,000 miles switch to a drain plug with the magnet built in (clean periodically to remove magnetic particles)

90,000 miles the drain plug magnet is nearly free of magnetic particles

110,000 miles the pinion bearing is silent and the magnet is not collecting much magnetic dust


It appears that the changes that I made did extend the life of my pinion bearing.

Note: I didn't fix it I just made it wear out more slowly.


Two significant changes were made to extend the bearing life

1. Magnetized the fill bolt for the differential

2. Switched to a synthetic fluid for the gear oil and I had to special order it because it is intended for use in heavy trucks and mining equipment (it wasn't expensive, it was just difficult to find)


The purpose of this post is to discuss the second change the gear oil

Mobil Delvac 1 Gear Oil 75W90

http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/heav...-axle.aspx


I chose this gear oil based on several different criteria

1. Application information from Mobil indicates that "....extreme pressures and shock loading are expected"

2. Mercedes specified it for use in the differential of the sprinter Van "MB-Approval 235.8"

3. Its a synthetic gear oil which should help with low temperature preformance


I wasn't expecting the gear oil and the magnet to work for over 50,000 miles, I was only hoping to extend the life of the pinion bearing enough to allow for me to find a repair solution that is less expensive than the dealer.


What makes Mobil Delvac gear oil so special


I haven't scoured the internet to understand the EP additive package but I think that it is likely that this gear oil has more EP additives because it is intended to provide protection for metal to metal contact.

Here are a couple standard from a heavy truck maker MAN

MAN 342 Typ M2 (Mobil Delvac 75W-90 meets this standard)

MAN 341 Typ E3 (Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 meets this standard)


If you open these standards you will find the following description

MAN 342 Typ M2 extreme pressure gear oil

MAN 341 Typ E3 high pressure gear oil


Here is a link to other Gear oils that meet the Man 342 Typ M2 Spec

http://www.truckstar.com.ua/man%20blatt/MA...0M2_en.pdf

Any of these extreme pressure gear oils should work, but my preference is to use a synthetic 75W-90 instead of an 80W-90 for improved performance in the cold weather.

List of 75W-90 Gear oils that meet the MAN 342 Type M2 specification
* Chevron RPM Synthetic Gear Lubricant
* Mobil Delvac 1 Gear Oil 75W-90
* Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 (same as above, just a name change for marketing reasons)
* Texaco Syn-Star GL 75W-90

More information for Gear Oils

Bob is the oil Guy (a great site for all lubrication related information)
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthrea...0_Gear_OIl

White paper comparing gear oils
http://www.goodsenseoil.com/G2457-GearOilWhitePaper.pdf


Please use this topic to discuss anything related to the gear oil.

Happy Motoring

Paul

Where it can be purchased ? Ive searched google and got nowhere. Jules

Email millers oil technical in Yorkshire and ask about it and their views. Let us know how you get on. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Jules,

Delvac may be unobtainable for you.

A better choice may be what Yorky Bob referenced


Any of these should be a good choice

SYNTRAN EE 75W90 GL5 - http://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/syntran-ee-75w90-gl5/614

Liqui Moly 1407 Hypoid Gear TDL SAE 75 W-90 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJ29FX8/ref...42+type+m2

Mobilube 1 SHC https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobil-142382-Mobi...lube+1+SHC


These meet the spec or are reccomended for

MAN 341 Typ M3 http://www.truckstar.com.ua/man%20blatt/MA...0M3_en.pdf

The Delvac meets MAN 341 Typ M2 (unfortunately I don't know the difference between the M2 and M3 spec)

Both of these specifications are considered Extreme Pressure gear oils

So these should be very good choices and they are available to you.

