Discodad

Discodad

Well-Known Member
My Discovery (300 TDi, 98 R reg, Auto, 171K miles) has starting hanging onto its gears.

I’ve read several threads on the autobox and most seem to point to a change of oil and filter, which makes sense.
I have read that the oil should be changed and then after 500 miles changed again but this time the filter as well.

Oil choice seems to be MTF 94. I've had a quick look around online and its a bit pricey. LINK

It started on Sunday when it didn't feel like it was going to change out of 2nd. I pulled over and took it though the gears and it seemed a bit better, but I was only going round the corner.
In the evening I took it out for a few miles and its definitely hanging onto 2nd and 3rd, but not as bad as earlier in the day.

Earlier in the week I had had an unrelated issue (lift-pump) and whilst under the bonnet I had tried to increase the throttle and I think I tried to do this via the kick-down mech,
I only pulled on the top section (pointing at in photo) could this be the issue?

I also had liquid mud up to the bumper (only on the passenger side) and went fording (level just below 2ft) the day prior to this fault but it drove back OK. I haven't as yet extended the breathers on the boxes. I wouldn't have thought I was deep enough to let muck into the breathers.

I have followed the procedure to check the oil as per (LINK) and the level looks at about 75%
I’ve also included a photo which shows the colour & the level of the oil, I couldn't detect any burnt smells.


I've had the Disco since last Oct and I can see in the history (Dec 09, 10K miles ago). The oil cooler pipe & gearbox oil cooler pipe were replaced (due to loss of drive) & refill and & check oil level. The previous owner was billed for 6lt of Dexron 3 donax tx. The total bill was £320 :eek:

IMG_2195.jpg


IMG_2191-1.jpg


IMG_2193.jpg
 
Turns out the kick down cable was the issue. It was stuck on resulting in no change up until 3500 - 400 rpm.
I think it was just caked in old mud, oil and generally a bit sticky.
The local garage have cleaned it up and greased it and its back to normal.

But I'm going to have a go at changing the gearbox oil and filter later in the year.
 
Hi discodad

i to have a 98 tdi auto and my auto oil looks like the same colour as yours which to me looks like its loosing its colour i have been saying i will change the oil and filter but have recently been out of work off and on for the past 18 months but now i am working again and getting myself back on track i will defo get the oil and filter changed as it should be a ribena colour dark red if you know what i mean.

the other thing is if you don't the history of your box a po may have mixed the oils and put anything in it so replacing the filter at the same time would be better i think and if you want too replace the oil again at a later date, hope this helps.
 
GET THE BREATHERS ON!!! :D

I slapped loads of grease all over the kickdown mech to keep it a little more protected... it's in a little bit of a funny place if you ask me lol ;)

I'm doing my gearbox and transfer box oils soon so might oil share with you if you're interested. Done my engine oil today to see if it stops the dam oil pressure light strobing.
 
Discodad said:
My Discovery (300 TDi, 98 R reg, Auto, 171K miles) has starting hanging onto its gears.

Oil choice seems to be MTF 94. I've had a quick look around online and its a bit pricey. LINK

Earlier in the week I had had an unrelated issue (lift-pump) and whilst under the bonnet I had tried to increase the throttle and I think I tried to do this via the kick-down mech, I only pulled on the top section (pointing at in photo) could this be the issue?

I've had the Disco since last Oct and I can see in the history (Dec 09, 10K miles ago). The oil cooler pipe & gearbox oil cooler pipe were replaced (due to loss of drive) & refill and & check oil level. The previous owner was billed for 6lt of Dexron 3 donax tx. The total bill was £320 :eek:
Click to expand...


1. The oil which goes in a Discovery auto is Dexron IId or Dexron III. ABSOLUTELY NOT MTF94 - that is for the manual gearbox. You will need five ltrs of Dexron oil.

2. The part you are handling in the picture is the bellows for the cruise control and has nothing to do with the kick-down of the gearbox.
 
