Filling de Dion with oil

[zardoz]

I got under the Rover to try and check the level of oil in the De dion tube. I read that the oil level is supposed to be just below the filler hole. So the best way to check the level was to put some oil in and see if it drank any in or just overflowed. I tried to get the oil bottle tube into the filler hole but was prevented by something just below the surface. It appears to be a metal plate that stops you from pushing anything into the de dion tube. Now i assume that there is some sort of gap around it for new oil to drain slowly in, but it does seem to make it very awkward to fill up. Does anyone know the reason for this being the way it is ?

 

[arthuy]

The tube is actually two tubes.

The metal plate you found will be the inner tube. The oil you put in fills the gap between the inner and outer.

I think there is a designer who gets the job to put fillers in fiddly places so that it runs down your arm.

Best advice I can give you is to find a plastic bottle that has roughly the same thread as the plug, ( try the plug in the cap of a bottle to check oppose to trying to screw bottles in to the DD tube filler). once you have one that fits cut the bottom off so that it gives you a filter funnel. tip the oil in the bottle and it will drain in to the DD tube.

Easy
Colin

 

[zardoz]

The tube is actually two tubes.

I think there is a designer who gets the job to put fillers in fiddly places so that it runs down your arm.

Easy
Colin

Lol I couldn't agree more. Two tubes eh. thanks for the info.

 

[harveyp6]

It shouldn't be filled up to the level of the plug in the same way that you would set a level in a manual gearbox, it only needs a few shots of oil from an oil can just to stop the two tubes becoming sticky or seizing. Fill it up to the level and there will be far too much in there.

From empty it should have 1/3pint (engine oil) in there so if there is any in there at all it just needs those few shots to keep it topped up.

 

[Pilkie]

Later de-dion's used grease instead,so you could "upgrade it" if you are able to take it off easily,you could take it apart,give it a good clean up then smother it in grease!
I bought a recon de-dion a few years ago,and it was an older type that had been upgraded! It cost me £50 inclusive of p/p at the time! bargain I thought!! till I learned that they will very rarely if ever go wrong if they are well greased,as opposed to oiled which will, eventually seep out if you have a split in the gaiter!
I stripped and refurbed my original,so now its just another handy spare in my parts shed!

 

[richarduk]

as opposed to oiled which will, eventually seep out if you have a split in the gaiter!

That's the job I'm about to do on mine, the gaiter is shot. But I'll take the time and paint the whole lot up as well as pop the rear wings off and give them a splash of paint with winter coming.