Disco 2 Gearbox Oil change - a few questions

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john snoo

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First timer at this. I had planned to take it to garage but as I have top of gearbox open in cab at the mo fixing selector yoke, I thought it best to have a go myself. Gear change has always been notchy and dry. Without experience I can't be sure but I have a feeling the oil level is low. Just going to find the drain plug and filler nozzle as I am told they are easy to get to from the point I am at with centre console removed.

I see some emulsification on the underside of the top plate (plate with gearstick going through), creamy pink substance. hoping thats nothing to worry about if i change the oil. A couple of questions:

1. Am I right in thinking I need 3 litres of oil?
2. How long should I let it drain for before pouring new stuff in?
3. I have a 5 litre bottle of ATF from my old mercedes days, is there any value in running that in it (or something else) for a while to flush the crud out before putting the good stuff in?
2. I see MTF94 is recommended across the forum. A friend of mine (lot of experience with landies) said MTF94 is good stuff but he uses Swepco which he reckons is even better, pricey, but fantastic stuff apparently which much better wear resistance etc (used in racing gearboxes i think he said). Just wondered if anyone has heard of or used that?

thanks
 
@john snoo You will get a lot of opinions on oil but I think most will agree that in this instance you should stick to LR MTF94.
I looked up your friends Swepco recommendation and I don’t doubt that it’s good stuff given the cost. But why would you spend more for something other than the actual LR product.???
 
Thanks. a fair question. I suppose the answer my friend would probably give is "Because sometimes people make better stuff than LR" :D. However that leads to another question: "Do i NEED better?". I am not sure I do. I suppose I just love the truck and really want to futureproof it and make it as nice as I can, and the gears are a big deal especially after being so damn horrible since I got it. I was told Swepco (based on experience used in 100+ landies, not just marketing fluff) is a much higher grade/quality and will last much longer. But again, not sure I need it. You know how it is, when someone who knows a lot more than you about something and who you trust, then recommends something very strongly "It's the only stuff I would ever put in another Landy of mine or my customers"... its hard to resist. But the price may help :D
Thanks again
 
PS I was half hoping someone on the forum might have used the two and had a chance to compare as well, just to give me another opinon really. I trust my friend, but I always trust random strangers who aren't selling me something and have no reason to be biassed in any way! Saying that, my friend said it probably costs him money to recommend it as he "can't make any money on it at those prices!", whereas he could (he doesn't) on cheaper stuff.
 
john snoo said:
Thanks. a fair question. I suppose the answer my friend would probably give is "Because sometimes people make better stuff than LR" :D. However that leads to another question: "Do i NEED better?". I am not sure I do. I suppose I just love the truck and really want to futureproof it and make it as nice as I can, and the gears are a big deal especially after being so damn horrible since I got it. I was told Swepco (based on experience used in 100+ landies, not just marketing fluff) is a much higher grade/quality and will last much longer. But again, not sure I need it. You know how it is, when someone who knows a lot more than you about something and who you trust, then recommends something very strongly "It's the only stuff I would ever put in another Landy of mine or my customers"... its hard to resist. But the price may help :D
Thanks again
Click to expand...
No problem. I don’t think you need the other stuff. From your description earlier on the “creamy pink” substance in your box I would worry that it has been filled with ATF at some point. I can’t remember the colour of the genuine MTF I last done my box with, but I am pretty sure it’s not pink....ATF is red though mostly. This might explain your less than smooth gear shift.
 
Sorry, i should have said, the oil in bottom (what little there is!) is red, but where it has creamed up and gone white its turned the red into pink just on the lid.

 
No one has said anything yet so I am going to go for it and say that, the emulsion at on the underside of the top, either your gearbox has had some condensation in it or it has been wading and got a bit of water in it. If you empty the box and clear up all the stuff you can see, then refill it with the proper stuff it should be OK.
But there will be others with differing opinions.
 
Can anyone give an opinion on three things please, regarding my clutch/gearbox...

1. - This noise when I push clutch pedal down. It has always been like this, horrible noise. I can live with it as it goes away quickly (few minutes when warms up). What is it, is it fixable? Assuming a new clutch will cure it (hoping) as I plan to change clutch soon

2. This is trickier to explain, and I am not sure if it's a problem (i think so) or if it's just because I am driving it as in the video above with all the covers off so I can hear the gearbox. When I get to 3000 revs (which I almost never do as i hate the sound it makes even with covers on!) I get a nasty rattle in the gearbox. It could be low on oil, in fact I think it is, that will be fixed shortly with some MTF94. But just a bit concerned, should it sound like a bag of nails with covers off?

3. Even harder to explain, again with covers off I noticed this - Let's say I drive up the road, 1st, 2nd, 3rd then 4th (all very early changes to keep revs as low as possible, if i floor it, demanding power at low revs (say around 1500) it sounds to me like some part of the gearbox/flywheel is spinning up before any power goes to the wheels. Hard to explain, but its ALMOST like clutch is slipping, but I see no revs change on the clocks. It SOUNDS like a slight slip in the clutch, there's a noticeable delay before truck pulls harder, but it sounds like the gearbox is 'trying' its best to transfer power to wheels but suffers a delay. Thats about best i can do to explain it. Anyone ever noticed anything like this and if so, is it normal or a problem?

thanks
 
point 3 sounds like it might be DMF fault. but as you'll be changing DMF, clutch, spigot bearing and thrust bearing, don't think there is much else that can go wrong.!!!
 
haha. thanks chaps.
I have been under impression for a long time (since getting truck) that the turbo has a severe lag, and it could do but maybe its the DMF
soon find out! thanks again
 
Mine has made that noise every morning for quit a few years now. It goes away by the time I hit the end of my road. It's definitely the spigot Bush and I'll do it next time the clutch gets done. You need to get some decent oil in the box pronto if you think it's low or the wrong stuff.
 
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