TD5 Auto Box question

[ronnieb]

Hi All,

Been a while since I was last here.
One the weekend I drove about 80km to get to a border post and when I got there I heard a boiling/cooking sound. At first I couldn't find the source, then I saw a milky type fluid dripping from a small pipe in the engine bay. At closer inspection the fluid felt oily... The only thing I could think of was the gearbox. Opened the nut on the gearbox and it was the same liquid.

So this sounds like I cooked the box. What do I do now? I had to drive back home. On the way home everyting felt fine, gear changes was smooth etc. When I checked the gearbox oil it was full all the time. Maybe because it was cooked there was a lot more than normally.

Yesterday, when everything was cooled down, I checked again. Then I had to add about 600ml of Gearbox oil before it was full again. Any advice on this? Can I drive like this, do I need to change all the oil again and what do I use? How do I drain all the oil? (The little nut on the bottom of the box?)

Ronnie

[graham]

Did you get any warning lights on the dash?

I have been told that in hot weather if you doing a long climb the auto gear box can over heat but you should get a warning light, have a look in the hand book I'm sure there is something about it in there. I sold my TD5 so have no book.

[NomadABC]

I'm sure the manual advises against holding a low gear for extended periods, to avoid overheating. I seem to remember it tells you to use a higher gear in low ratio. I'm at work so can't confirm this.

[Disco69]

Does the td5 auto have a thermostat controlled oil cooling system?

This could be something worth checking - I've never had an auto landrover but auto cars often have oil coolers with a thermostat to control oil flow, if this fails it could quite easily overheat.
Just check the oil cooler pipes are hot after use.

[mike j]

TD5 Auto My warning light comes on when going uphill. I have often wandered if the switch on the oil cooler should turn on the fan. If it doesn't could I wire something up that would flick the fan on until it cools down. Or will that mess up the engine cooling.

[V8_Disco]

Mike

Its a viscus fan not electric, so no you cant unless you switch to Kenlows

Aidan

P.S. Welcome to the forums

[mike j]

Of course. Thanks for that. I've change the transmition fluid but am wondering if I have a blockage in the oil radiator. Is there a safe way of cleaning it out? Or would I be better off buying a new rad.

[V8_Disco]

I have not tried cleaning one so i dont know ... I would buy one as there is ££ in the fulid on its own

Is it overheating when towing or all the time?

[mike j]

Overheating going uphill and towing. There's something not right because the switch is ok. If I do buy a new rad do you think I should buy a larger one or would that interfer with the oil temperature. Not realy sure if there is a thermostat in the auto gearbox or not.

[jetfiremuck]

I think the trans cooler is marginal at best. Any overheating degrades the trans fluid reducing its anti wear and lubricating qualities. You need to insall a bigger trans cooler in series to keep the temp sensor function. Look at Jegs.com or Summit racing .com for pictures and ordering.

[V8_Disco]

I would go with a slightley bigger cooler, it could be worth speeking to ashcrofts first

A