By Ron on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 04:53 am: Edit

Ok is it regular ATF or is it Dextron (sp) ATF? Also how about synthetic? Amsoil? Mobil 1? What do you think is best?

Ron

By Ron on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 05:12 am: Edit

Oh, and how many quarts if I don't change the filter, how many if I do?

Ron

By Bill B on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 05:36 am: Edit

It is the Dexron fluid. I like the Amsoil personally, but have used the Mobil 1 with good results in other vehicles. In the Disco, my tranny temps dropped considerably after switching to Amsoil. I can't remember how much right now. I bought a 2 1/2 gallon jug of Amsoil and filled until full.

By clueless on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 05:42 am: Edit

how is this done?

By Tom Proctor on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 05:48 am: Edit

Ron,

I just changed it on my Disco. I drained it after a short drive to warm it up. Then I put the plug back in and let it sit over night. Redrained in the morning, then followed with the filter change. I measured all the fluid collected and I think it was almost 7 quarts total.

After the filter was replaced and it was all together again, I put in the new fluid, but 1-2 quarts *less* than what was drained. When you start up to check the fluid level, cycle through all the gears and leave it in neutral, with parking brake engaged. Check the fluid level while cold. Add that last 1-2 quarts 1 pint at a time to avoid over filling.

I used Dextron III ATF. I didn't even think of using synthetic, but if I had thought of it, I probably would have gone with Mobil 1 or Amsoil. I've heard that it makes a difference in lower trans temp. I'll be changing the fluid every 10k miles from now on, and the filter every 30k. So maybe the cost of synthetic isn't worth it (for me).

I couldn't believe how much of a difference this service (60k) made on the vehicle. Even my wife said she could not believe how much beter it drove!

Tom Proctor
96 Disco

By Ron on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 06:39 am: Edit

Thank you guys,
The new RR is not a happy camper right now so I am going to change everything. It runs it is just a bit slow, even for a rover, so I am going to do the full service. I think I am going to put regular ATF or synthetic blend and then change it and the filter again in a few thousand miles.

Ron

By Bruce on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 02:10 pm: Edit

I used Mobil 1 and I can’t say if I see the difference since I don’t have a tranny-temp gauge, however, just knowing it’s a better fluid is enough. I also followed Ron's tips regarding drain, plug and then re-drain in the morning and yes, I got almost 7 qrts by the time I removed the filter. Thanks Ron, great advice.
After 40K miles, my original fluid was surprisingly clean. Unless you can find a tranny shop that has the fittings to flush your tranny, you will simply run a blend of synthetic plus remaining petroleum-based ATF that hides in the converter.

By RAJIM on Monday, April 02, 2001 - 02:52 pm: Edit

Cotter Transmissions....

Anyone used them??

RAJIM

By Milan on Tuesday, April 03, 2001 - 04:12 am: Edit

Ron,
My Disco takes DexronIID. I'd stick with the recommended rating. I would use organic oil for now and like you suggest drive it for couple of thousand miles and then switch to synthetic.

I think you might want to try a lube shop and have the RR "de-carbonized". It may burn off any carbon deposits and get rid of the sluggishness, unless it's something else, of course.

You'll probably want to do it yourself. I only use the lube shop, because my buddy owns it and he's got those de-carbon chemicals.

By Ron on Tuesday, April 03, 2001 - 04:40 am: Edit

Milan,
My understanding is that the Ratings round up, ie
dextron III meets Dexron IID, Dextron II, etc. I went to Pep boys and bought semi synthetic Valvoline AFT which is Dextron III rated. I was going to get Mobil I but I am just going to change the fluid now and then in about 5-10k I am going to do the filter too and put in Mobil 1 and forget about it until I hit 160k or the tranny blows up. I think the slugishness is iginition related. I am going to run a top engine cleaner through it if the new magnecors and bosch platiniums don't help. I just has no acceleration, ie top end power, whereas it cruises at speed pretty good. I think it is a combination of things, including the fact that it is a 3.5 with oversized tires, but I have a new airfilter, new iginition, plugs, wires, and redo the timing and then go from there. It is certainly driveable just not exactly the kind of on ramp acceleration I want. The reason I bought this thing was to have something to drive and also beat the crap out of (Tellico here I come!) without taking a big loss on. It looks like it is going to work out well.

Ron

By Milan on Tuesday, April 03, 2001 - 01:26 pm: Edit

Ron,
I was more refering to not substituting Type F, Type 7176+, 9606, etc. for Dexron. But even the type III vs type II compatibility should be checked carefully.

Even manual tranny's can get hurt by using differently rated oil like GL5 instead of GL3. It has to do with additives used in the fluid, their base and materials used on the internal components of the tranny. I.e. GL5 has sulphur based additives that eat away your brass (or any yellow metal) synchros. GL3 does not. Yet in most manual trannys you can use GL5 instead of GL3 or GL4. Don't ask me how I know.