ZF 5HP24 Gearbox Oil Drain and Findings....is it Good News or Bad??

Got me worrying about my oil level now ther no way of checking it without doing a full service?

Deasy said:

Got me worrying about my oil level now ther no way of checking it without doing a full service?

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You've got to get under the car whilst it's flat and level (ramp or pit) do the business with the gearchange and then crack the filler plug and see if any fluid trickles out.

Deasy said:

Got me worrying about my oil level now ther no way of checking it without doing a full service?

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dogsbody said:

You've got to get under the car whilst it's flat and level (ramp or pit) do the business with the gearchange and then crack the filler plug and see if any fluid trickles out.

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As Dogsbody says, Raise the vehicle so it is level, crack open but don't unscrew the level plug, start engine, remove level plug and get the gearbox up to around 40degC (can be measured using an IR/laser thermometer - I used a Fluke Temp measureing unit, or if you have a Faultmate or similar you can monitor the GB temp).

Go through the gear selections and back to P and there should be a thin drizzle from the plug hole - if not top up until it does....

DO NOT:
Remove plug before you start the engine
Switch off engine until the plug is back in

Reason being is the GB pump is circulating oil round the cooler and galleries etc - if you switch off the engine, it all drains back into the sump and pours out of the level hole giving a false indication of level.....must be done with engine running and the oil at betweem 35-45degC

donp38 said:

Staint.

It looks to me you may have been lucky. A slow leak from the sump eventually getting to 'terminal' oil level.. You picking it up immediately and reacting.

I would look to draing and flush to get as much new oil in as possible.
So these are designed never to have an oil change? Madness!!

Is there no way of cheaking the oil level? No level alarm?

Lastly, I haven't looked but there you can surely get a one shot oil test kit off the net. that could be interesting.

Oil simply does not last for ever!!

Hope you have been lucky..

Best wishes.

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Cheers Don....fingers crossed the level was the only issue - as Bix stated, could the low level have cooked something in the box itself....only time will tell on that one, gonna give it a couple of weeks, drain and refill and see what the new/old fluid looks like and how she drives.

dogsbody said:

You've got to get under the car whilst it's flat and level (ramp or pit) do the business with the gearchange and then crack the filler plug and see if any fluid trickles out.

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Do I do it whilst it box is at temp? Or from cold?


Cheers DB

Deasy said:

Do I do it whilst it box is at temp? Or from cold?


Cheers DB

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As posted above....

Saint.V8 said:

As posted above....

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Cheers saint, started writing the reply then got distracted and by the time if finished you had already reposted.

That's next weekends job sorted then, I might just do a full service on it

Datatek said:

As others have said, the oil looks a bit tired but otherwise OK, let's hope you are lucky. Sealed for life means until the box breaks. I would say change the oil every 20 to 30K miles depending on how hard a life it has.
Good write up and photo's.

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sealed for life id agree with what you say, i was told as an apprentice you should drain clean oil out and put clean back in ,once its dirty youve left it too long ,

I have had a look around and found these.....

Power Enhancer HOME | Engine Cleaning | Injector Cleaner | Octane Booster

They can supply one shot oil check kits.

Maybe worth a go?

donp38 said:

I have had a look around and found these.....

Power Enhancer HOME | Engine Cleaning | Injector Cleaner | Octane Booster

They can supply one shot oil check kits.

Maybe worth a go?

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When I drain the fluid for a second time at the end of the month, I will get two of those kits, one to test on the original oil (I have kept it incase I need a box rebuild and I can show them the original fluid and filter) and also on the fluid I drain out after this recent change and compare....

OK, so after a journey to work, and I am either being super sensirive or there is still a very faint vibration....

The 25-30mph judder that was quite noticable has now become a very faint vibration and the 40-50mph faint vibration has become avery faint vibration that no-one but me would notice....

I am not 100% sure if it is GB related, an unbalanced propshaft, vibration throguh the Suspension, a low tyre pressure (will check pressures tomoz), a very tiny unbalanced rear wheel (can't be front cos the steering is not vibrating) or someother drive train vibration....

But it is very very faint, and maybe I am just being paranoid......

Will update and feed back over the next few days and see if I can pinpoint it...

just found these as a recomended by a X5 owner. £1800+VAT

Transmissions Repair Nottingham | Transmission Reconditioning | Automatic Transmission and Gearbox Repair In Nottinghamshire - Home

donp38 said:

just found these as a recomended by a X5 owner. £1800+VAT

Transmissions Repair Nottingham | Transmission Reconditioning | Automatic Transmission and Gearbox Repair In Nottinghamshire - Home

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Grand, many thanks....will keep them on file and if the inevitable happens, I will get them to quote on the work too...

Many thanks again.....

Saint.V8 said:

Filter, O Ring and Gasket from LR Dealer - £48
7 litres of VW sourced LT71141 equivalent @ £11.70 /litre - £81.90
Pressure Fence Spray Bottle from Homebase - £14.99

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just range my local land garage and he gave me the following prices..

Filter - 49.45
Oring - 2.53
Gasket - 13.66



Where did you get yours saint?

Main LR Dealer in Guildford called Hunters.

Forgot to add when i get home I'll scan the invoice for you.

Saint.V8 said:

Main LR Dealer in Guildford called Hunters.

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Do us all a favour will you Ant. Next time you change it stick some normal TF in and see how long it lasts. If gearbox blows up we will all know that full synthetic very expansive **** is really needed. If it doesn't blow up you will save everybody a bloody fortune and be a real hero. However if it does blow up you're on your own.

wammers said:

Do us all a favour will you Ant. Next time you change it stick some normal TF in and see how long it lasts. If gearbox blows up we will all know that full synthetic very expansive **** is really needed. If it doesn't blow up you will save everybody a bloody fortune and be a real hero. However if it does blow up you're on your own.

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Errrrr.... Love to be the Guinea Pig.....but gonna pass on this one...

As my GB has a potential issue, any test I carryout could be invalid due to and underlying issues....errrrr what else can I say to get out of this???

Deasy said:

just range my local land garage and he gave me the following prices..

Filter - 49.45
Oring - 2.53
Gasket - 13.66



Where did you get yours saint?

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As promised....my scanned invoice....

You need to go back to your Dealer and ask them to reprice!!!

Saint.V8 said:

Errrrr.... Love to be the Guinea Pig.....but gonna pass on this one...

As my GB has a potential issue, any test I carryout could be invalid due to and underlying issues....errrrr what else can I say to get out of this???

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Bugger off, may suffice.