Hey All,

Just picked up a 1995 Discovery 3.9 as a project for my little brother. It was a one-owner truck with 83k on it and dealer serviced to the 65k scheduled service. All original books, keys, remotes, everything. Body is straight, and she runs beautifully. Dealer-installed hack job single sunroof. Needs paint (badly), all 4 window regulators, pax side cat, and other small items here and there which hopefully you all can help me with. It basically has sat for the past 4 years (without any maintenance, including oil changes) except for the occasional Christmas tree trip or camping trip.

Anyway, the guy had it hit 3/4 temp once, then saw oil seepage from the valve covers, and freaked out thinking it was the head gaskets leaking and parked it. For $500 I think we got a great deal. We've had it out at the off-road park in 95* direct sunlight for 3 hours with A/C on full blast, in 4 Low idling around at 10MPH, and the temp dial never moved off 3/8, so I think we're good there.

We did oil, plugs & wires immediately, as well as topping up coolant, PS, and brake fluid (all to be flushed when I get the time) but nothing else as of yet.

I own a 98 4.6 HSE Range Rover, and used to own a 96 4.0 SE Range Rover (among a slew of other European cars) but this is my first Disco so go easy.

Anyway, the important part - pictures!

 

I have the same disco. Except mine is white! The oil probably seeped from the valve covers because it got HOT and thinned out so much. Depends what oil he was using? You have to change ALL FLUIDS. When you get time of course. It will drive like a brand new disco when you do the transmission and transfer case. Make sure to grease the swivels and the drive shafts......

 

Eh, it's leaky valve cover gaskets, show me an engine that doesn't have a problem with VCGs leaking. I'll replace them when I get a chance but it's no big deal.

I know all the fluids need a flush, they're all pretty old. Like I said it's my little brother's car and he just left for school so it will mostly just sit in front of my house for now. The whole car is a when-I-have-extra-time project, and I have enough other pressing things going on, like getting off my *** to swap the front diff on the RR. The rear diff wasn't too bad but I'm not looking forward to the front.

I was pretty surprised to the swivels when I crawled under her. Never seen a set up like that before. What do you do to take care of them? Just standard grease? How often do the seals need to be changed? (I'm assuming there's a DIY on here about doing them somewhere...)

Also, the T-Case doesn't like going into gear when at a full stop, it has to be rolling a couple MPH and it slides right in. Is this pretty normal as they age or is there something binding that's going to break soon?

 

Use 15-40 rotella for oil, 85-170 for the t-case and diffs and 00 grease for the swivels. Check out the sticky for other service advice for the new to you just bought disco. Also when you change the plugs and wires, 8mm magnacore or kingsborne you can't go wrong and NGk plugs. Stupid auto correct. Oh and don't even get started on which oil filter to use

 

I've been doing this for a while so I'm pretty set in my brands for the above. Thanks for the weights for the t-case and grease though. The Range Rover uses 80-90 for the diff, 170 seems awfully heavy. Is that RAVE specified or forum upgrade?

 

Where is that trail located, near Mines or Carnegie?

Anyway....good to see another from around the bay and good find!

I too just picked up my D1 not too long ago (second one) and recently completed a complete service using Redline Oil. I've been a big fan of Redline for over 2 decades and like knowing they are local to us. For the diffs and tcase, I used the odd 75/140 which is perfect for British cars (also standard on all 2002-present Limited Slip M series BMW's). The hubs, I also used the 75/140, but mixed it with some Red & Tacky Lucas grease to help from leaking. But, for the manual transmission, I used the good'ole MT-90. The cooling system is mixed with WaterWetter. The engine oil I am using currently is Liqui-Moly (typical for BMW), Lubro 10/40, due to its properties....just wanted to get some of that MoS2 in the system, but will switch to 15/50 Redline next oil change.

I know I spend a good wad on the lube, but I want to make sure this thing lasts and can take my wife's beating.

 

Good eye - It's just the 4x4 play area at Carnegie. I want to take the RR and Disco out to Stanislaus Forest or Hollister when I get the time. If you want to come let me know, we can try to get some people together for a mini meet.

This is the Range Rover playing at Carnegie:

 

Other than not swapping your Range Rover with your bro for the Disco, it sounds like you have half a clue. The RAVE workshop manual can answer most of your questions. There's nothing really special about the maintenance or fluids.

The swivel ***** hold normal CV joints. It's basically just a spherical knuckle. The housings used to be filled with gear oil and the housings had drains. Yours probably does, but I think they changed a couple years later to grease to avoid failures from total-loss of fluid and they deleted the drain plugs. If yours have drains and are filled with oil, you can just drain and fill unless you see the seals are leaking. Then you can fill with CV grease, but it will weep as the oil separates from the grease. It should stay lubricated though. You can rebuild the swivel housings with new seals and bearings if you want to do everything right. I did it and it wasn't that hard, at least not after the first one and learning how.

New wheel bearings and brakes are a good idea.

The vehicle should be good offroad if you keep everything stock. Most people end up wanting to put on bigger tires and need to lift it to keep them from rubbing, but doing all this right can snowball.

 

I would say you got one hell of a deal. Great Find, I want one just like it.

I think he meant 140 not 170 on the gear lube. I put the Valvoline 85-140 in mine and it quieted it down nicely. Have the 75-90 synthetic in the front and rear diffs though, just because I did them first.

I put the MaxLife 10w40 in mine just because WalMart was out of the Rotella when I went there just to get it. Thye Maxlife also quieted the engine and made it a little peppier on the response, I was pretty amazed about that.

You might also want to replace the fuel filter soon just to avoid any problems with it being so old. And grease those wheel bearings as well.

Sounds like your brother is a very lucky dude to have your sage advice. Have fun with the Discovery and the RR's.