Specs, fluids & service · 1971–1985

Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 710 / 712 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

CHASSISCentral backbone tube, swing axles, portal hubs
PRODUCTION1971–1985, Graz (pilot run 1969)
BUILT18,349 (710 and 712)
ENGINE2,499 cc air-cooled OHV I4, twin Zenith 36 NDIX
OUTPUT87 hp / 133 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONZF 5-speed + 2-speed transfer case
DRIVEPart-time 4x4 (710) / 6x6 (712), hydraulic diff locks
ELECTRICAL24 V
WHEELBASE2,200 mm (710) · 2,000 + 980 mm (712)
LENGTH4,175 mm (710) · 4,955 mm (712)
CURB WEIGHT1,950–2,100 kg (710) · 2,350–2,600 kg (712)
GROUND CLEARANCE335 mm (13.2 in)
FORDING700 mm (27.6 in)

By year

YEARSPLATFORMENGINEOUTPUTNOTES
1971–1985710M2.5 L air-cooled I487 hp / 133 lb-ft4x4 soft-top troop carrier for 10 people. The most common US import.
1971–1985710K2.5 L air-cooled I487 hp / 133 lb-ftFive-door hardtop station wagon, including Swiss radio command trucks.
1971–1985710T / 710 AMB2.5 L air-cooled I487 hp / 133 lb-ftFlatbed, plus AMB-Y and AMB-S ambulances (the S has an air-portable shelter).
1971–1985712M2.5 L air-cooled I487 hp / 133 lb-ft6x6 soft top for 14 people, with a leaf-sprung rear bogie, a 1,500 kg payload and a 100 km/h top speed.
1971–1985712K / W / DK / FW2.5 L air-cooled I487 hp / 133 lb-ft6x6 station wagon, workshop with shelter, crew-cab pickup, and fire truck.
Late production712 (mostly ambulances)2.7 L air-cooled I476 kW (de.wikipedia, civilian K-Jetronic version)English and German Wikipedia disagree on which trucks got the 2.7. Check the engine plate.

Fluids, capacities & service intervals

Assume nothing was done after the truck left the army. On a 710 or 712 that means about a dozen separate gear-oil fill points, a hydraulic system for the lockers as well as the brakes and clutch, and an air-cooled engine that depends on clean fins and correct valve lash. The intervals come from the factory schedule (in hours, page 214 of the manual, per Portal Hub owners), but most US owners simply change everything on purchase and then once a year. Fit new copper washers on every plug.

