gR@HaM

gR@HaM

Well-Known Member
I’m looking for some advice on my Disco1 300tdi (’95 auto)..

A couple of days ago it developed a very noticeable ‘whine’ starting at ~25mph and continuing through 70+ with increasing pitch.
It doesn’t seem to get louder on cornering, but yesterday I bought 2 new sets of wheel bearings for the fronts anyway. Checking the nearside front last night all seemed in order, so I re-packed the current bearings and put it back together.

However, when checking the transfer box and diff oil levels I realised that both the front diff and trans box had hardly any oil in there whatsoever!! I must have added approx. 1L of 75w90 to both (rear diff level was ok) and road tested.
The noise is still there L
I tried putting it into neutral whilst coasting at 30-35mph, still noisy, then tried switching off the engine but no change.

One thing I did notice when jacking up the front is a about 5mm movement (maybe less) top and bottom with both front wheels – is this normal? It does have 31x12.5” tyres on.

I also had issues a couple of months ago determining oil level in the auto box, after replacing one of the cooler pipes that was leaking I ended up guessing how much to add – although all has been ok for some time now.

Any suggestions GREATFULLY appreciated, I’m supposed to have a 500 mile round trip to Essex tomorrow and am afraid it might not make it! :eek:
 
If the whine is speed dependant rather than engine revs dependant then I would be looking at transmission. If the diff and transfer box have been running with little oil in then they have to be the prime suspects.

5mm of movement seems quite a lot, can you get someone to help, get them to move the wheel while you check all the suspension joints?

I'd also check the gearbox level properly.
 
Last edited:
gR@HaM said:
I’m looking for some advice on my Disco1 300tdi (’95 auto)..

A couple of days ago it developed a very noticeable ‘whine’ starting at ~25mph and continuing through 70+ with increasing pitch.
It doesn’t seem to get louder on cornering, but yesterday I bought 2 new sets of wheel bearings for the fronts anyway. Checking the nearside front last night all seemed in order, so I re-packed the current bearings and put it back together.

However, when checking the transfer box and diff oil levels I realised that both the front diff and trans box had hardly any oil in there whatsoever!! I must have added approx. 1L of 75w90 to both (rear diff level was ok) and road tested.
The noise is still there L
I tried putting it into neutral whilst coasting at 30-35mph, still noisy, then tried switching off the engine but no change.

One thing I did notice when jacking up the front is a about 5mm movement (maybe less) top and bottom with both front wheels – is this normal? It does have 31x12.5” tyres on.

I also had issues a couple of months ago determining oil level in the auto box, after replacing one of the cooler pipes that was leaking I ended up guessing how much to add – although all has been ok for some time now.

Any suggestions GRATEFULLY appreciated, I’m supposed to have a 500 mile round trip to Essex tomorrow and am afraid it might not make it! :eek:
Click to expand...

Not exactly sure what you are meaning here. If you jack up a front wheel so it's off the ground, get hold of it at top and bottom and you can rock it with some play, that's likely to be the swivel bearings a little bit loose. On the size of tyres you have 5mm of movement is not a great deal. This however will not cause the whine you are asking about.

If I were you I would be changing the oil in all diffs, transfer box and main gearbox. I would also ensure the the propshaft U/j's have had a good shot of grease.

Unless you find anything strange, I would then do my 500mile journey.

Dave
 
My friend's disco had a strange whine that was caused by knackered propshaft UJs.. see if there's any play in them.
 
Thanks for your input guys much appreciated :)
Idiot question re the prop ujs.. I gave them a visual inspection the other week when changing the rear prop doughnut and didn't notice anything out of place, what should I be looking for? Zero 'play' in the shaft when trying to turn by hand?
 
gR@HaM said:
Thanks for your input guys much appreciated :)
Idiot question re the prop ujs.. I gave them a visual inspection the other week when changing the rear prop doughnut and didn't notice anything out of place, what should I be looking for? Zero 'play' in the shaft when trying to turn by hand?
Click to expand...

You need to chock the wheels, leave the handbrake off, then get underneath.

Put one hand on the propshaft before the U/j joint, the other after the joint, now try and twist them against each other. There should be NO play at all in the joint - if there is any at all, it needs replacing.

While you're under there, give them a good greasing via the grease nipples with a grease gun.
 
Cheers I'm on it this evening.
The problem I had determining oil level in the autobox was as follows :
Started engine when cold
Ran through the gears from top to bottom and back up into neutral
Wiped dip stick and took reading with engine running
No reading what so ever and Im pretty sure I've added more atf than was originally lost..
 
Prop ujs seem ok, I'm guessing approx 1/4 turn of the front prop going into the transfer box is normal.
Changed engine oil and filter whilst I was at it.

