Auto box top up oil

[John W]

May be of interest to some owners of D2 auto's. I had noticed the auto becoming a bit lumpy in gear changes, next it wanted to start in 2nd gear when it was cold. It would start off in second then after about 50 m would shift down to 1st. Having done that it would hold first for a while not wanting to change up. Then settle into normal but a bit lumpy changing.

Figured nothing to loose by checking and topping up the oil level. It drank about 600 ml and that seemed to fix the trouble. It was nearly due it's 160 000 service so got it done and they found a fair amount of metal shavings on the bottom pan magnet.

The auto seems to be working just fine now but every gear change that is not silky smooth gets you wondering if the box is going to last or is it on it's way out? No funny noises which is a good start. I guess the lesson is that the box is not a completely set and forget item, probably should check it every 5 000 km.

There are no obvious leaks from the auto but there is a slight drip from the transfer case. If the auto is leaking will it leak out the back into the transfer case?

[mike 90 RR]

The transfer case has it's own oil .... So check that level too

[BigJon]

If the auto trans output seal is leaking it will drip between the trans and the transfer case. Not uncommon on vehicles used in dusty / sandy conditions.

[nice1guv]

The auto box and transfer case certainly do use 2 different types of oil.

The auto box (well D1 anyway) uses the usual ATF type, Dexron IID I think is recommended.

The transfer case uses a Hypoid gear oil 80 to 90w (again D1).

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought the two could never really meet, even when seals were crappy.

The ATF oil is quite thin and red in colour, whereas the transfer box oil is thicker and a more normal brown oil colour.

Check the colour of the oil dripping and at least you will know which it is.

[John W]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

Always thought that the auto box was the best feature of the D2 and pretty much bomb proof. Reading some of the threads here it sounds like it gets it's share of trouble too. Bug... all now in my D2 that has not needed patching so why should the auto be different?

[crash]

Where is the top up plug located on the Auto?

[nice1guv]

Where is the top up plug located on the Auto?

Assuming it is the same as my D1, you top the auto box up through the dipstick tube where you check the level from.

So you need an oil bottle with a long tube on it or a small funnel, otherwise its hard to get in there and spill oil everywhere.

[jmkoffice]

Unfortunately, the D2 doesn't have a dip stick to check the level.

[nice1guv]

Unfortunately, the D2 doesn't have a dip stick to check the level.

Well that's not an improvement over the D1 then!

How do you check and fill it? Is it like the transfer box with a bolt in the side of it?