Td4 manual gearbox oil change

Hi ive checked the haynes and rave manual and cant find anything definitive.
I got under the truck yestuday took off the belly pan.and changed the engine oil.
But im having trouble definitivley finding the filler and drainage holes on the gearbox. Also one i find the holes will i need a pump to get the oil into the gearbox? If anyone has pics/knowledge or descriptions they could share with me id be very grateful

Is this what im looking for ive been trying to use the rave manual but im rubbish with computers.
Also included is the photos descibing the entire operation in the haynes manual. Very helpful pics indeed

Only remove the drain plug, after you have removed the fill plug, never the other way round. This eliminates the possibility of having to move the vehicle without oil in the box, should the fill plug be impossible to remove.

I fill boxes with either a funnel and long small diameter pipe. The funnel is hung in the engine bay with the pipe in the box fill port. The oil will then slowly trickle into the box in a controlled and painless operation.

Sometimes I'll use a large syringe to fill such items. But I normally only use the syringe, where hanging a funnel isn't convenient, like filling the rear diff.

Nodge68 said:

Only remove the drain plug, after you have removed the fill plug, never the other way round. This eliminates the possibility of having to move the vehicle without oil in the box, should the fill plug be impossible to remove.

I fill boxes with either a funnel and long small diameter pipe. The funnel is hung in the engine bay with the pipe in the box fill port. The oil will then slowly trickle into the box in a controlled and painless operation.

Sometimes I'll use a large syringe to fill such items. But I normally only use the syringe, where hanging a funnel isn't convenient, like filling the rear diff.

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Thanks for the reply,
So do you thread the pipe down through to the gearbox fill hole could you please confirm if the screenshot i have from the rave manual is the righ one to identify both filling and drain holes? Thankyou nodge

There's a bad photo of the fill plug (arrowed red) and drain plug (arrowed blue).

I can't remember what size key they need off hand though.

Hope this helps.

Perfect thanks again nodge, those holes look tiny epecially if the plugs are out in that pic. Do you have any idea of outside diameter of the pipe you use thats fits as i will have to get some. Sorry to be so specific but i like to be prepared id be pretty stranded if the pipe wouldnt fit for refilling

Spambunny said:

Perfect thanks again nodge, those holes look tiny epecially if the plugs are out in that pic.

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The plugs are in, in that picture. The small hole is where the removal key fits.

Spambunny said:

Do you have any idea of outside diameter of the pipe you use thats fits as i will have to get some.

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I've got a few seizes of tubes I use, but the TD4 manual fill plug is large enough for a standard garden hose to be used.

Nodge68 said:

The plugs are in, in that picture. The small hole is where the removal key fits.
I've got a few seizes of tubes I use, but the TD4 manual fill plug is large enough for a standard garden hose to be used.

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Thanks a lot nodge your a gent will give it a go today if i get the go ahead from the boss. Ive got some auto oil to run for a few miles see if it gets things a bit smoother

So car jacked up filler and drain nuts out liquid has drained out its red and the plugs arent magnetic i thought the plugs were magnetic what are we thinking aftermaket maybe? From the tightness and condition of the nuts i thoight i was the first to open her up

If the fluid is red, then it sounds like someone has already put ATF in there to help with the gear changes.

Replace it with 80W90 or MTF94 and see what happens.

Not all drain plugs are magnetic these days.

Nodge68 said:

If the fluid is red, then it sounds like someone has already put ATF in there to help with the gear changes.

Replace it with 80W90 or MTF94 and see what happens.

Not all drain plugs are magnetic these days.

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Ahhh i put more atf in there thought i could give it a quick rise out for a week and change to mtf 94 next week when i do the ird oil.

Spambunny said:

Hi ive checked the haynes and rave manual and cant find anything definitive.
I got under the truck yestuday took off the belly pan.and changed the engine oil.
But im having trouble definitivley finding the filler and drainage holes on the gearbox. Also one i find the holes will i need a pump to get the oil into the gearbox? If anyone has pics/knowledge or descriptions they could share with me id be very grateful

Click to expand...

Changed my gearbox oil today. Got both plugs out no problem. Re filling was an absolute b******. The guy who designed the filler plug in that position requires a good kick in the nuts! I ended up with a long section of plastic pipe and the oil bottle up in the wheel arch. It took quite a while to squeeze the oil into the box and was a messy job.

Old diver said:

I ended up with a long section of plastic pipe and the oil bottle

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That's the way, although I do it from the engine bay.

Old diver said:

It took quite a while to squeeze the oil into the box and was a messy job

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Warm the oil before using as it flows better.

Nodge68 said:

That's the way, although I do it from the engine bay.


Warm the oil before using as it flows better.

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Did that mate, stood them both in a dish of hot water.

I also greased the gear linkage while I was under it. On the upside, the gear changing is really smooth again, so it was worth doing. Engine oil and fitting extra thermostat tomorrow, weather permitting.

Old diver said:

Changed my gearbox oil today. Got both plugs out no problem. Re filling was an absolute b******. The guy who designed the filler plug in that position requires a good kick in the nuts! I ended up with a long section of plastic pipe and the oil bottle up in the wheel arch. It took quite a while to squeeze the oil into the box and was a messy job.

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Funnel n hosepipe in the engine bay worked wonders for me had to whittle the hose down to fit in the filler plug though

Nodge68 said:

That's the way, although I do it from the engine bay.


Warm the oil before using as it flows better.

Click to expand...

Nodge me old mucker Any tips for filling ird oil? Recon pipe and a funnel same as gearbox?

Old diver said:

I also greased the gear linkage while I was under it. On the upside, the gear changing is really smooth again, so it was worth doing. Engine oil and fitting extra thermostat tomorrow, weather permitting.

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Whats the extra thermstat for?

Spambunny said:

Whats the extra thermstat for?

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The fitted thermostat is a bit lazy and not coming up to right temperature. As it is fitted it can be awkward to change and cause damage doing it, so it is easier to fit a thermostat in one of the top hoses, only cost a fiver. Gives me a chance to clean out manifold at the same time. It’s a well documented fix on here, good pictures as well.

Spambunny said:

Nodge me old mucker Any tips for filling ird oil? Recon pipe and a funnel same as gearbox?

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Same as the gearbox.