Fluid Change

Ok, after 3 false starts I now have a discovery tdi auto and very pleased with it I am. I would like to do a complete fluid change, oil, auto box, diffs etc, etc the works.
My Question is: Would it be better to do it your self, or hand it over to a garage?
Things to take into consideration, cost, efficiency, task properly completed.
Your thoughts................


Harry

You will use the right oil, you will take your time to overfill things by jacking up sides and I shouldn't take you that long really.

Why 'overfill things' ?

You wouldn't do that with your engine oil (unless you're a nutter or really into changing engines because you've blown them up) so why do it with gearboxes and diffs?

Go for it yourself, I did all of mine a few weeks back, just make sure you have a small sueezable oil bottle to fill the transfer box and gearbox as access can be tight.

Just going through this myself, I have to say it is a very dirty job if you just have a driveway to work on.

Axles are easy, but engine/filter and main box (mine's a manual, no idea on autos) seem to have things under them that makes the oil splash everywhere when you drain, if you value your driveway probably worth investing a few quid in some plastic sheeting or drive onto an old bit of carpet or similar. Warm the vehicle up first (driving it) to get things warm so the old stuff runs out more easily.

Use the liquid grease stuff for the swivels (not EP90), and I can also really recommend the Forte range of products. My engine was pre-treated with engine flush prior to dropping the old oil, and also oil fortifier in the new oil. It had some diesel treatment a few hundred miles ago and last weekend passed the emissions on the very first "vroom" (155k miles and EGR blanked off).

All my diffs and boxes also have a shot of Forte diff/box treatment in them and it has substantially reduced whine and improved gearchange (although obviously new oil does help here).

However not sure what that lot would cost as my mate works for Forte! Also not sure what a full oil service would cost but anything saved is a bonus!

Use a 98p builders bucket from B&Q as an oil drain can and cover the filter up with an extra large freezer bag before taking it off and you can avoid almost all the oil splash. Found this out the hard way yesterday doing the same job on my 90. Whatever you do, don't imagine that a 6ltr oil drain can from Halfrauds will be able to catch the 'hosepipe effect' you get from a Tdi sump drain plug

what is allowable leakage on the transfer case?

Adz said:

Why 'overfill things' ?

You wouldn't do that with your engine oil (unless you're a nutter or really into changing engines because you've blown them up) so why do it with gearboxes and diffs?

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Why not? In everything except the engine it does no harm, and gives you longer before you need to top things up, if you can get oil to sit half way up the filler plugs, its a little more oil, lasts a bit longer on leaky transmissions etc...

Quite a few independent LR garages I know do this also...

discomania said:

You will use the right oil, you will take your time to overfill things by jacking up sides and I shouldn't take you that long really.

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Me thinks you had too much vino when you typed this,then you try to defend it ! Come on just admit the 60 units of booze you drink each week !! Not that I ever touch a drop,hic.......eeerrrr.

discomania said:

Why not? In everything except the engine it does no harm, and gives you longer before you need to top things up, if you can get oil to sit half way up the filler plugs, its a little more oil, lasts a bit longer on leaky transmissions etc...

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Overfill it and it's just as likely to get blown out of the breather, which is a complete waste and not what the breather is really for.

If it's leaking badly enough that it needs constant topping up, then you have a problem which will only get worse instead of better if left to it's own devices, better by far to fix the leaks and just need to top it up once.

discomania said:

Quite a few independent LR garages I know do this also...

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We'll have to agree to differ on whether that means it's a 'good idea' or 'just what the LR indies you know do'.

I'm not saying your wrong - I just can't see the point of it myself, when it takes longer to overfill the car than it does to check and top it up to the correct level three times, I can't see it being that great a time saving when all is said and done

iam lucky i work nights in a bus garage lots of pits oil drainers all the right oils plus greese props at same time job done in a hour

And where did you say you worked JayJay.....
Many thanks for all the words of advice and comments.
As with any new vehicle I want to start right, so a full and comprehensive service to start. Timing belt first, which a local 4 x 4 garage is going to do along with the pulley upgrade. I asked them about the fluids and they quoted me 120.00 which considering the engine oil alone would cost me 40.00, I thought was quite good.

Many thanks

Harry

so how big of an ordeal is pulling the transfer box just to replace the seals? Also is there some other maintence to go with this since im already elbow deep>

£40.00 for oil? Whats in it, gold?

higgmo said:

so how big of an ordeal is pulling the transfer box just to replace the seals? Also is there some other maintence to go with this since im already elbow deep>

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Might be an idea to start a new thread...

Discomania,
As a senior member with wisdom and knowledge, perhaps you would like to share some of it with us junior lesser mortals.

Discovery engine oil = 6.8 lt so 2 x 4 lt cans of castrol magnetex 5w30 at 19.00 each. Thats the cheapest I can find. 10w40 10.99 for 5lt.
Harry

Ovoline super universal: 80p a litre.

Or even, Costco @ £30 for 20litres...

Thanks.
Harry

Fat Harry said:

Discomania,
As a senior member with wisdom and knowledge, perhaps you would like to share some of it with us junior lesser mortals.

Discovery engine oil = 6.8 lt so 2 x 4 lt cans of castrol magnetex 5w30 at 19.00 each. Thats the cheapest I can find. 10w40 10.99 for 5lt.
Harry

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That's nothing Fat Harry

You have to remember this aint a normal forum