Specs, fluids & service · 1948–1985

Land Rover Series I–III specs, fluids and service intervals

The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.

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Spec sheet

PRODUCTION	1948–1985
LAUNCH	Amsterdam Motor Show, 1948
DESIGNER	Maurice Wilks
WHEELBASES	80 · 86/88 · 107/109 in
CHASSIS	Boxed steel ladder frame
BODY	Aluminium alloy panels, steel bulkhead
SUSPENSION	Leaf springs, beam axles
4WD	Selectable (permanent on Stage 1 V8)
ENGINES	1.6 · 2.0 · 2.25 petrol/diesel · 2.6 I6 · 3.5 V8
US FACTORY SALES	Ended 1974
1,000,000TH LAND ROVER	1976
SERIES III BUILT	≈ 440,000

By year

YEARS	PLATFORM	ENGINE	OUTPUT	NOTES
1948–1951	Series I 80-inch	1.6 petrol I4	≈ 50 bhp	Launch model; freewheel 4WD until around 1950.
1952–1958	Series I 80 / 86 / 88 / 107 / 109	2.0 petrol I4; 2.0 diesel (1957–58)	52 hp (diesel)	Wheelbases grow in 1954 and again in 1956.
1958–1961	Series II 88 / 109	2.25 petrol I4 (early SWB kept 2.0)	72 hp	Bache's barrel-side body and wider track.
1961–1971	Series IIA 88 / 109	2.25 petrol & diesel; 2.6 petrol I6 (LWB, from 1967)	77 hp (2.25 petrol), 94 hp (2.6) per Hagerty	Headlamps in wings from Feb 1969 (home market).
1971–1985	Series III 88 / 109	2.25 petrol & diesel; 2.6 six	—	All-synchro gearbox; 24-spline shafts from 1982.
1979–1985	Stage 1 V8 (mostly 109)	3.5 Rover V8	91 hp	Permanent 4WD; only 24 built as 88s.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

A Series truck has no service computer and no idea when it was last looked after, so assume nothing: change every oil, grease every nipple and adjust every brake before you trust it. The Series Land Rover owner's 'green bible' (workshop manual) lists the full service schedule; the items below are what owners on LandyZone and Rovers North treat as the catch-up.

ITEM	SPEC / CAPACITY	INTERVAL	NOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filter	20W-50 mineral oil (the period handbook specified a 20W grade) · 2.25: about 1.9 US gal (≈7.2 L) including the filter (Series123); one owner's shop manual gives 13 pints plus 1.8 pints for the filter, which he works out as 7.4 US qt (≈7 L)	Then per manual confirm in manual	Owners stick with mineral oil; one warns that semi-synthetics can loosen old deposits in a worn engine. Petrol and diesel 2.25s use element-type or spin-on filters depending on year.RTC3184 oil filter element, 2.25 petrol & diesel · LR Direct ↗RTC3185 oil filter, 2.0D/2.25, Series 1–3 · LR Direct ↗Series 2.25 petrol service kit · LR Direct ↗
Air cleaner	Oil-bath canister on most trucks · refill grade confirm in manual	Clean and refill at every oil change; more often in dust	If a previous owner swapped to an SU carburettor, check the SU dashpot has oil too.
Ignition (petrol)	Points gap and timing per manual · plugs N12Y (8:1 CR) or N8 (7:1 CR)	Check points and timing at every service	Owners list checking the points gap as a routine job; match the plug to your engine's compression ratio.RTC3570 spark plug N12Y, 2.25 petrol 8:1 CR · LR Direct ↗RTC3571 spark plug, 2.25 petrol 7:1 CR · LR Direct ↗RTC6621 ignition condenser (Lucas), 2.25 · LR Direct ↗
Heater plugs (diesel)	2.25 diesel heater plugs	Test at purchase; replace failed plugs	Hard cold starts on a 2.25 diesel usually mean heater plugs before anything more expensive.DA1057 heater plug set, 2.25 diesel · LR Direct ↗
Coolant	Antifreeze mix confirm in manual for type and capacity	Flush and refill now; then per manual	Check the block drain plug and core plugs for weeps while it's drained.Coolant & antifreeze, 5 L · LR Direct ↗564719 expansion bottle cap, Series 2 & 3 · LR Direct ↗
Gearbox & transfer box	EP90 gear oil · Series II/IIA: gearbox 2.5 imp pt (3 US pt, ≈1.4 L), transfer box 4.5 imp pt (≈5.5 US pt, ≈2.6 L), per Series123 and the workshop manual quoted on the Rovers North forum · Series III confirm in manual	Drain and refill now; then per manual	Check the transfer box output seal: oil leaking past it soaks the transmission handbrake shoes. Owners buy EP90 in 20 L drums because a Series uses a lot of it.EP90 gear oil, 20 L · LR Direct ↗
Front & rear differentials	EP90 gear oil · capacity confirm in manual	Drain and refill now; then per manual	Don't put one-shot swivel grease in the diffs; owners say drain it if someone has.EP90 gear oil, 1 L · LR Direct ↗
Swivel housings	75-90 gear oil on IIA/III with the Railko bush (Rovers North)	Check level every service; refill now	Rovers North advises oil, not grease packs, for the Railko bush, and warns that running free-wheeling hubs unlocked starves the swivels of lubrication.EP90 gear oil, 1 L · LR Direct ↗
Grease points	Grease all nipples: propshaft UJs and sliding joints, steering and spring shackles	Every service	'Do all the grease nipples' is the first line of most owners' service lists.RTC3346HS 82 mm propshaft universal joint, Series · LR Direct ↗Grease nipple · LR Direct ↗
Wheel bearings & front hubs	Check play and adjust; check the front hubs are full	Now, then annually	Wider tyres are harder on wheel bearings, according to Rovers North forum members.RTC3534 wheel bearing kit, Series 2/2A/3 to 1980 · LR Direct ↗
Brakes & brake fluid	Brake fluid confirm in manual for dot grade · adjust drum brakes	Fluid every 2 years; adjust shoes at every service	Series drum brakes need regular manual adjustment; owners note they will need adjusting on any truck you buy.Land Rover brake fluid · LR Direct ↗STC3945 front brake shoes (axle set), Series 2/2A/3 LWB six-cylinder & V8, 101 FC only · LR Direct ↗
Clutch hydraulics	Same fluid as the brakes	Bleed or flush with the brakes	'Don't forget the clutch' — the slave cylinder is easy to overlook.8G8600L clutch slave cylinder repair kit, Series 1958–1984 · LR Direct ↗
Fuel filter	Cartridge filter (diesel) or in-line element (petrol)	Replace now	Old tanks shed rust and sediment; a new filter is cheap insurance.90517711 cartridge fuel filter, 2.25/2.5 diesel, Series 2/3 · LR Direct ↗JS660L in-line fuel filter element, petrol, Series · LR Direct ↗

Capability

Fuel economy	14–17 mpg (imperial), 2.25 petrol AULRO owners; best about 21 mpg at a steady 50 mph in a SWB
Comfortable cruise	55–60 mph (2.25 petrol) 60–65 mph on the flat with a Fairey overdrive, per Rovers North forum members

Wheels & tires

Factory tire	7.50x16 (factory option, tube-type rims)
Bolt pattern	5x165.1 (5x6.5"), shared with Defender steel wheels
Center bore	Defender alloys won't clear Series hubs
Biggest tire · Stock	235/85R16

Open the Land Rover Series I–III in the tire fitment tool →

Common Land Rover Series I–III repairs

Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.