Just got off the phone to Gordon at 4-tech and it seems things have now moved on a bit regarding water contamination of the ATF in the gearbox.
My car has been suffering from the dreaded judders/unstable or surging RPM/jerky gearchanges since last August so decided to bite the bullet and contacted 4-tech to book a megaflush as we're headed Norwich way next Friday.
4-tech can now test for contamination. He can send you a sample bottle into which you drain a tiny bit of ATF from your gearbox, send it back to him and he'll do a test for contamination. He can also do it while you wait of course but the test takes about 90 mins.
If your ATF is contaminated, in addition to the Megaflush, 4-tech can now fit an external air-cooled transmission oil cooler, blanking off the one built into the radiator so eliminating any more contamination. Of course, you can opt to have the cooler fitted even if no contamination is present.
He also told me that this contamination issue is not confined to Land Rover - several other car manufacturers who use rads with inbuilt transmission oil coolers are beginning to experience the same problem on older cars. Seems the thin-walled aluminium coil built into the rad eventually becomes porous and allows water into the ATF
Hope this info is of use to anyone else beginning to experience auto box judders etc. Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
10th Feb 2011 10:46 am
Renton
Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Wouldn't you be able to with your eyes see wether or not the oil is contaminated?CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
10th Feb 2011 10:52 am
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Not really as it doesn't emulsify like engine oil and the ammount of radiator water in there is relatively small to cause the problem.Bodsys Brake Bible
Gordon tested the ATF sample from my car and it was not contaminated .
He then "megaflushed" the gearbox which took all of 20 mins.
What a difference - no more juddering, jerky gear changes or unstable RPM - the gearbox feels like new now.
I'm hoping it stays that way for the next 70k miles
BTW - if anybody is looking to service their brakes in the near future and is looking for quality parts at a good price, give Gordon (4-Tech) a ring as he's just taken delivery of a load of brake components (discs, kevlar pads, sensors etc). I'm sure he said they were Bearmach products. MODS - if this infringes any advertising rules, please feel free to delete.Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
21st Feb 2011 8:31 am
character
Member Since: 31 Dec 2007
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
only from experience recently, might want to consider the transfer box, get um to run the vehicle whilst up in the air and listen to the transfer box
22nd Feb 2011 10:06 pm
lee157
Member Since: 01 Oct 2008
Location: in the middle
Posts: 557
@Albourneboy,
Did you have the air cooler retrofit installed too? I'm interested in getting as much feed back on this modification as possible.
No, I didn't go for the oil cooler kit at the time Lee as the flush was expensive enough (10 litres of ATF at £20 a litre is a bit ) though I am considering it when I can scrape together enough cash to buy it.
Gordon tells me that they can be fitted quite easily by anyone who can wield a spanner through it does entail getting underneath the vehicle to do it as you have to remove the cover (or mantec plate!) below the radiator to get at the pipes.
He assured me it is straightforward if a little fiddly and can be done in 90 mins Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
25th Feb 2011 8:36 am
Bodsy Site Sponsor
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I've got the kit, but not had a chance to fit it yet. But it does look pretty straight forward. Bodsys Brake Bible
Im going to be changing current d3 to one with less miles and a non gearbox (same problem as thread!). Just wondering whether having fitted the new atf cooler would it invalidate any warranty work or should i use it till it starts to go and try and get them to fit new gearbox then fit new cooler?
Wilwhere theres a wil theres a way!
Series 3
V8 110 CSW
300tdi 110 csw
TD5 DCPU
25th Feb 2011 4:09 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
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They may say it would invalidate the box as it's not a LR recommended item....
Personally I'd get it done anyway, what woulde you rather have, warranty that covers you mostly if it goes wrong in X years or a fix that stops it causing the problem in the first place!Bodsys Brake Bible
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
25th Feb 2011 5:26 pm
SADISCOBOB
Member Since: 08 Oct 2010
Location: Alberton
Posts: 246
Very interesting thread this. I will be fitting cooler to mine soon ( 2006 V8 ) as I'm getting close to the time period most seem to start the problem at. Have checked with ZF locally and they "don't fit to LR any more" - only LR dealers now !!! Soooooo, will be DIY again.
I have been offered the AT13LTA.1/2BSP kit from Kenlowe. I note some of you are using the RX1572 kit from Kenlowe and I am waiting for them to let me know the difference between the two. We have the added problem of 25 to 40 deg C ambient and an efficiency of 83% that at sea level for cooling so don't want to make a muck - up of it for the sake of a cooler size.
I will let you all know of progress and results and try to submit a 'photo stream of the job.
Regards all
BobLife always good with a Landy
2006 LR DISCO 3 4.4 V8 HSE
DISCO 1 2.8 TDi
DISCO11 TD5
RR CLASSIC 1980 3.5 V8
3rd Mar 2011 11:28 am
SADISCOBOB
Member Since: 08 Oct 2010
Location: Alberton
Posts: 246
More info' to hand just now :- For Disco 3, in SA, Kenlowe do not reccomend AT13LTA ( same as RX 1572 ) if used IN PLACE OF EXISTING 'IN-WATER' RADIATOR oil cooler. ie : this size is meant for increasing the cooling capacity of the existing auto box oil cooler, in series with existing unit.
Obviously, for the purpose of negating water/glycol inclusion in the oil via radiator cooler, we need to replace existing system totally. Kenlowe has offered me the 25 and /or the 34 row unit cooler. I'm pretty sure I can fit the 25 row unit but must now check if I can get the 34 unit in - 330mm wide x 263mm high. Don't know if this is also good for you guys in the 'cool' north but I know some fellas here have fitted the smaller unit.
Keep you posted
BobLife always good with a Landy
2006 LR DISCO 3 4.4 V8 HSE
DISCO 1 2.8 TDi
DISCO11 TD5
RR CLASSIC 1980 3.5 V8
3rd Mar 2011 12:59 pm
character
Member Since: 31 Dec 2007
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
just had the gear slip tonight at 9.40pm when coasting to a junction (around 15mph) with an empty trailer, then I lightly touched the accelarator and the revs shot up to 4000 rpm so like others I drove him back in command.
I've done over 430 miles today and 1000's of miles since the transfer box was replaced. After reading the above posts, recon we need to check for water contamination.
Anyone know who and where I can get it checked asap?
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d ! 
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just had the gear slip tonight at 9.40pm when coasting to a junction (around 15mph) with an empty trailer, then I lightly touched the accelarator and the revs shot up to 4000 rpm so like others I drove him back in command.