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And the other thing I'll say is check your pipes that go onto where you hand is... my pipes have all gone brittle from the vac pump to the bit you are touching.

Kickdown is under the car ;)

And yeah, don't put mtf in yours. Dextron II is cheap and the filters are only a few quid. you have got to remove the sump though.
 
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The last owner had had it for the last 12 years.
Luckily he was less useful with a spanner than I am with a hammer :doh: and when anything needed doing off down the garage it went. I've got a full and very documented history.

I can't find any record of the filter being changed but there is record of an oil change 12K / 18 months ago. He was billed for 6 ltr of dexron 3.

If you end up doing your's before me, don't forget to post a detailed photo guide :D:D:D:D

Matt, can we practice on yours first :p
I done my t/box a few months back. The filler is in a real nice place. Next time I going to get a syringe and pipe, something like this LINK

Or an elastic band to stop oil running down my arm :mad:
 
Bring it round, i'll tell you what to do, you do it and I'll watch. I know how to do it, it is just getting round to doing it. It would be nice to see it all running down your arms hah ha ha!!
 
I would say that oil is fooked it should be a nice cherry aid red. However the kick down cable needs to be cleans and greased as others have said
 
Thanks for all the guidance everyone and for pointing me in the right direction re the correct oil.
As you can see I'm learning and its a steep curve!

I read on a previous thread that the oil should be changed and then after 500 miles the oil AND filter should be changed.

If this is correct I'll get myself 5 litres of Dexron oil and do the first change one evening next week and then when it comes to the filter change I'll take Matthew2riches up on his offer of assistance (again!).
 
Just need to work out who wants the dextron all over their drive more :D

I've got lots of oil changes under my belt from 7 different vehicles. As you'll see from my hardstanding lol! Lots of pretty patterns!!

You can do a change then change it again after a few miles but it isn't necessary. It just acts as a flush. You seem to have history of a change so it might be worth just doing a filter and oil change straight away. It's up to you. The oil isn't expensive.
 
OK
Quick update for the benefit of others reading.
Gear changes have been OK for the past few months but as part of a service I have changed the oil today (not the filter, yet...).

I have to say the colour of the new oil against the old is chalk and cheese.
I was surprised at just how browny black the oil looked:

IMG_2840.jpg


IMG_2839.jpg




Will be doing a filter and oil change again in a month and will post photos of the filter change.

PS - thanks to Matthew2riches who managed to get the breather fitted for me last month.
 
you probably wont be driving for too long on that box the only thing that makes oil black is burning clutch packs ,its usually best to pull bell housing and pump housing off before it gets to poor in rest of box too
 
Just be aware that changing your auto box oil can cause gear change problems that wern't there before. This is because the new oil acts like a detergent and stirs all the silt and debris up which can then get stuck in the govnor valve.
 
Discodad said:
OK
Quick update for the benefit of others reading.
Gear changes have been OK for the past few months but as part of a service I have changed the oil today (not the filter, yet...).

I have to say the colour of the new oil against the old is chalk and cheese.
I was surprised at just how browny black the oil looked:

IMG_2840.jpg


IMG_2839.jpg




Will be doing a filter and oil change again in a month and will post photos of the filter change.

PS - thanks to Matthew2riches who managed to get the breather fitted for me last month.
Click to expand...

Yuk! I'm glad you didn't do it round mine :D

Deffo something wrong with that box! I believe the fluid will only ever loose its colour, never change colour, that's if I remember back to when I did all the bull**** on my motor mechanics blah blah :blabla:
 
Mmm,
I'm so glad I read all your messages of impending doom.
Looks like nightmares for me tonight.
 
Thats the problem James. I'm not!!!!
oil & filter changes fine. lifting engines / boxes no facilities, tools or skills. Not looking forward to going for a drive tomorrow.
Should be going to Wales in Nov for a green laning holiday (1000 mile trip) :(
 
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