What have you done to your DEFENDER today?

hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
DBrands said:
Well, I didn't do anything nice to my Defender today... it was -40 this morning.
I plug the truck in below -10, and I replaced the glow plugs a few months ago, so it did spring to life after a momentary complaint (3rd revolution instead of the first...)

After 5 minutes idling, I tried to move it. No dice. The transmission and transfer case fluids were goo. The alternator also wasn't happy, no output even after a few blips of the throttle. I gave it a few more minutes (heated seats are essential in these temps!) and then set off once I could get it in gear. Still no charge and no luck getting my doors to stay shut, I turned around and came home.

I put it on high idle for 15 mins and after that my doors closed, the truck ran like a top, and I made it to work without issue.

I need to build a garage....
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Wow, where are you? (I'm going to guess Calgary?)
 
Napalm00

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
DBrands said:
Well, I didn't do anything nice to my Defender today... it was -40 this morning.
I plug the truck in below -10, and I replaced the glow plugs a few months ago, so it did spring to life after a momentary complaint (3rd revolution instead of the first...)

After 5 minutes idling, I tried to move it. No dice. The transmission and transfer case fluids were goo. The alternator also wasn't happy, no output even after a few blips of the throttle. I gave it a few more minutes (heated seats are essential in these temps!) and then set off once I could get it in gear. Still no charge and no luck getting my doors to stay shut, I turned around and came home.

I put it on high idle for 15 mins and after that my doors closed, the truck ran like a top, and I made it to work without issue.

I need to build a garage....
Click to expand...
You definitely need to switch to synthetic. Trans/tcase/diffs
 
D

DBrands

Member
Napalm00 said:
You definitely need to switch to synthetic. Trans/tcase/diffs
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Rotella T6 in the engine.
Redline MTL in the trans.
75W-90 elsewhere. Diffs and t-case get changed a few times a year, so I haven't sucked it up to buy expensive stuff.
Even the clutch is noticeably stiffer in this weather; everything is cold.
The protective casing on my Temro block heater cord even cracked when I un-plugged it. I'm used to cold, but not quite this cold... I'm learning.

hillstrubl said:
Wow, where are you? (I'm going to guess Calgary?)
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250km north, outside Edmonton, AB.
 
Napalm00

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
Looks like you are running what you should be. I guess you could go lighter on the gear oils but that's not going to impact your initial shifting. As a last resort for the transmission you could try substituting one quart of MTL with a quart of synthetic ATF for the winter months.

We have an office for my job up there in Edmonton and everybody either drives a Tacoma or a Subaru lol.
 
D

DBrands

Member
Napalm00 said:
Looks like you are running what you should be. I guess you could go lighter on the gear oils but that's not going to impact your initial shifting. As a last resort for the transmission you could try substituting one quart of MTL with a quart of synthetic ATF for the winter months.

We have an office for my job up there in Edmonton and everybody either drives a Tacoma or a Subaru lol.
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It was only -34 this morning; I let the truck idle at 1200rpm for 10 mins. No problems like yesterday.

Tacoma's are everywhere, but they all gawk at a Defender.

As for what I did to my Defender today, I replaced a lock surround that broke yesterday in my frustration to get the doors shut!
 
JimC

JimC

Super Moderator
Staff member
This is such weak sauce, but I braved the 40 degree weather to change the front flange seal. I guess my new one installed in 2009 didn’t take kindly to 10+ years of storage. But I just can’t drive with oil slinging around my wheels.

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jymmiejamz

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Napalm00 said:
Looks like you are running what you should be. I guess you could go lighter on the gear oils but that's not going to impact your initial shifting. As a last resort for the transmission you could try substituting one quart of MTL with a quart of synthetic ATF for the winter months.

We have an office for my job up there in Edmonton and everybody either drives a Tacoma or a Subaru lol.
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Shouldn’t the trans have ATF anyway?
 
jymmiejamz

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
JimC said:
Jimmy, I‘ve always used Redline MTL in r380s. Are you just a factory fluids guy?
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I’ve used both over the years, but in my own I generally use factory fluids. From the Ashcroft website - “The oil recommended by Land Rover is MTF94. However we have recently found this oil to give better results ATF”.

I’m pretty sure Land Rover recommended atf when they were new.
 
Uncle Douglas

Uncle Douglas

Well-known member
Callsign: delete
EBS said:
Finally finished installing my Wright Offroad mat. Seatbox portion was a lot of work. I might revisit how the seatbox cover latches are attached but otherwise pretty happy with how it turned out.

View attachment 17381
View attachment 17380
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we've been ditching the cover latches. Latches were to keep the lids from rattling and that's pretty much impossible with the mat. Eliminates some painstaking cutting . Another thing we've found is the the battery box flap cover is quite annoying. Have had a couple trucks come in where owners have made the cut across the back to make this a removable section. Going to make this cut on our trucks.
 
Angus

Angus

Well-known member
I cut the flap loose. I just sits it on the cover when the cover is closed. I did cut in the latches though, didn't seem like that much of a pain.
 
erover82

erover82

Well-known member
Did some trucks omit the latches? Mine has no evidence of ever having them. Considered adding them, but the covers seem to remain in-place as-is.
 
D

doktorno

Active member
This is how I get nothing done.

Hey I can install this new door seal before work! If I pull the door stop this would be much easier. Wait I need to pull the door card to remove the door stop. Don’t I have new door cards that have been in a box since ‘16? Hey I can install that new grommet for the speaker wire! Gosh I can clean this. And clean this. This should be cleaned. Let me get the air hose. While I am here I can spray ACF-50 in all the panel seams. The owner gave me a stainless bolt kit for the doors that I never installed. Hmmm, this window is difficult to roll down, wonder how I get in there? I can lube all of the mechanisms. Look, there is the door handle, if I pull the door handle I can replace those two seals and get rid of that built up wax and oxidation around the door handle! Hey I should Dynamat the inside of the door...
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LazyRabbit

LazyRabbit

Well-known member
FINALLY got my radiator in! thanks Rovah Farm. My other radiator is stuck in alternate dimension and Fedex, TNT and craddock are STILL figuring things out. One day i'll get reimbursed, hopefully.
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CDN38

CDN38

Well-known member
doktorno said:
This is how I get nothing done.

Hey I can install this new door seal before work! If I pull the door stop this would be much easier. Wait I need to pull the door card to remove the door stop. Don’t I have new door cards that have been in a box since ‘16? Hey I can install that new grommet for the speaker wire! Gosh I can clean this. And clean this. This should be cleaned. Let me get the air hose. While I am here I can spray ACF-50 in all the panel seams. The owner gave me a stainless bolt kit for the doors that I never installed. Hmmm, this window is difficult to roll down, wonder how I get in there? I can lube all of the mechanisms. Look, there is the door handle, if I pull the door handle I can replace those two seals and get rid of that built up wax and oxidation around the door handle! Hey I should Dynamat the inside of the door...View attachment 17464
Click to expand...
This is truly engrained in the DNA of Defender owners!! ACF-50 is you're best friend!!!!
 
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