Disco 1 ATF - Quick question?

Whilst I've been rebuilding the transfer box I thought I might as well do a Auto box drain & replace the filter whilst the exhaust & cross member were off. Now I've just drained the sump of oil and removed said sump to clean it off and repaint the outside face as its rusty as...... I left the bowl underneath for a while to catch all the drops.

Now the thing is reading through the previous topics on here about how much you can get out by just removing the sump I believe you can only manage about 4.5 litres? I ran out of bottles at 5 litres and after some inventive commandeering of more containers managed a total of 6L 600ml?

Is that normal or would it have been over-filled? I have not touched the ATF level since purchase in 2015 and this, looking at the service history (and colour of the ATF) is the first time its been touched. For 75k the ATF is rather brown / looks like coke.

You can't "normally" drain the torque converter .... but the seals do wear over time and allow the oil out, and back in to the sump... Simple question - from cold, does the box take a second or two to engage drive? if it does, then the seals are probably worn - if it does not, then I'd suggest it was overfull.... - check the level as per the manual when you refill...

I wouldn't worry about it either way - I know my TC is worn, and it'll fail one day - but from what I have seen, they appear to last about 150K, so it's a while away yet...

No, when it was running it engaged fine. I was a bit worried though looking at the colour of the fluid its not been on the road for about 5 years before I bought it so I was surprised it being so brown.

Hopefully at weekend everythings going to be put back - Transfer box, new manifolds & exhaust etc.... then I can fire it up and run through the gears to top up the atf correctly.

Umm... if you havent actually run the engine yet how did you measure the oil level....?

Erm....I measured the old oil that was removed from the sump = 6.6litres came out! I was asking if that was normal.

Just wanted to check that you were not using the dipstick after a fill. IF that's what you got out it seems a little high - mine drains a bit more than a gallon can, so I'd say just over 5 litres. 6.6 litres sounds like it was a bit overfilled and coke brown sounds like someones been getting it hot. Does it smell burnt at all? If not then I would expect the brake bands and clutches to be OK. These autoboxes though do seem to take a lot of stick and go forever - they fitted them to the old 7 series BMW's and they stick a lot of power through them with no real complaints.

I'd check that the front radiator is free of mud otherwise it will overhead on long hill climbs, and then fill her up and go - should be OK.

Cheers Chris.....

Its all in the great plan Once its all back together & the g/box & t/box are back in and running ok, the engine is next for a refurb - well the top of it. Then all I've left to do is brakes and a little welding (I hope) before MOT time.