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Dark diff oil.
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Philip1972
 


Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 4
Dark diff oil.

Opinions required please!

2011 D4. 82k miles.

Had a whine 5000 miles ago, and wasn't sure what it was. So I changed the front diff oil. It was black, but didn't smell burnt or really bad. Turns out the whine was the wheel bearing, so thought not to worry, at least the diff oil has been changed.

Cue 5000 miles, and I decide that while doing the engine oil etc, I would do the rear diff and transfer box, as it was due. Also re did the front, as I had to buy 2 litres anyway, so why not.

Transfer box oil was darkish, but otherwise OK, not bad for the miles. Rear diff was still golden, but changed none the less (rear could have been done prior me buying of course).

But the front, with 5000 miles on since last change, was black, or at least quite dark, even though only recently changed.

I have read that the inside of diff is painted black, so it could be that.

There was the usual swarf on the plug on the first change, but nothing on the second and no big lumps of metal or anything unusual.


Now, I have no symptoms of diff issues, car drives as it should. But I wondered why it has gone dark so quickly?

Thanks
  
Post #187822611th Nov 2017 11:02 am
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Philip1972
 


Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 4

PS, the first font diff oil change used 75/90, but not the syntrax long life. I was in France and couldnt get any, if that could make a difference.
  
Post #187822811th Nov 2017 11:16 am
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OJ
 


Member Since: 01 Oct 2017
Location: Loch Leven
Posts: 725

Scotland 

Wouldn’t worry too much, there’s always a bit of oil residue left when you drain out which will mix with the fresh oil, depends whats been used in the past, possibly an additive like Molly Slip or graphite additive, if there’s no issues and you’ve used the correct grade and quantity of oil i would be tempted to leave it.
OJ Thumbs Up
  
Post #187822911th Nov 2017 11:16 am
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disco4ever
 


Member Since: 23 Dec 2013
Location: under the car
Posts: 402

Germany 2012 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

more important than the colour of the oil is the look of the magnetic plug.

if there is a lot of abrasion debris / metal flakes I would worry
 Achim

own garage certified LR tech

Disco 2 TD5 MY 2001 - gone but still driven by another owner
Defender 110 TD5 driving me bananas with all faults
Disco 3 TDV 6 HSE MY 2005 gone @280.000 km
Disco 4 SDV 6 HSE MY 2012 
 
Post #187824111th Nov 2017 11:45 am
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OJ
 


Member Since: 01 Oct 2017
Location: Loch Leven
Posts: 725

Scotland 
Re: Dark diff oil.

Philip1972 wrote:


There was the usual swarf on the plug on the first change, but nothing on the second and no big lumps of metal or anything unusual.

Now, I have no symptoms of diff issues, car drives as it should. But I wondered why it has gone dark so quickly?

Thanks


Think he said above that there was none Thumbs Up
  
Post #187824211th Nov 2017 11:51 am
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dlgis
 


Member Since: 02 Oct 2015
Location: Tunbridge Wells
Posts: 398

United Kingdom 2012 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 GS Auto Indus SilverDiscovery 4

I changed the diff oils on mine at 51k miles (its 12MY) and both front and rear oils were like new and would've lasted a lot longer without a change. No diiference in colour between front and rear.
 D4 GS 12MY  
Post #187828111th Nov 2017 2:11 pm
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Pete K
 


Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10336

England 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Rimini RedDiscovery 3

i've taken oil out at over 100K and it was still golden.

bit of muck at the bottom of the rear.
  
Post #187831011th Nov 2017 4:45 pm
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Pete K
 


Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10336

England 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Rimini RedDiscovery 3

removed
  
Post #187831911th Nov 2017 4:48 pm
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Leon
 


Member Since: 26 Apr 2014
Location: Leamington Spa
Posts: 424

England 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 Base 7 Seat Manual Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

I had front diff noise.

Drained front diff oil and it came out the same colour as melted milk chocolate and the rear looked fine.

Had the diff re-built and all now fine.

Can't work out why it came out that colour?

Also diff breather was blocked.
  
Post #187849812th Nov 2017 9:17 am
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OJ
 


Member Since: 01 Oct 2017
Location: Loch Leven
Posts: 725

Scotland 

Good point about the breather Thumbs Up
  
Post #187850212th Nov 2017 9:22 am
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Disco_Mikey
 


Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20713

Scotland 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Cairns BlueDiscovery 3

Leon wrote:
I had front diff noise.

Drained front diff oil and it came out the same colour as melted milk chocolate and the rear looked fine.

Had the diff re-built and all now fine.

Can't work out why it came out that colour?

Also diff breather was blocked.


Water ingress
 My D3 Build Thread

TDV8 Retrofit Build Thread 
 
Post #187850512th Nov 2017 9:48 am
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Pete K
 


Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10336

England 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Rimini RedDiscovery 3

yeap, it will go that colour if the water has mixed with oil.

Maybe thru the breather ?
  
Post #187850912th Nov 2017 10:28 am
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Geoff at Drym
 


Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 584

England 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Java BlackDiscovery 3

Had my diff oils changed a little while back, Rear was clean and golden, front was black and lots of swarfe on the magnetic plug.
Bought a bearing kit and had it fitted to the front diff. There is a bearing in here which is prone to wear and this proved to be the case. The case hardening (or whatever) on the rollers had broken down.
Certainly a lot quieter now.
All this at around 98,000 miles.
Also you need to change the diff breather for the later modified one as the original gets blocked and you get overheating of the diff.
 2007 Disco3 2.7 tdv6 SE
gvif with reversing camera
V8 brakes with new EPB module and shoes
Later D4 grille
Alive tuning remap
Mazda MX5
Ferguson ted20 tractor
Hyundai Getz 1.4 (wife's ) 
 
Post #187851512th Nov 2017 10:49 am
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sean 471
 


Member Since: 26 Apr 2011
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2990

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 Pursuit LE Auto Java BlackDiscovery 3

I have a droning from the front that goes off when I take my foot off the accelerator. Any pointers if this was the front diff bearings?
  
Post #187853812th Nov 2017 11:56 am
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Philip1972
 


Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 4

Hi Geoff,

Any pointers about changing the breather?

When did the new type start to be fitted?
  
Post #187854212th Nov 2017 12:59 pm
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