Disco 4 (LR4) Autobox fluid change

Posting this on behalf of a friend who doesn't touch keyboards ...

He has a 3.0L diesel Disco 4 on a 12 plate. It has covered about 120k miles and as far as we can tell has the original fluid in the autobox. That sounds like a lot of miles! It seems it is "sealed for life" and the fluid doesn't need replacing but we've heard that before and just wonder how true it is? It went in for an MoT test recently and he asked the garage (out of interest) how much a fluid change would cost and they said the oil itself was £45 a litre and it needs 11 litres before we even start talking about filters, gaskets and labour!

So, should he think about replacing the fluid and is there a handy How To guide anywhere if so? Also, what fluid is this that is so expensive?!

Be interested in @Bemble 's opinion and @jamesmartin but others are welcome. @gstuart, didn't you have a Disco at one stage?

You can get decent oppinions from owners or all kind of boll*x from the web, the fact is that the D4's autobox is a ZF6HP28 type and no matter what a LR main dealer sais or why do they say that the oil must be changed cos if it was "seaaled for life" there would not be a clear procedure for it issued by the box's builder... i didnt read the whole document as i dont have a D4, i've searched a while ago for a friend but IMO at 120K miles it's time for an oil change anyway, read the last paragraph of the first page, it's about 80K - max120K KM not miles , i attached an official document... the ZF lifeguard 6 fluid is needed and here's it's price: https://www.powerenhancer.co.uk/zf-lifeguard-6-automatic-transmission-fluid.html but if you insist you might find cheaper and i doubt that 11l is needed for a simple change, maybe 8, and here's a lidt with alternatives https://www.zf.com/global/media/en_zf/lubricantslists/TE-ML_11.pdf

They usually are done by power flushing using specialist machine. As it’s a 2012 it will be 8 speed auto.
There’s a few guys on the DISCO 3.co.uk forum with the proper kit to do the box flush, and most recommend 50k miles between flushing

Thanks, chaps. That makes sense to me. I'll tell him the good news and once we've fought past the moths into his wallet we'll give it a go.

I've had a PM with the following information that makes sense to me.

This is for the 8 speed https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/robb...l-change-141425.html?highlight=How+to+8+speed

This is for the 6 speed https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/filos-autobox-oil-change-55010.html?highlight=6+speed+atf

johnlad said:

As it’s a 2012 it will be 8 speed auto.

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6 speed autos were present up to 2013 as well beside 8 speed ones, my friend's is 2012 with 6 speed that's why i stored that information

sierrafery said:

6 speed autos were present up to 2013 as well beside 8 speed ones, my friend's is 2012 with 6 speed that's why i stored that information

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Not in the uk, late 2011-12 changed to rotary gear changer instead of stick, and eight speed on rotary

johnlad said:

Not in the uk, late 2011-12 changed to rotary gear changer instead of stick, and eight speed on rotary

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This image is cropped from Topix UK and gives that selection at the bottom for 2012(i selected RHD cos my friend's is LHD so i though you might be right)... though i'm not gonna argue on that if you know for sure cos important is that the final consensus is reached that what ever it is it needs oil change

I agree with Sierrafery, "sealed for life" is only a Land Rover concept to help them reduce apparent costs during the "lifetime" as measured by many company car fleet managers (typically 3 or 4 years from new & 80~100,000 miles)
The gearbox designer / manufacturer ZF definitely do not support "sealed for life" & issue recommendations for oil changes (not oil flush !) .
I'm not sure about the oil volume in 8 speed in the D4 (& RR), but I've recently changed the oil in the 6 speed ZF auto in our L322 RR at 125,000 miles & managed to remove / re-fill 6.5 litres.
The oil that came out wasn't terrible, but the gearchange is definitely smoother & more refined after the change.
I'm sure if you Google "oilchange for ZF8HP auto" you'll find more info ref the ZF instructions & volume of ZF Lifeguard 8 fluid required.

Pawl said:

I agree with Sierrafery, "sealed for life" is only a Land Rover concept to help them reduce apparent costs during the "lifetime" as measured by many company car fleet managers (typically 3 or 4 years from new & 80~100,000 miles)
The gearbox designer / manufacturer ZF definitely do not support "sealed for life" & issue recommendations for oil changes (not oil flush !) .
I'm not sure about the oil volume in 8 speed in the D4 (& RR), but I've recently changed the oil in the 6 speed ZF auto in our L322 RR at 125,000 miles & managed to remove / re-fill 7.5 litres.
The oil that came out wasn't terrible, but the gearchange is definitely smoother & more refined after the change.
I'm sure if you Google "oilchange for ZF8HP auto" you'll find more info ref the ZF instructions & volume of ZF Lifeguard 8 fluid required.

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you are right its all about service costs, not life of vehicle

Iirc 8 speed oil is different to 6 speed
Oil and filter change is different to a flush where they just change the oil
You have to bare in mind auto gearbox filters are not super fine filtration filters like engine or fuel filters, they are more like a large chunk stopper!

6 speed a flush is a diy easy peasy job, 8 speed apparently you need an adaptor.

Mannol oils on ebay do a good selection at sensible prices

It is the 8-speed, as many suspected.

What adapter?

Grrrrrr said:

It is the 8-speed, as many suspected.

What adapter?

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Havent a clue, check out the D3/4 forum, but as the only people who have the adaptor are mobile service guys they might not want you to know what it is for fear of losing work.
Im sure some emails to the guys who make the flushing machines may get you the info you need.

lynall said:

Havent a clue, check out the D3/4 forum, but as the only people who have the adaptor are mobile service guys they might not want you to know what it is for fear of losing work.
Im sure some emails to the guys who make the flushing machines may get you the info you need.

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Oh, you mean for the flush? Don't think we'll worry about that. We'll do a change, run it for a while (couple of hundred miles) and then do it again. Maybe do a third one too. By the third time we should be 90% or more new fluid.