Spong

Spong

Well-Known Member
Full Member
Just coming back from Lancs to Hampshire after a wedding, got as far as Sandbach and the Discos autobox decides to spew its oil out. Got a leak somewhere but AA man can’t see it, let alone fix it, so waiting for recovery.
Wondering if there’s any damage to the gearbox now, had to rev it a bit to get it off the road at the end.
Anyone had this, and did the box get damaged due to oil loss? Hoping that fixing the leak and filling it back up will be all it needs!
 
I guess the only way to tell is fix the leak and fill it up.

Was it a sudden loss of drive?

Sounds like if the AA man couldn't see then you have plenty of extra underbody protection going on ATM:rolleyes:.

Good luck.

J
 
marjon said:
I guess the only way to tell is fix the leak and fill it up.

Was it a sudden loss of drive?

Sounds like if the AA man couldn't see then you have plenty of extra underbody protection going on ATM:rolleyes:.

Good luck.

J
Click to expand...
Fairly gradual really. It was getting weird on the motorway, going up hill was needing more revs than usual and didn’t seem to be locking up in top, then the gears seemed to be hunting. When I stopped it felt like there was very little connection between the engine and the gearbox. When I got out I could see all the oil over the back of the car.
 
Had the same on mine only last month, on A303. First sign was lockup went. Is the oil concentrated on the LHS (nearside) of the truck?

It is most likely the oil cooler pipe, the section which goes from metal to rubber, it either parts company at the pipe end where it appears from the engine or from the connector where it goes into the cooler. You will need to remove the airbox and possibly the turbo pipe to the intercooler to fully see the problem.

As a temporary fix you can remove the metal swaged bit from the rubber section and replace it with a Jubilee clip. I was doing 65mph and ran it for too long before staggering into a lay-by, but the autobox is fine.

See http://www.discovery2.co.uk/Oil_cooler_pipes.html for a good explanation of the problem. I used Mocal 1/2"/13mm oil cooler hose to replace the failed section.

I wish you luck!
 
PopPops said:
Had the same on mine only last month, on A303. First sign was lockup went. Is the oil concentrated on the LHS (nearside) of the truck?

It is most likely the oil cooler pipe, the section which goes from metal to rubber, it either parts company at the pipe end where it appears from the engine or from the connector where it goes into the cooler. You will need to remove the airbox and possibly the turbo pipe to the intercooler to fully see the problem.

As a temporary fix you can remove the metal swaged bit from the rubber section and replace it with a Jubilee clip. I was doing 65mph and ran it for too long before staggering into a lay-by, but the autobox is fine.

See http://www.discovery2.co.uk/Oil_cooler_pipes.html for a good explanation of the problem. I used Mocal 1/2"/13mm oil cooler hose to replace the failed section.

I wish you luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yes, lock up went and then had less and less drive, which is understandable now I know what happened. And yes, it’s mostly on the left, but there was a lot of spray up from the wet road so it’s pretty much everywhere. Makes for a nice rainbow effect! There’s a lot of oil on top of the bellhousing and over the first silencer, so I think it’s come adrift at the g/box end.
Now in Keele services awaiting the next truck, now I know why it’s called ‘Relay’!
 
Spong said:
Thanks! Yes, lock up went and then had less and less drive, which is understandable now I know what happened. And yes, it’s mostly on the left, but there was a lot of spray up from the wet road so it’s pretty much everywhere. Makes for a nice rainbow effect! There’s a lot of oil on top of the bellhousing and over the first silencer, so I think it’s come adrift at the g/box end.
Now in Keele services awaiting the next truck, now I know why it’s called ‘Relay’!
Click to expand...
I feel for you, we waited 11 hours for recovery!!
 
tilly2 said:
If you need anything urgently, Im just south of you nr Stafford, J14.
Click to expand...
That’s very kind of you, but we’re in the system now, hopefully they’ll be here in half an hour. Thanks anyway!
 
Second truck is here now, oh the indignity!

upload_2023-4-10_19-30-18.jpeg
 
True! Although we did fill up near Clitheroe with some bargain diesel, well it was a bargain compared to darn sarf.
 
Got home about 11:30, recovery driver was a star, he even managed to get the car on the drive, which is an awkward uphill bend, so that was a huge help.
Got underneath it this morning, I can see that the top cooler hose union has just unscrewed itself.

upload_2023-4-11_9-55-51.png


That's pretty bizarre. Easy fix - in theory, but it's a right sod to get to, one of those 'you can just about touch it, but you can't do anything with it ' items.
Has anyone had to get to this end of the pipe? Thinking I might have to drop a bit of the exhaust to get to it...
 
You should have seen
kermit_rr said:
Bit bigger than the one that picked my L322 up was only rated to carry 2.5t :eek:
Click to expand...
You should have seen the one that recovered our 7.5t horsebox - with all the lights going it looked something out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
 
I had to replace the pipe some years ago. All you need is a 19mm 12pt crowsfoot, see picture. It's an easy job, didn't have to remove anything

Oops cannot upload picture
 
Just as a word of caution, you might want to check the thread on the cooler. I don't want to make your job any harder for no reason but it would be a shame to have it come off again.
The reason that I make the comment is that some years ago, I sold what I thought was a good cooler only to be set upon by an indignant buyer who was convinced that I intentionally sold him a piece of crap. Not happy with a full refund, he continued fuming over his wasted time. Fair enough if I had done it on purpose, I suppose.
 
Richarddiscoverytwo said:
I had to replace the pipe some years ago. All you need is a 19mm 12pt crowsfoot, see picture. It's an easy job, didn't have to remove anything

Oops cannot upload picture
Click to expand...
I've managed to get a spanner on to it, but they don't make it easy do they? Ìve got a filter kit that I didn't get around to fiting on the previous Disco, so I think I'll fit that while I'm there and then fill the box up. The litre (if that) of ATF that came out was pretty brown. Might do a few miles on that and then change it again.
@Alpinejim , it came undone at the gearbox end, rather than the cooler. I thought the cooler end was a push on type connection?
 
Spong said:
I've managed to get a spanner on to it, but they don't make it easy do they? Ìve got a filter kit that I didn't get around to fiting on the previous Disco, so I think I'll fit that while I'm there and then fill the box up. The litre (if that) of ATF that came out was pretty brown. Might do a few miles on that and then change it again.
@Alpinejim , it came undone at the gearbox end, rather than the cooler. I thought the cooler end was a push on type connection?
Click to expand...
Good luck with the job.
Edited once I reread your original reply re the filter.;)
 
Last edited:
Oh, I see. My experience was some years ago and I can't remember how the cooler attaches tbh. It was a P38. I assumed they are the same but maybe different.
 
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