Note: the SYNTRAN isn't listed on the MAN approval sheet but it does list the MAN spec on its data sheet (if Millers Oil is a trusted source then that would be good enough for me)



If you do contact Millers you can ask them about the product shown above that they sell (SYNTRAN) and get their opinion for our application

Happy Motoring

Paul

Thanks Paul for all the info - i will look into it Jules

Some more information

This gear oil seems like a good choice as well

Valvoline Heavy Duty TDL Pro 75w-90 Full Synthetic Gear Oil - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valvoline-Heavy-D...npower+tdl

And the data sheet has good information

http://www.valvolineeurope.com/english/pro...tdl_75w-90

click on the link and download the PDF

Approvals/Performance levels (from the data sheet)
SAE 75W-90
API GL-3,4,5
API MT-1
MAN 341 type E3 (Eaton manual transmissions).
MAN 341 Type Z2 (ZF manual transmissions).
MAN 342 type M3 (Rear axles & transfer cases) Former MAN M3343
MB 235.8
MIL-PRF-2105 E
Scania STO 1:0
Volvo 97312

At least this tells us what the M3 spec is for (Rear axles & transfer cases)

I still not sure about M2

Also from the Valvoline datasheet "Not suitable for limited slip applications"

This looks like a very good choice also

And it is available to you.

Good Luck

Paul

Hi Paul

Your link shows the oil below listed with the Delvac 1 and appears quite similar (knowing absolutely nothing about oil!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00307...QVK90UAMQF

Is this one a fair choice also?

Thanks...

DE1979,

The SHC and the Delvac are not the same but the difference may be very minor and it may not even be important for our application.

If you look at the picture below you will see that the Delvac is approved for more specifications, this doesn't mean that its better just that Mobil submitted it to more manufacturers for approval

The SHC is an excellent choice

I wouldn't hesitate to use it

Click image to enlarge

For those of us in the US a good place to buy the Delvac 75W-90 include (Note: the 1 galon size is the smallest that I've found)

search for: Delvac 75w90

https://www.amazon.com

https://www.walmart.com

https://www.zoro.com


The last link has free shipping and a promo (ending today unfortunately) for 20% off

Promo code: treatfleet

I just ordered another gallon (Thanks TX for the question)


If you are not in the US and you can't find the Delvac then the Mobilube SHC may be just as good or even better

Happy Motoring

Paul

A question, a little bit off-topic:
What do you think of replacing the front gearbox (transfer case) oil, that is Castrol BOT118 75W90 with the same Delvac 75W90? Both seem to be GL5...

Alex, I can see no reason why the rear diff & the front transfer case can't use those oils but I'm sure others will also have their own opinions.

Nick (Now Sold). 2008 Freelander 2 (Nazca Sand) SE TD4 Auto. Statutory write off & on WOVR for hail damage but still road legal.
171037Km as of 09/05/22
Superchips Bluefin Flash
Nanocom Evo II (also sold)

Alex and Badger,

I agree the Delvac or SHC should work fine in the front power transfer units as well.

If I remember right Yorky Bob contacted Millers (Oil specialist) and they indicated that the BOT anti foaming specification was of no concern because all modern gear oils have sufficient anti foaming additives.

The next time I change the oil in the power transfer unit I will use Delvac

Thanks

Paul

That magnetized fill bolt is a good idea, Paul.
Where did you get it (company selling it, what was the item number)?
Thanks,
Peter. The quick brown fox

Peter,

The part I bought is from a company called Dimple.

http://drainplugmagnets.com/volvo.php

M18X1.5X12

VOLVO MANUAL TRANSMISSION, FILL AND DRAIN PLUG

REAR DIFFERENTIAL, FILL AND DRAIN PLUG

If you look at the description

M18 (is the size of the bolt 18 mm)

1.5 is the the thread pitch in mm

12 is the length (not counting the head)





I did check the casting to see if a longer bolt could be used and it looks like there are many threads available.






Take a look at this drain plug, it is available on Amazon UK and it should work for our application

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gold-Plug-AP-05S-...drain+plug

If the link doesn't work then just search Amazon UK for

Gold Plug AP-05S Porsche Boxster Magnetic Sump Plug Oil Drain Bolt


If you do get this part then post your results here.

Here is the plug manufactures web site in case you want to get the part from a vendor that is not Amazon

http://goldplug.com/dealers/

Good Luck

Paul

Thanks for the precise information, Paul.
I see there's a UK distributor.
I will check up, and post back on here.
Best,
Peter. The quick brown fox