Built to Spill...

Well, I finally today got around to doing a job I'd been meaning to do for a while - replacing the oil in the main gearbox. Although it's fairly new, the smell tells me it's probably EP90. Many older gearboxes - certainly those on Land Rovers - don't like this stuff as the EP (extreme pressure) additives can damage phospher bronze components. I've no idea whether there are any in goddess gearboxes, however, looking at the EFS paperwork, it clearly states that the main and transfer boxes need AG90 (no EP additives) whilst the differentials etc need EP90. So with another bottle of Morris AG90 having arrived, I set about changing the oil after a good run to warm it up.

Now, when I did the transfer box in the summer, it was half the capacity. So, when the drain plug was removed, a tsunami of oil shot out - everywhere. Had I used my large drip pan? Nope. So having wrestled the plug back in, I set about trying to mop up lots of by now cold, sticky EP90. Masses of it! With that done, and as it was getting dark, I dropped the remainder and started the slow process of getting the new oil in - finishing in the dark!

Once I had slid it back in the barn, I then had to grovel for some detergent to try to remove the rather noticable oil slick from the concrete pan. Luckily, they had some 'Gunk' on the shelf so with a quick scrub and a hose down, I could go home.

Hopefully, there is no damage to the gearbox as it has been getting noisier. However, there was a good deal of metal residue in the oil as you can see from the picture. I'm hoping I've change it in time!