Hello - I respect the many opinions here on Land Rovers and the bittersweet joy of owning one. I helped my son purchase his first car a couple months ago and it is a 99 Disco 2 with about 145K miles. I have followed advice from thsi forum and am changing out many old parts - mainly cooling system hoses, thermo, radiator, fan, clutch. But I have a question that I had not seen answered.

I have heard/experienced that in American made cars, if you change the trans fluid on an older car (when it hasn't been maintained) the detergent in teh new trans fluid can "clean up" enough sludge so that the transmission will fail. Meaning loose gunk that can block ports and fluid passages. Drawing on the DiscoMike and SavannahBuzz-types here. What should I do with this DIsco. The fluid is clearly old and spent. Be nice!

 

So if the last owner had not changed the engine oil for 45,000 miles, would you leave it in? Change fluid and filter, drive, then change fluid out two more times with drive inbetween. Circulates new fluid into the torque converter.