Member Since: 03 Aug 2010
Location: Travelling full-time in OZ
Posts: 9
Advice on towing with Auto D3 please..
Gday...
Please read the following I have pinched from another forum (non-Lr) -
"the advice you gave in your post (above) is 100% contradictory to what I was advised, by Land Rover Australia, to do when towing with an automatic Disco 3.
I specifically contacted them when I purchased my vehicle because I had heard many stories of "blown" auto trannies in all makes of vehicle.
Land Rover's advice is as simple as "put it in drive and the transmission will take care of itself". They specifically advised AGAINST using the manual mode of operation when towing.
The reasoning is that the trans is both adaptive and intelligent. It interacts with the engine ECU to ensure that the right gear and the right revs, fuel mix etc are made available to keep the gearbox within its operating parameters at all times. They argued that locking the trans in a specific gear would heighten the risk of overheating the transmission.
We pull a 3.5 tonne 'van and have done 83,000 trouble-free Kms so far. I don't know the circumstances of the trans failure that the original poster had but I do know that in the 6 months I spent working at a Land Rover dealer last year, not one D3 came in with transmission failure.
ZF are so confident in the transmission that they manufactured it so that you cannot check or top up the trans fluid and it is not checked by a dealer until the vehicle has done over 200,000 Kms."
So, we are towing a 2600kg van with our D3 TDV6 Auto Se. Bought it with 72,800km on clock 3 months ago and now has 81,000km on clock. It had been serviced at 72,124km according to the book. We are travelling full time, and, despite the Service Schedule stating 200,000km for ATF change, I was going to have it serviced (engine oil/filter & auto trans (transfer?) oil changed) at Toowoomba dealer mid next month.
I too was advised to "put it in drive and let it sort itself out - except in hilly country to move lever left into Sport and it will only use the lower 5 gears."
So far it is towing magnificently - and economically.
I am interested in the comments of the wise heads on this forum regarding the veracity of the statements in the 'post' above. Also, is it true that it is a major task to 'change the ATF' ... renewing/changing parts of the trans case or something?
Cheers
JohnActively occupied in retirement
30th Aug 2010 5:54 am
disco_steve
Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498
Re: Advice on towing with Auto D3 please..
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Land Rover's advice is as simple as "put it in drive and the transmission will take care of itself". They specifically advised AGAINST using the manual mode of operation when towing.
The reasoning is that the trans is both adaptive and intelligent. It interacts with the engine ECU to ensure that the right gear and the right revs, fuel mix etc are made available to keep the gearbox within its operating parameters at all times. They argued that locking the trans in a specific gear would heighten the risk of overheating the transmission.
ZF are so confident in the transmission that they manufactured it so that you cannot check or top up the trans fluid and it is not checked by a dealer until the vehicle has done over 200,000 Kms."
John
I agree with leaving it in 'D' and let the gearbox look after itself, however, when off road, I would use manual shift, to give more control, I wouldn't want to descend a steep hill in 'D'
As far as the statement "maintenance free for 200,000kms (105k miles in UK)" you will find lots of posts on here that will contradict that . . . most seem to require a fluid 'change' or 'mega flush' at around the 80k miles (approx 130,000kms) due to symptoms like:-
- Juddering under acceleration - gets more evident when towing a heavy load
- Sluggish gear changes
- Holding in each gear longer than normal
06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k
previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes !
30th Aug 2010 9:13 am
Gazan1
Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 17
Hi All,
Well I must say that if you let the torque converter and box do their own thing you will burn the tranny oil.
I have had the tranny replaced as it shuddered under warranty. Caused by burnt oil. Since then I drive it manually. Since the new tranny I have done around 30K Kays towing a 3 tonner offroad van. No issues at all. Just don't thrash the torque converter and all will be ok. You can still make the TC work hard in manual so allow it to 'lock-up' and then apply pressure again.
I rev to 3k and shift with less accelleration. Then accellerate again. I used to think like LR and let the car do its thing. Then warranty ran out and my thinking all changed. Also get the Tranny oil changed early (60-80K) then repeat as often as you need. I have been advised to have the tranny sump pan mod done and flush every 60K.
PS Don't forget the diffs.
Regards,
Gaz2006, TDV6SE, Zambezi Silver
14th Jun 2011 1:01 pm
colin6307
Member Since: 17 Apr 2010
Location: croydon
Posts: 246
auto transmisson
What i did is fit an auto transmission temperature gauge, informs you just what the temperature is.
I also fitted extra oil cooling radiator
To burn auto oil your temperature has gone way way to high, and will damage your transmission.
Watch your gauge and you will be ok.
Cheers
14th Jun 2011 7:27 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
my HSE has done a lot of towing over its 135,000 miles and 5 years, all of it in "D" and not had any problems.Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
14th Jun 2011 8:12 pm
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Gazan1 wrote:
Hi All,
Well I must say that if you let the torque converter and box do their own thing you will burn the tranny oil.
SNIP
Gaz
Why do you state this with such authority? TBH, I think that you are full of .The Bearded Dragon
15th Jun 2011 12:15 am
Gazan1
Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 17
Hi Bushwanderer,
I dare say my authority and experience is far less than yours.
All I was doing was telling readers things that have effected me and what I do to overcome them.
Your little tirade does little to help the forum.
Gaz2006, TDV6SE, Zambezi Silver
15th Jun 2011 7:25 am
CMG
Member Since: 12 Jul 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 956
FIGHT!!!!!
Lets not get our panties in a wad (who is the resident unwader? ), after all our Land Rovers will get some other fault soon enough where this subject won't matter any more. 17 Discovery 5 HSE Si6, Fuji White on brown | 07 LR3 SE 4.4 Java Black on Alpaca
Club V8/Club OCD
15th Jun 2011 12:26 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
We have not had a good fight for a while.
Please do continue Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
15th Jun 2011 4:04 pm
dtest
Member Since: 02 Jan 2011
Location: Weybridge
Posts: 140
What's 'Tranny Oil'?
Somthing that starts life as one type of oil and ends up another?
Yep, starts golden syrup colour and goes like dark treacle Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto - gone but not forgotten.
2014 BMW 530d M Sport Tourer.
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
_________________________________________________
Disco Picture Website Here
15th Jun 2011 5:41 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Ahem, I gather character has done a few miles whilst towing something...
...must be well over 400,000 miles by now...
15th Jun 2011 5:51 pm
Chicken Duck
Member Since: 11 Nov 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 1387
"tranny oil" is a lubricant for having intercourse with a man who has turned into a Lady
15th Jun 2011 6:40 pm
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Gazan1 wrote:
Hi Bushwanderer,
I dare say my authority and experience is far less than yours.
It certainly seems so.
All I was doing was telling readers things that have effected me and what I do to overcome them.
Your little tirade does little to help the forum.
Gaz
Hi Gaz,
Since you are keen on a smoothly running site, as am I, it works best by measured comments. Perhaps you'll learn that in time.
BTW, THAT wasn't a tirade!The Bearded Dragon
16th Jun 2011 4:34 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Calm down BW. Just translated it as what he has experience and what he has done since.
Maybe we should all say IMHO but we don't always bother.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
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