I'm just concerned about the oil level in the auto box, I seem to be adding more and more atf and am still unable to get a reading on the dipstick.
Can anyone confirm the correct sequence for checking the level?
I'm paranoid I've over filled it, or indeed it's still too low and I have a long journey coming up.
Have left it on the flat so it will be cold ready for checking before work tomorrow..
Help VERY much appreciated, thanks muchly..
 
Ok have had another thought, if I am yet again unable to get a reading on the gearbox dipstick tomorrow I could pick up some new fluid drain the box and refill with the correct amount.
Can anyone confirm how much I would need?
I recall the torque converter holds some back..
 
Sounds like you're not checking it correctly buddy...

From cold, start her up, move the lever into each position, pausing in each gear for a second or two then return it to neutral and check the level with the engine running...
 
Yep that's how I've been doing it, although was left for a couple of hours after driving I suppose could have still been warm. Shall try again this morning.
Failing that any idea how much I should replace with if I drop out what's in the sump?
Thanks
 
Auto box should be done when running so simply keep filling til it hits the stick, they hold a LOT of oil.

Noise is likely to be the transfer case, wouldn't have thought diff would have been too upset until it actually ran dry, however water in axles knackered both my diffs very quickly.

You are welcome to give me a shout if you want a second opinion on things in future.

Cheers.
 
gR@HaM said:
Yep that's how I've been doing it, although was left for a couple of hours after driving I suppose could have still been warm. Shall try again this morning.
Failing that any idea how much I should replace with if I drop out what's in the sump?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Graham, am I right in thinking that you only recently bought this Disco? If so, perhaps the previous owner didn't fill up the auto box correctly and you still need to add some more.

Bear in mind that it only takes 0.25ltrs to take the level from low to high, so it might be that you are nearly there?

If I were you I would try topping up in in amounts of 0.25ltrs at a time, after having gone through the correct procedure:

1. Commence with cold engine. Start the engine;

2. Shift the gear lever through all positions, pausing at each one to take up drive (you will feel this), then back to P;

3. LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING;

4. Now check the oil level using the dipstick just below the fuel filter;

5. If it doesn't show on the 'stick, add 0.25ltrs and check again.


My guess would be that the previous owner never filled it up correctly. For example if you don't have the engine running and you refill after an empty of of the oil, you can only get approx 2 ltrs in!!!!

So maybe this is what happened? If you keep adding in 0.25ltr amounts and check after each one you CANNOT overfill the box, SO LONG AS YOU DO IT FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE.


Good luck

Dave
 
Hi, Dave thanks. This is the procedure I have been following but the oil still isn't showing on the stick.
I've owned the disco for about 3 years now (used to be quite a regular on here!!) but it took a year to get it on the road after welding all new floor in doing a HG job on it, replacing the auto box and various other things..
It's been running fine for 12 months or so with the replacement zf box, a few months ago I noticed a leaking cooler pipe when sorting a leaky p gasket (ended up being corroded water pump housing block but that's another story!) so I fitted a new pipe and added at least 2L of fresh atf.
At this point I was unable to get a reading on the dipstick but it seemed I had added more than has dropped out so was to concerned to add more with the risk of over filling.
As I understand it would be very bad to over fill, I've already changed the box once one my own which was not fun, and I now have a boat project at the back of my house so am limited to working on a main road!!
Anyway, I digress.. so a couple of weeks go on and I notice it takes a while to change up when pulling away , so I finally pluck up the courage to add another litre or so, still no reading!!!
Looking on the web it seems that the sump takes approx 5L atf so I shall nip out in my lunch today and pick up 7L or so, drop what's on there at the moment (out of interest see how much is there) and add 5L of fresh fluid. Hopefully this time I will get a reading on the dipstick..

Last night I put 100quids worth of diesel in her so I'm committed to that drive tonight!!

If I find further down the line that its the transfer box at fault then it may not be all that bad as I kept the old one off my last autobox, ideally I could replace it by myself in situ..
 
Mr Noisy said:
Auto box should be done when running so simply keep filling til it hits the stick, they hold a LOT of oil.

Noise is likely to be the transfer case, wouldn't have thought diff would have been too upset until it actually ran dry, however water in axles knackered both my diffs very quickly.

You are welcome to give me a shout if you want a second opinion on things in future.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind offer, I recall we nearly met up a while back as your only half an hr or so from me. It would certainly be good to get your opinion on this when seeing/hearing(!) it in person..
 
Hi Graham, I thought your name sounded a bit familiar, I reckon we spoken before.

Just for your info I normally find when dropping the autobox oil that I get about 4.5ltrs out. The total capacity of the autobox + Torque Converter is 9 ltrs but you can only ever get 4.5ltrs out at a time, the rest stays in the TC.


Dave
 
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