I know this is a constantly ongoing topic but why is the transfer case fluid in the L322 a Land Rover "Special" oil?

I know Shell TF0753 or Castrol BOT FBM1 are both suitable alternatives, the Castrol actually being a manual transmission oil but my local motor factors dont stock them because "people wont buy them because of the price" apparently, plus they are a Comma Oils retailer. As an alternative and after the computer said YES, he got me two litres of Comma MVMTF Plus 75W which is a fully synthetic GL4 spec gear oil. He says thats Comma's gear oil for LR's and that it meets Land Rover specs, and it does state on the bottle "Recommended by Comma for BMW, Ford, Land Rover & VAG group applications where 75W GL4 oil is specified"

Its not my first oil spec headache having had Merc, VW, BMW, Jeep and even my JCB all specifying their own "special" oils yet the local motor fators and agri suppliers are always like "yeah, ok here's what you need" and even my indi LR specialist doesnt use any special fluids, just a 75W90 GL4 for the transfer case and a 75W90 GL5 for the diffs.

So getting to the nitty gritty.....

1. why is the LR special oil different to any other 75W GL4
2. do any of you knowledgeable folks use alternative fluids in your transfer cases? Current collection :

2007 Vogue TDV8 Stornoway grey, black on black
1982 JCB Sitemaster (resto)
1970 MGB
BMW R1200GS

The transfer case has clutch plates so its more than just a gearbox. I'm about to change to Ravenol TF-0870 in the transfer case. I've used Ravenol MDL in the rear e-diff for the last 2 changes.

I use this...

https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tra...r-box-oil/ Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Hi guys,
I want to change my rear (and later front) diff oil on my L322 2012 TDV8 4.4, so it's an e-diff.

BOT 720 and Castrol SAF carbon Plus are impossible to find easily in france
I can't order from GB because it's a customs nightmare...

I can get RAVENOL MDL from germany (expensive, but hey I put myself here when I bought the full fat )
Is it a suitable alternative ?
do you guys have the latest insight on the subject ?


Cheers
Sylvain "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"

Yep, that's listed as an equivalent to TYK500070 which is the correct spec.
Confusingly they list VSG SAE 75W90 as also equivalent to BOT720 and TYK500010 but that is Castrol SAF-XO which is for front and non-variable rear differentials.

Have you looked at Mobil lubricants, https://www.mobil.fr/fr-fr/b2c-recommendat...WGld/1/b2c they might be more easily available, Mobil Delvac 1 Gear Oil LS 75W-90 appears to be correct but I'd email them to check first.

ergobyte wrote:

Hi guys,
I want to change my rear (and later front) diff oil on my L322 2012 TDV8 4.4, so it's an e-diff.

BOT 720 and Castrol SAF carbon Plus are impossible to find easily in france
I can't order from GB because it's a customs nightmare...

I can get RAVENOL MDL from germany (expensive, but hey I put myself here when I bought the full fat )
Is it a suitable alternative ?



Cheers
Sylvain

Thank you all,
So to synthesise for future readers

for the rear (e-diff) on a 2012 TDV8 4.4:

the JLR reference :
TYK500070. This part has been superseded by the following parts LR019727 (LR019727 - Land Rover Oil - Hypoid)

Equivalents if you can't find them:
Castrol SAF carbon Plus
BOT 720
Ravenol MDL

Potentially:
Mobil Delvac 1 Gear Oil LS 75W-90 (to be confirmed)

Cheers
Sylvain "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"