How would you know when the level is right?
I'm going to drain the lot and put in the recommended 1.85 litres. Two reasons I'm doing it is first the oil is original and has done 100,000 miles. Other reason is that there is a large, dry oil stain patch underneath the geabox - nothing leaks now. Don't know if this was engine oil or geabox. If it is gearbox oil then it may be low. I'm curious to see how much comes out of the box when drained. If it starts leaking when the new oil goes in, then I know there's a problem with gearbox or diff - maybe driveshaft seals. Van will be doing a run to Czech Republic and back in autumn so I'm doing a long list of maintenance jobs that have all come due at the same time or after research are long overdue.
Jobs so far - new oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter
Jobs to do - next week will be new cam belt, aux belt plus aux belt tensioner and idler (all aux belt components original as far as I know), then drain, flush and renew with Prestone antifreeze, new stat, replace gearbox oil, change brake fluid. Would also like to get the ac going too, not worked for some years.
That's enough to be going on with.
Apart from cam belt and aux belt work, the rest will be done by me. Not so easy to work on these vehicles. Other vehicle in an 86 MK1 facelift Carlton - much easier to work on. That's enough to be going on with.