Gearbox oil change / steel pan or not?

[SimmAus]

Hi all

D4 is on 50k and I've decided to change the gearbox oil, and all the others, before a long trip.

Mechanic has said that its not necessary to change to the steel pan...I understand the steel pan is better from a protection / future oil change (if you get the one with the plug) position...but is there any other reason I'm missing?

Cheers

[Plane Fixer]

The plastic pan has the filter integral to the pan and is a major job to remove and refit the plastic one, due a large crossmember.
The people who did mine cut the pan in half and then removed the filter. They then put a new separate filter in and slid the new pan and gasket in under the crossmember so it will be cheaper and easier next time.

[SimmAus]

The plastic pan has the filter integral to the pan and is a major job to remove and refit the plastic one, due a large crossmember. The people who did mine cut the pan in half and then removed the filter. They then put a new separate filter in and slid the new pan and gasket in under the crossmember so it will be cheaper and easier next time.

So, the pan gets changed to allow an easier replacement of the filter, that's understandable. Mechanic did say that if filter needs replacing then the gearbox has bigger issues. Seems weird to change oil and not filter ?

[Wasa57]

Have just ordered a steel pan myself.
It is the BMW type with fill & drain plug (be aware some types of metal pans do not have the drain plug,) genuine ZF filter and gasket. Also ordered the mechatronic plug because my D3 is getting close to 240K.

-Wasa

[DiscoDB]

So, the pan gets changed to allow an easier replacement of the filter, that's understandable. Mechanic did say that if filter needs replacing then the gearbox has bigger issues. Seems weird to change oil and not filter ?

If the mechanic does not want to do the preventative maintenance you want and will pay for, then I think you have a bigger problem. There are still plenty out there who don't accept that the Auto should be serviced.

[Ean Austral]

So, the pan gets changed to allow an easier replacement of the filter, that's understandable. Mechanic did say that if filter needs replacing then the gearbox has bigger issues. Seems weird to change oil and not filter ?

Does your mechanic have the same opinion of the engine oil filter ?


The whole idea of this is that people have realised that the transmissions are NOT sealed for life as once believed. So with the removable steel pan allows the filter to be changed and the pan re-used, the original is a 1 piece moulded pan that has the filter as part of it.


I am about to change my oil for the 2nd time with the car just clocking over 125,000ks, my first change was at 72,000ks and the oil was the colour of a bottle of coke , the new oil is the colour of cooking oil.


I wouldn't risk the box for the sake of a few hundred bucks extra which is about what it would cost for a filter and the labour to replace it.




Cheers Ean

[rwlse]

Gooday all.
I'm not new to this site but I haven't done many posts.
Now retired I have more time.
It is important to have a sump with a drain plug,as the oil gets very hot and oxidizes (goes black like Coke) it also breaks down the chemical pack that does the lubrication.
I had the oil change at 50,000 kls and the lab report was not good.and the oil was yukkk !!same with the oils in the diffs and transfer case.
There is a new DX6 grade oil available that meets the ZF standard if not exceeds it ,and is available from most Lube blenders.And not so expensive. I think is a better product than the original ZF spec.
Last year we did the west coast with our 3 ton caravan,and clocked 18,000 kls on the trip,using the DX 6 product .
I had the oil change when we got home and to my surprise it was still in a reasonable good condition colour wise.
Richard

[winaje]

...Mechanic did say that if filter needs replacing then the gearbox has bigger issues. Seems weird to change oil and not filter ?

I'd be changing mechanic FIRST, then putting the steel pan on.

[Stuart02]

What kind of money has it been costing folks to do the whole transmission flush, metal pan install process?

I've just acquired a 2010 RRS TDV8 with 175000km, and am keen to give it some love, but one independent said it could cost in the order of $1300???

[AnD3rew]

Mine cost roughly $1200 for the flush, change and new steel pan and filter.

As others have said for the extra couple of hundred bucks I wouldn't even consider putting the plastic pan back on.