ARB Diff Locks, What is normal?

[ARB 4X4 Accessories Corporate Member Find all posts View Profile Close ARB 4X4 Accessories]

Hi Mule, how did you go with your local ARB? Happy to assist where I can if there is still an issue.

Cheers, Sam.

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Hi Mule , I have had a rear diff lock fitted for around 100 000 km . No Problems with metal partials .Changing oil every 5000km seems a bit excessive ?I use Castrol Axle EPX 85W-140 and change every 20000 .Buy a Tom Thumb pump from super cheap .Makes the job easy.
The only issue I have had was, the compressor died after a river crossing when water got into the motor and the oil collects at the compressor from the air line after a while .
Get it looked at .

Cheers Russ

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

OK, dropped the Prado into the store where my rear Air Locker was fitted just on 12 mths ago. Apart from what looks to be a blown seal causing an abnormal amount of Diff oil exiting the compressor, my mechanic reported very metallic diff oil when he dropped the oil for it's 160K service.
Now the store's mechanic and owner, told me that this is normal for a diff with a locker? Is this correct? Pics below of the state of the oil. There were no metal shavings or particles, just this shiny silver goopy oil. I would expect diff oil to get dirty, but not silver! Wouldnt having a locker help the oil last longer and stay cleaner than one with an LSD?

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hard to say from pics, but it looks like it has some water maybe?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Looks like graphite has been added to the oil.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Hard to say from pics, but it looks like it has some water maybe?

Mechanic stated the oil was not "milky' as a result of water, just metalicy as if like Bushbasher stated, graphite had been added

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Doesn't look right, taste ok?

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

You'd probably get that "chewing on aluminium foil" with fillings sensation mjr. (then you would sh&t through the eye of a needle!)

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

It may be an additive as Dave has suggested but it is hard to tell. I haven't had an ARB locker for about 600 years so my memory is less reliable than usual. The oil doesn't look burnt but the sheen is odd. Do Westside add Nulon or a friction additive with a fresh install? Shouldn't need it, just the correct oil. I have seen a similar sheen from a seriously large gearbox running equally seriously large FAG roller bearings. An EP additive was in the oil which attacked the brass bearing cages. Bit of dezincification and a sheen on the oil gave away the problem. Cages were badly weakened and bearings compromised. Not the issue here though.

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Craig
Ask Westside if they put Nulon G70 in the diff with the oil when they installed?
The G70 has a creamy colour to it.

Cheers
Robert

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Will do Robert. I have sent an email to directly to the owner of the store (kind of know him through TraxRax), and have asked for an explanation as too why they deem this as "normal". Hope to get his reasoning in a response tomorrow. I am OS for the next couple of days, so they have the Prado until next Monday

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Metallic oil is NOT a cause from diff locks. It is caused by the bearings, if the bearing preload is not set correctly, then it chews out the bearings causing the metallic oil. Another way is if the incorrect oil is used. Simple as that.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Will do Robert. I have sent an email to directly to the owner of the store (kind of know him through TraxRax), and have asked for an explanation as too why they deem this as "normal". Hope to get his reasoning in a response tomorrow. I am OS for the next couple of days, so they have the Prado until next Monday

OS off to Bribie again mate?

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Across the ditch for three days with SWMBO - no kids (20th anniversary)


Sent from my iPhone thingy

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Lockers shouldn't create metal shavings especially for this long. It would only be expected IF you changed the ring/pinion gears at the same time. I would go with croozza's explanation.