A day of oil changes

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

Well decided today was oil change day, so started with the gearbox and after 3 refills since fitting the metal sump, the oil finally came out clean, so its now going to be changed again in about 50,000kms

Next was the diffs, done the rear first, and unsure if the oil had been changed prior to us getting the car, but it was reasonable clean, abit dark but have seen worse. So before filling it I got a litre of clean oil and flushed it thru, then filled the 1.1ltrs, using a small funnel and some 1/4 hose and just let it feed into the diff.
Next was the front diff, and wow was the oil totally different to the rear, it came out the colour of coke, and smelt very average, but think this has as much to do with the amount of oil rather than anything else me thinks.
I also flushed this with some clean oil and it took a good 1 ltr before it cleaned up. Measured out the .61 of a ltr and it certainly isnt much oil when its in a container that holds 1 ltr.

I did notice in the oil that came out the front diff was some floatie bits, at first I thought it was metal, but after feeling it think it may have been thread tape or sealant of some sort.

So thats the oils now done, did the T/C about 3 weeks ago, so now I think I will do the diffs every 15000ks or so as am happy to buy 2 ltrs of oil and spend 1 hr doing the change, especially after seeing the oil from the front diff.

There is a good step by step on the disco3.uk site for those interested.

Next is to look at a better fuel/water seperating filter set-up.

Cheers Ean

[unseenone]

Well done, a great lesson in preventative maintenance!!!

[wardh]

Ean,

As a matter of interest, how did you monitor your transmission temperature when you changed the oil to ensure the correct fill amount?

Thanks

Howard

[Ean Austral]

Ean,

As a matter of interest, how did you monitor your transmission temperature when you changed the oil to ensure the correct fill amount?

Thanks

Howard

I have a hawkeye diagnostic tool., but it took a good 5 mins of idle before it got to 50 degrees, more than enough time to select thru the gears, then get under the car and top up the box.

Cheers Ean

[bbyer]

I recently ran across this Technical Service Bulletin re a mod to the front breather hose cap. It may be old news to all of you but for me, well I have the Breather Cap on order now.

The part number of the breather cap is LR019450 and the service bulletin is LTB00245 dated 06 November 2009

I just wondered if there was any tie in to the seemingly dirty front diff oil and the breather mod or lack of it.

[wardh]

When I change the diff oils in my D3 I noticed the following.

Rear Diff oil was clean, no noticeable difference in oil color or smell just a small amount of smooth grey metal paste on the magnetic drain plug.

Front Diff. Oil slightly darker but still clear. Same small build up on magnetic plug.

When doing the Diff oil changes I did note that on first removing the filler plugs on both front and rear diffs a small trickle of oil came out of the filler holes?

Both of my diffs were replaced under warranty approximately 40ks ago.

Howard

[bbyer]

When doing the Diff oil changes I did note that on first removing the filler plugs on both front and rear diffs a small trickle of oil came out of the filler holes? Both of my diffs were replaced under warranty approximately 40ks ago. Howard

That is odd I would say. It suggests both differentials were filled "old style", by the dealer; that is, up to the filler plugs and that is not the official line re either of the D3 differentials.

It would be nice to think that it is OK to fill to the plugs as "by the book" sure seems like too little oil. I wonder ....

While I can envision that too much oil in a non vented sealed automatic transmission would be a bad thing, it puzzles me that "half drowning" differential gears would be bad assuming the air vent hoses are not plugged.

[scarry]

When doing the Diff oil changes I did note that on first removing the filler plugs on both front and rear diffs a small trickle of oil came out of the filler holes?

Both of my diffs were replaced under warranty approximately 40ks ago.

Howard

Hindsite is a wonderful thing,measuring how much came out would have given a clue as to the quantity that was in em.