Changing the oil on a Gen 3 Autobox

[Rincewind]

Checked the oil level on the autobox the other day and found it to be a yucky black colour which I don't think is good so need to change it.
I have done a search and found references to sticking the oil cooler pipes into two seperate buckets, one with new oil and the other to catch the old oil while running the engine, I guess this then sucks the new oil up which in turn pushes the old oil out, assuming you get the pipes in the right buckets These instructions seemed to refer to the second Gen gearbox, is it also the best method for the 3rd Gen as I believe it is a different or at least modified version and are there any more detailed instructions on changing this oil.
I want to get this right and not damage anything so would be very pleased to get some guidance.

[Chillitt]

apparently, the pump pushes the oil out, but you need a gadgetsomething like 2 flexible containers, inside a rigid container, so the oil pumped out of the gearbox pushes the fresh oil out of the other container back into the engine. some wynns stockists will hire you said device.
or you could use the drain plug, pull the hoses to drain them, and refill through the dip stick with funnel.
makes the world of difference, changing the fluid, did mine when i fittred to cooler last week. good luck!

[TonyN]

I wouldn't worry to much, change it 3 or 4 times over the next year and you'll end up with reasonably fresh oil, then change it normally from then on.

I'd only got to extremes if its playing up and not shifting properly

[Rincewind]

Hi Chillit, that first method sounds complicated! So, if I use the drain plug and then drain the cooler via the pipes do you think it will get most of the oil out or is there still going to loads hiding around in various bits of the gearbox?

Whoops sorry Tony just missed your reply, so I just drain of what I can via the drain plug , top back up , do a thousand miles or so and repeat the procedure?

[Chillitt]

Yeah, what tony said!

[Rincewind]

I like the sound of that I should be able to cope

[Rob]

Whoops sorry Tony just missed your reply, so I just drain of what I can via the drain plug , top back up , do a thousand miles or so and repeat the procedure?

That's what i did when mine was all brown and yukky

[Rincewind]

Right that's sorted now to search around to find the right oil.

Thanks Guys

[Chillitt]

find yoursel a trade counter type of place, i paid 7 quid for 5 ltrs dex III against 5 quid for half a litre in halfrauds...

[Rincewind]

Thats worth knowing, we have a few motor factors I will try them as it takes quite a lot of oil and at £5 a half litre thats quite a lot of wallet damage.

[Chillitt]

specially if you spill half of it trying to tip it down the dip stick 'ole...

[30Surfer]

evenin all...just searching threads as i'm about to change my gen 2 auto-box oil as lately mine doesn't seem as smooth as before......when it kicks down it kicks like a mule and just takes off(maybe i'm just a bit club-footed...but we'll blame the box first eh)

But my question to all the knowledgeable folk is...Is there a filter inside the box that I would need to change as well, apparently similar to a range-rover as this came up in discuusion earlier this evening..???

TIA fellas...
Darren

[Uplander]

evenin all...just searching threads as i'm about to change my gen 2 auto-box oil as lately mine doesn't seem as smooth as before......when it kicks down it kicks like a mule and just takes off(maybe i'm just a bit club-footed...but we'll blame the box first eh)

But my question to all the knowledgeable folk is...Is there a filter inside the box that I would need to change as well, apparently similar to a range-rover as this came up in discuusion earlier this evening..???

TIA fellas...
Darren

Hi,
I believe if you remove the autobox sump completely (it should be very well stuck on so may be difficult to remove without distorting it so careful) within the sump pan a filter is situated...this is not the renewable type as in say a M/Benz box...but is a filter nontheless...IF you wish I suppose you could drain and clean this fiter out (it is retained in sumppan by 4 setscrews) but I have yet to contemplate this myself and believe it may only be necessary if you are faced with very contaminated atf or a box which has maybe been run dry and evrythin is then baked on .....sounds horrible ! Most people will rely on the simple expediant of draining as much old atf and refilling with dex 111...IMHO

[Rob]

Took the sump off mine when i did it the first time so i could get more of an idea how dirty it was. There was loads of fine grey stuff - clutch-type dust i suppose. Filter was a very fine metal mesh which i cleaned with meths or white spirit (in the EPC, its called a Strainer rather than a filter).
If the ATF is really dirty / brown, I think its probably worth removing the sump and cleaning eveything out.

[30Surfer]

Nice one cheers fellas...I think i'll stick with the simple for now and just drain the box and refill....unless the oil is really bad because if I start taking stuff off i'll have plenty of wee bolts left over when I get to put it back together...