Disco 4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 8 Speed

**GregMilner** · 20th March 2019, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by PeterJ

Just to add to the knowledge base.
Did an fluid change on my D4, @106000 km, it had been previously changed at 49500 km so this oil has done about 57000km. Followed the Robbie's guide that is elsewhere in this thread, with no problems. My only deviation was that I replaced the fill plug finger tight while the oil heated to the 70 deg mark and I drained it a second time immediately after and repeated the process. For the final level check (post cool down) I added only 150ml. The oil came out quite black but no unusual odour compared to the new oil. The oil came out quite black after the first change at 49500 km as well, I have kept a sample of them all.
First drop resulted in 2900 g or about 3.6 L (or 3.42 L depending on the density value used, see below)
Second drop yielded 3627 g (I left it to drain overnight) which is 4.5 L (or 4.2L), so quite a difference so the next time I do it I will leave it to drain longer.

Out of interest and as a means of ensuring I know how much oil is coming out and going in I recorded the mass of all 9 x 1 litre bottles individually, also the mass of the empty bottle hence calculated the net mass of the oil for each bottle. The gross mass varied from 850 g to 900 g, the bottles from 78 g to 87 g (some of this variation can be attributed to additional
stickers and very small amounts of residual oil in the bottle) and so the net also varied from 768 g to 822 g.
One of the reasons I did this was to calculate the density of the oil, which I calculated to be 800g/L. I checked the MSDS for the oil and found it stated it to be 848kg/m^3, which is 848g/L.
On this basis of the MSDS quoted oil density not one of the bottles actually had a litre of oil in it. Quite a few did however if my calculated value is used.
I want to add that the measurements were taken using a digital kitchen scale, not a scientific NATA calibrated instrument so there are likely to be some errors. I did a cross check with another set of digital kitchen scales (different brand) and found they gave the same reading within 2g for 8 different objects so I concluded that they are not grossly in error. In the end, the important thing is to keep track of how much oil come out so that you can measure how much goes back in and avoid any underfill.

Peter

Thanks for that Peter, I'm about to get my local LR indy to do a trans oil change (just ticked over 50,000km) on my D4 8 speed, they use Penrite oil but I want them to use the ZF product, which I'll have to buy...can you (or anybody else) advise how much I'm going to need? I thought it was 7 litres, but from what you're saying, you only took 4.5 litres of the old oil out?

PeterJ · 20th March 2019, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by GregMilner

Thanks for that Peter, I'm about to get my local LR indy to do a trans oil change (just ticked over 50,000km) on my D4 8 speed, they use Penrite oil but I want them to use the ZF product, which I'll have to buy...can you (or anybody else) advise how much I'm going to need? I thought it was 7 litres, but from what you're saying, you only took 4.5 litres of the old oil out?

Yes 5 liters for a drain and refill should be enough. Do a search online, I think about $57/L is about the going rate. You might be lucky if you can get it on special from repco or sparesbox.

**GregMilner** · 20th March 2019, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by PeterJ

Yes 5 liters for a drain and refill should be enough. Do a search online, I think about $57/L is about the going rate. You might be lucky if you can get it on special from repco or sparesbox.

Thanks Peter, can't see any special deals online at the moment, Sparesbox has it for about $58 a litre, even on ebay it's about AUD$44 a litre delivered, I'll probably just get some from Motospecs.

PeterJ · 20th March 2019, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Hi Peter. Levels should be set with the engine running at the specified gearbox oil temp. Refilling to replace only ensures you have the same as before, not that you have the “correct” level. There is no way to be sure that the previous fill was accurate. Still, your approach is better than guessing.

Hi DiscoJefster, yes i did the final level check as per the procedure, hot oil engine running, sorry if I have muddied the water.
Weighing was the double check process.

Disco 4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 8 Speed

**Melbourne Park** · 12th April 2019, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by RickO

What I gather was a standard service:

Removed transmission sump for internal inspection
No signs of excessive wear or contamination
Replaced sump/filter as required
Refilled with fluid and adjust to correct level
Completed final road test and visual inspection

*PARTS used:

PAN - OIL ZF 8 SPEED
OIL - LIFEGUARD 8

Total cost was $800 which I was happy with.

Also, there may be a steel pan on the horizon.

cheers,
Paul

My 2014 (Disco on the bonnet) D4 8 speed is booked in next week; they still have not developed a steel sump; there are steel ones around (such as used by Dodge etc) but there is no transmission fluid filter attached to those sump guards. I'll let you guys know how much it costs. I expect around $800.

**loanrangie** · 12th April 2019, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Melbourne Park

My 2014 (Disco on the bonnet) D4 8 speed is booked in next week; they still have not developed a steel sump; there are steel ones around (such as used by Dodge etc) but there is no transmission fluid filter attached to those sump guards. I'll let you guys know how much it costs. I expect around $800.

You use a separate filter with a steel pan.

**justinc** · 12th April 2019, 04:02 PM

The 8spd plastic pan has a shorter pickup and as such can be fitted to a d4 without issue.

**justinc** · 12th April 2019, 04:08 PM

Google Image Result for https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Uq0AAOSwQctbO6he/s-l300.jpg

**loanrangie** · 12th April 2019, 04:22 PM

JC doesn't the D4 have a plastic pan anyway , both 6 & 8 SPD ?

**justinc** · 12th April 2019, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by loanrangie

JC doesn't the D4 have a plastic pan anyway , both 6 & 8 SPD ?

Yup. But the 8spd doesnt need a steel pan conversion....

Thread: Disco 4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 8 Speed

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