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Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 6:26 pm
by al & chris
Anyone know what the oil change intervals are on both the Diffs and Autobox on a 4wd bongo
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 6:35 pm
by Northern Bongolow
dont know off hand what the intervals are, but do it.

, i used a modern oil called syntran 2, its 100,000 miles before next change, it will do the transfer box on the 4wd, the diffs, and a manual box, but not your auto box.
the difference it makes is very noticeable.
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 7:30 pm
by Simon Jones
60000 miles for the diffs and every 24000 miles or 2 years for the ATF (along with brake fluid and coolant if using the standard stuff).
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 1:32 am
by al & chris
Thanks looks like its time to do them
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 1:36 am
by al & chris
Northern Bongolow wrote:dont know off hand what the intervals are, but do it.

, i used a modern oil called syntran 2, its 100,000 miles before next change, it will do the transfer box on the 4wd, the diffs, and a manual box, but not your auto box.
the difference it makes is very noticeable.
Do you know how much they take?
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 11:06 am
by Simon Jones
2.6 litres for 4WD or 1.4 litres for 2WD. I use Havoline branded oil from Euro Car Parts which is good value when they do their promo deals.
Factsheet:
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... ential.pdf
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:37 am
by NathM
4 wd Drive takes more than 2.6 Litres! That sounds like you've forgotten 1 of the diffs! Front n Rear are about 1.4-1.6 each then the transfter box, which is abt 1.2, so more like 4.5 in total
Nath
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:53 am
by mikeonb4c
NathM wrote:
4 wd Drive takes more than 2.6 Litres! That sounds like you've forgotten 1 of the diffs! Front n Rear are about 1.4-1.6 each then the transfter box, which is abt 1.2, so more like 4.5 in total
Nath
From this and other posts, this guy clearly knows his Bongos. A welcome addition to the Bongo Tribe

Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:15 pm
by Simon Jones
NathM wrote:
4 wd Drive takes more than 2.6 Litres! That sounds like you've forgotten 1 of the diffs! Front n Rear are about 1.4-1.6 each then the transfter box, which is abt 1.2, so more like 4.5 in total
Nath
My point of reference is the factsheet:
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... ential.pdf
"
The front diff takes 1.2 litres, and the rear diff 1.4 litres." which by my dodgy maths is a total of 2.6.
I have drained/refilled the rear twice, each time using 2 x 1 litre bottles & had some left over afterwards. If you can get more than that in then it's a sign that the seals are shot and the half shafts are filled with oil. The transfer box was not mentioned on the original post & I've no idea what it's capacity is.
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:50 pm
by mikeWalsall
Mine is a petrol so only 2WD ..
Out of curiosity I checked in the workshop manual .. yes it says 1.2 litres front and the 1.4 litres for the rear .. but strangely no mention or even illustrations of the transfer box ..
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 3:25 pm
by NathM
If your flushing your front and rear diff, you should be doing the same for the transfer box. Whilst not under same strain as the diffs, check your magnetic plug and you'll see just as much crud n 'swarf' stuck to it! and tho simple by design (big chain+cogs), its an integral part for the functionality of the 4wd and just as importantant as either of the diffs.
Was just pointing out that before someone goes and buys 2.6-3 litres, then drains ALL the fluids and finds they're a long way short!!
And yes Mike very odd that it isnt mentioned, tho if you talk to any garages that carry out servicing, its common practice to flush the transfer box during a 'full' service.
Nath
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:20 pm
by mikeWalsall
I have an LPG Estima and the LPG Bongo as both are 2WD I have never had any thing to do with 4WD ..
I've had my Emmy getting on for nine rust free / trouble free years ..
I fancied a 'camper van rather than a day van .. so before I bought the Bongo I did what any prospective buyer should do .. research ..!!
I know only the diesels come as 4WD .. but at the time seeing the use of a Morse chain driving the front wheels seemed a bit iffy to me .. but in the two years on this Forum I can't recall reading about many transfer box problems ..
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:33 pm
by NathM
mikeWalsall wrote:I know only the diesels come as 4WD .. but at the time seeing the use of a Morse chain driving the front wheels seemed a bit iffy to me .. but in the two years on this Forum I can't recall reading about many transfer box problems ..
I agree and i've only ever seen 1 thats developed a problem as the chain is kinda big! but i'm just giving advice from working on them, if your flushing the diffs why wouldnt you do the transfer box? to save yourself a few quid on couple of litres of gb oil?
pull the plug on transfer box and there's usually more on the magnet than in most diffs, all comes down to personal choices and i personally wouldnt change the oil in only 1 diff (during a full service) so the way i view it, not changing a lubricant can only lead to problems down the line! and whilst the transfer box doesnt work as hard as the diffs, if there's oil in it the first place, it needs changing like any fluid!
nath
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 10:22 pm
by Simon Jones
I must admit that in 5+ years of 4WD ownership I never once changed the transfer box oil

. It's got to be least well known item on the service schedule. I don't recall seeing anything in the factsheets about draining, refilling or what oil to use. One factsheet mentioned changing it every 50,000 miles, but I think we may have an opening for someone to create a factsheet here?
Re: Diff and Gearbox oil
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:38 am
by mikeWalsall
This is some relevant servicing info from the Russian site ..
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... %26id%3D68