ITEMSPEC / CAPACITYINTERVALNOTES & PARTS
Engine oil & filterStraight SAE 30 per the operating instructions (one veteran owner), or a 20W-50 mineral oil with ZDDP. 6.5 L listed; one owner needed 7.5 qt to the top mark after a 30-minute drain.Owners change every 3,000 mi or yearlyMann W940/5 (with anti-drainback valve) or W940/18. Check the level just after shutdown, because a horizontal filter can drain back and give confusing readings. Owners avoid synthetics in this engine.Mann oil filter (SAV1008M) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Copper seal ring, drain plug (0076030221-02) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Air filterElement in the factory housing; some trucks have the cyclone filter system confirm in manualCheck at every oil change, more often in dustThe housing, lid seal and rubber intake boot all matter on a carbureted engine that breathes dust off-road.Air filter, European repro (SAV1033) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Rubber boot, air intake (7122190041) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Spark plugs & ignitionGap 0.6–0.7 mm for OEM shielded plugs; 0.76 mm with civilian plugs and Pertronix. Timing 3–7 mm BTDC (owner figure)With the valve adjustmentMilitary shielded plugs and wires are expensive. Many owners fit Pertronix electronic points or a full civilian conversion.Military shielded spark plugs, set of 4 (SAV6200-4) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Pertronix electronic ignition for the Pinzgauer (SAV2600) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Valve clearance0.2 mm intake and exhaust, set cold · firing order 1-2-4-3Per the factory hour-based schedule confirm in manualNew rocker-cover gaskets every time, no blue RTV, and recheck carb sync afterward.Valve cover gasket, synthetic, set of 4 (7121040061AS) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Cooling fan belt, fins & oil coolerAir-cooled. Belt tension is set with adjusting washers at the split pulleyInspect at every serviceKeep every cooling tin in place and the fins clean. The SDP checklist expects to find leaves in the oil cooler. One owner reports years in 110–115°F Arizona heat without trouble when this is done. Carry a spare belt.Fan belt (7102060271) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Fan belt adjusting washer, 1 mm (50110608) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Gearbox≈2 L. The manual calls for MIL-L-2105 gear oil; owners use GL-4 75W-90 such as Red Line MT-90On purchase, then per the scheduleOne owner's drain-and-fill took 1.8 qt, so some oil stays inside.Magnetic drain plug, fits diffs, wheel drives and transfer case (7101324132) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Transfer case≈2.3 L, MIL-L-2105 gear oil; owners also use Red Line Heavy ShockProofOn purchase, then per the scheduleIt sits inside the central tube ahead of the rear axle drive.Copper seal ring for drain and fill plugs (0076030221-02) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Axle drives (differentials)≈2 L each, 80W-90 or 85W-90 gear oil (CRC Sta-Lube SL24239 is popular)On purchase, then per the scheduleSome owners avoid GL-5 for fear it attacks yellow metals; others say modern GL-5 synthetics such as Red Line's are safe. A 712 has three axle drives.Magnetic drain plug (7101324132) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Wheel drives (portal hubs)≈0.4 L each front, ≈0.35 L each rear; mineral 80W-90 gear oilOn purchase, then per the scheduleFill until oil just starts to run out of the fill hole. A hub that gushes when you open it suggests a leaking diff seal, because oil is migrating along the axle. One owner's fluid summary advises against synthetics here in case a seal fails onto the brakes. Use new copper washers and don't stack an old one under the new one.Wheel drive bearings & seals repair kit (SAV4700) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Oil fill plug (D009080012) · Expedition Imports ↗
Steering boxThe same universal gear oil as the drivetrain, per the Steyr maintenance booklet quoted by ownersCheck level on purchaseZF-Gemmer worm and roller. Seal and rebuild kits are still available.Steering gear seal (9023801) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Brake, clutch & locker hydraulicsDOT 3 brake fluid in the locker/4WD circuit (owner practice); brake and clutch spec confirm in manualFlush on purchaseThere are three hydraulic systems to bleed. Replace the cracked rubber elbows under the locker reservoir before you pressure-bleed, and buy spare bleeder valves first.Rubber elbow and T-piece kit, locker, 710 (SAV5863) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Bleeder valve, diff-lock slave cylinder (7101285160) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Drum brake adjustmentTwo star adjusters per front wheel, one per rear; at least 1/8 in of liningOn purchase, then regularlyAdjust through the plug in each drum (10 mm Allen). While a drum is off, check for gear oil, which means a leaking wheel-drive seal.Brake shoes, new set of four (7102365122N) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Fuel hoses & filter7 mm hose from tank to filter (about 3 ft), 5 mm from filter to carbs (about 4 ft)Replace old rubber on purchaseCheck the filter for red flakes, a sign of a failing tank lining. Insulating the intake runners helps with hot-restart vapor lock.Fuel hose 7 mm, per foot (SAV4256) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Fuel hose 5 mm, per foot (SAV4257) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗
Wheels & lug nutsBall-seat lug nuts only; the factory rims are lug-centricCheck torque after any wheel workExpedition Imports warns that conical nuts can let wheels loosen or even split a rim. Balancing needs an adapter.Lug nut, fits all 710/712 with original wheels (7101533031) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Lug nut set of 33 for 712 6x6 (9002324BS6) · Swiss Army Vehicles ↗

Capability

Towing5,000 kg (11,023 lb) on road Off-road: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) for the 710, 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) for the 712
Payload1,000 kg (2,205 lb) 710 · 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) 712
Fuel tank75 L (19.8 US gal) Optional 125 L tank, per Wikipedia
Ground clearance335 mm (13.2 in)
Approach / departure45° / 45° SDP technical data. Wikipedia quotes 38° / 45°
Side slope43.5° Wikipedia
Wading depth700 mm (27.6 in)
Fuel economy14.2 L/100 km (16.6 mpg) 710 · 15.8 L/100 km (14.9 mpg) 712 Factory figures; owners quoted by OffGrid report 15–16 mpg
Top speed110 km/h (68 mph) 710 · 100 km/h (62 mph) 712
Curb weight1,950–2,100 kg (4,299–4,630 lb) 710 · 2,350–2,600 kg (5,181–5,732 lb) 712
Turning circle10.37 m (34 ft) 710 · 12.28 m (40.3 ft) 712
Seating (M body)10 (710M) · 14 (712M)

Wheels & tires

Factory tire245C-16 6-ply (SDP technical data); Swiss trucks commonly on Maloya tires
Biggest tire · Stock255/85R16 (about 33 in)
Biggest tire · Stock, aftermarket wheels235/85R16–255/85R16 on 16 x 6.5 Ford Transit steel wheels

Open the Pinzgauer 710 / 712 in the tire fitment tool →

Common Pinzgauer 710 / 712 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.

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