Land Rover Defender Puma 2.4 TDCi: check gearbox, transfer & axle oil levels
Transmission · Defender (1990–2016) · 2007–2011
How often: every 12,000 mi or year, whichever comes first. Low oil in the transfer box or diffs wears gears and bearings quickly.
Main gearbox
MT82 6-speed: GL-4 75W-90 (MTF 94 or equivalent); ≈2.2 L service fill, 2.4 L dry (owner forums quoting the workshop manual)
Transfer box
LT230: 80W-90 (GL-4 recommended), 2.30 L
Differentials
80W-90 (Castrol EPX): front 1.70 L; rear 1.70 L (Rover axle, 90) or 2.26 L (Salisbury, 110/130)
Work safely: support the vehicle on axle stands, never a jack alone; let it cool first. Check figures against your workshop manual. You do this work at your own risk.
Parts
Gear oil / ATF top-up
Tools
Spanners
Oil pump
Step by step
Park level. Remove the level plugs on the gearbox, transfer box and both diffs in turn and top up each.
Check the transfer box output seals: oil leaking onto the handbrake drum (rear of the transfer box) stops the handbrake working.
Check the axle and gearbox breather pipes are not kinked or blocked.
More Land Rover Defender Puma 2.4 TDCi servicing
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