Transmission cooler

[Deedub]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum, so please forgive me if this has been asked before (I have searched but couldn't find my answers). I'm in the final stage of signing up for a new Disco5 HSE Td6. The two dealers I have spoken to have provided very different answers. My (simple) questions are: does the all new Discovery have a transmission cooler?, and, can you tow in 'normal auto' setting or should you use manual mode to restrict engaging overdrive? We do a fair amount of caravan towing so these questions are important to us.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Deedub

[IndusD4]

Hi DeeDub, and welcome to the forum.

Yes the D5 already has a transmission cooler, see here - it is numbered 4 :

149465

When the car recognises a trailer is attached, it alters the shift pattern so there's no need to change the gearbox from D. The early D5 models still have an issue recognising a trailer with LED lights, but my MY18 recognises a trailer with LED lights perfectly without the need for resistor(s) on the indicator circuit(s).

Ron

[stevo]

Yep mine has no issues with the LED lights either my little trailer or my car trailer that lights up like a Xmas tree. Yet to tow with a big load yet but no doubt can sense the extra load and make changes.

i have not crawled under mine yet to see if it easy to change the trans oil or are they "sealed for life" ie when warranty runs out.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Welcome to AULRO.com[smilebigeye]

Its a funny shaped cooler,, is it in a front vent?

and Stevo,, do you really believe in sealed for life?

[Milton477]

The 8 speed ZF gearbox torque converter also locks in all gears so slippage is at a minimum & the box does not heat up like others with unlocked torque converters. My advice would be to forget how you towed before, this is a different animal. Towing becomes...well..boring, almost.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Apologies to the OP,, but

Milton,, can you compare it to an older 6/5/4 box?

[Milton477]

I can't comment on the 6 & 5 but prior to my D4 I had a D2 auto. The D2 torque converter only locks in 3rd & 4th gears so I saw temperatures of 70deg locked to 125deg unlocked on a long climb with my 3 ton van in tow & an aftermarket gearbox cooler.

The D4 with the same van & the ZF 8 speed box runs temperatures in the 90's regardless of the conditions as the torque converter is always locked.

To the OP, I am under the impression that the same 8 speed ZF gearbox is used in the D5. Select sport mode, cruise control & let the gearbox do it's thing. I may do some "predictive paddling" with the steering gbox paddles to select a lower gear when ascending a steeper incline to help the cruise control.

[stevo]

Welcome to AULRO.com[smilebigeye]

Its a funny shaped cooler,, is it in a front vent?

and Stevo,, do you really believe in sealed for life?

No, when it goes in for its 1st service going to ask that question.