Hello
So, on my 2003 Disco, I need to se if it's a 22 trans or a 24, but either way, I already know they take Dex III.
Question: in the mean time, should I just drain some fluid from the pan, and re-fill with the exact same amount of new fluid, also check level? And then, a couple of weeks down the road, actually drain again, pull off the pan, replace filter no put new fluid in? So that would be 2 partial fluid changes in a row, but only one filter change. Right now I am kind of afraid of taking the pan off as I need to truck running, also, need time to order the proper kit.
Does it make any sense to replace just some of the fluid in the meantime, while also making sure it's not low on fluid?
I don't like the way the transmission has been acting the past couple of days.
Thanks All

 

It would be worth draining some to see what it looks like, BUT READ THE PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING LEVEL, engine on is absolutely critical or you will have an epic oil spill.

Then just top up if required

 

I just recently had a pretty epic oil spill when I was changing the T-case fluid... but will read, thanks!

 

How many miles on the trans? More than 150 you are tempting fate changing fluid.

 

Vehicle has 219k on the odometer. I got it about 2 years ago, it had like 203k. I have no idea if the trans has ever been serviced, but quite possibly it was, since this Disco was generally looked after, it seem. I do believe it most probably had a head gasket job done just prior to the previous owner trading it in. The reason why they traded it in? Probably they were quoted $3k to fix the Three Amigos problem, and that was all she wrote.
However, I do not know for a fact if that ATF fluid in there is original from the factory, 21 years old and 219,000 miles OR if it has been replaced a couple of times already. don't know.
So, I'm presuming, that dumping out 4 quarts and putting in the exact same amount of new ATF, then checking fluid level would be rather a good thing. Question is, which fluid to use, should I look for supposedly OEM Castrol? Obviously this 4HP-24 is not unique or proprietary to Land Rover, it's a ZF, extensively used in BMWs and a bunch of other brands, too...
So Valvoline or Castrol? And which Valvoline or which Castrol?
Most ATF on the shelfs today say Dex V and Dex VI, while this trans was originally meant to have Dex III?

 

@MyOldCars Any good quality transmission fluid will do but check it 1st, you can get a sample out of the fill plug,remember engine running when you take that plug out. If it looks good and does not have a burnt smell you an leave it alone. Having said that I did mine and the filter at about 150 to 160k with no ill effects.

 

Personally I would not risk it. Everytime I have done it on a vehicle with high mileage it ends with the fiber clutches disintegrating. I had one with 256k on the clock before someone pulled out in front of me and totaled it, I got it at 200 and did not change the fluid. Drove fine. Replacements are relatively cheap, I would drive it till it stops working and then swap it.

 

I don't know, I've changed trans fluid and filter a bunch of times on my Mercedes, and so has my buddy on at least 2 of his Benzes... They were all about 100k miles initially. So to me, changing the fluid (partial change every time) is a normal thing, however... There is no smoke without fire, so guess people have had that experience of failures after fluid replacement?
Another thing is - when I dumped fluid from the t-case, what came out was a dark stinking goo, and the truck started making far less noise and drove better after the fluid change. So trans fluid can and probably will degrade over time, no?

 

@MyOldCars If the T-Case oil was bad do the diffs too, they likely the same. Transfer cases and differentials use gear oil, similar to motor oil it gets very dirty, and can get water in there, they should get changed every a couple years.

 

Yeah, I checked level a few months ago and topped them off with some Lucas, will change this coming weekend. At least, that's the easy part of this whole maintenance bit...