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Lockley

Member Since: 15 Feb 2023
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 16

Transmission oil change & pan / filter replacement

At 51,000 miles decided it was time to change the gearbox oil and replace the pan/filter.
I hope the following pointers are helpful for anyone else planning the same.

I contacted ZF customer services and supplied vehicle details and they gave their service kit part number: ZF1087.298.365.

I ordered this through autodoc.co.uk - £257. This includes the pan/filter, 7L of the LifeguardFluid-8 & new pan bolts.

At my local deanship I was quoted £266 for the pan/filter (out of stock anyway), and £568 for the oil! The LR part No for the pan is LR065238 (which cross-references with OE numbers on the autodoc website.

I followed the Topix guides, TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN, and TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAIN AND REFILL, in conjunction with the ZF guide that came with the kit.

Relatively straightforward job.

You do NOT have to remove the transmission crossmember (as is stated in Topix); you just need a slim stubby wrench to access the rearmost two pan bolts - I used a Teng 1400B 1/4" MINI BITS RATCHET. There is a wiring harness attached to the crossmember to unclip and move to one side to gain access.

You do NOT need LR special tool 307-452 Wrench, Transmission filler plug, as specified on the Topix guide. You can easily get a 3/8" torque wrench onto the filler plug without he LR extension tool. That was a wasted £100, ordered from JLR tools -jlrequipment.service-solutions.com.

I finish with a question. The last step of the Topix guide, having completed the final hot fluid level check, is to EXTRACT 350ml of transmission fluid. (applies only to 3L diesel and petrol engines). Does anyone here have any thoughts or insights as to a reason for this? It is not stated in the ZF guide.

Any questions, I’ll be happy to try and answer. L663 D300 SE MY22.

Last edited by Lockley on 3rd Nov 2023 7:59am. Edited 1 time in total

2nd Nov 2023 8:13pm

Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1431

Thats good to know. I'm averaging 20k a year so will do this at 40k. Curious about the extraction though

I have a brilliant independent so will let them do it.next year

Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.

2nd Nov 2023 10:07pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2909

When is the recommended oil change for this transmission?

Did you ever check the oil level, to make sure the correct quantity was present. One of my customers asked his dealer to check the transmission as it sometimes took a second to engage when accelerating after slowing down.

They found it was about a litre short of the correct amount (l assume they followed the correct and rather complicated procedure to check the oil level)

Anyhow, after adding a litre of oil he said the transmission was much better and no longer had the intermittent delay engaging drive.

3rd Nov 2023 8:21pm

Lockley

Member Since: 15 Feb 2023
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 16

Hi Lightening,

So, LR state it’s filled for life. And in fairness ZF themselves state this transmission is “generally” filled for life.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemedia/mas...d-8-it.pdf

However, they also state a 150,000km service interval because of so many varying parameters.

Additionally, this service centre say that ZF recommend an interval of 50,000 miles.
?si=0x5oTTq9l2HW2L-1

So certainly some conflicting advice is available. So I’m playing it safe. Likewise I change engine oil & filter every 7,000 miles, and did rear differential and transfer case at around 30,000 miles.

Good point about existing fluid level - sorry I didn’t check. L663 D300 SE MY22.

3rd Nov 2023 11:18pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2909

The discussion about this subject is everlasting on various forums.

However my opinion is, certainly won't do any harm to replace engine or transmission oil more often than recommended.

l will change the engine oil annually (around 10,000 miles) and will probably get the transmission done after five years.

Never thought about the differential oil! Probably get that done at the same time as the transmission.

4th Nov 2023 10:07am

GavinC

Member Since: 23 Apr 2024
Location: Washington USA
Posts: 7

Transmission fluid change

Very useful thread.

I was wondering if anyone had any information/explanation for the removal of 350ml of fluid after the level has been corrected.

Seems like this is counter to the ZF instructions of a precise fill level making sure vehicle is level, the correct revs and gear changes are done and the temperatures are within testing range.

Doing all this to get a precise fill volume only to remove 350ml seems very strange.

Granted, what I don't know about ZF transmissions could fill a library or three.

25th Jan 2025 12:13am

Crazymind

Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 200

Could this be to account for thermal expansion, ensuring the correct fluid level when the transmission reaches operating temperature?

25th Jan 2025 8:01am

GavinC

Member Since: 23 Apr 2024
Location: Washington USA
Posts: 7

@crazymind

This is what I don't understand. The very reason for the precise steps in the drain and fill are to get the correct volume to allow for thermal expansion up to the working temperatures. (90C or so)

Now you've got the correct volume and you remove 350ml.

Only with 3L engines. Transmission is the same across the board. Operating temperatures are the same. Expansion and volume concerns should be the same.

There must be some other variable in play that necessitates the removal of such a large volume. 350ml.

It's bugging the heck out of me that I cant understand it. I like to understand the basics of what I try to do. Don't always get there with my limited brain-pan and gibbon skill-set but nevertheless, I'd love to learn more.

26th Jan 2025 5:55am

Crazymind

Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 200

We will keep guessing till someone with the correct answer will step in…
A few more possibilities come to mind regarding why 350ml of transmission fluid is removed only on the 3.0L engines:
Torque Converter Fill Levels?
the torque converter might differ slightly in design or capacity compared to other available engines. A larger torque converter could retain more fluid when running, meaning the initial fill process might slightly overestimate the final level.
Specific Adjustments for Shift Quality?
Sometimes, small fluid level differences affect shift characteristics, clutch engagement, or internal hydraulic pressure. Land Rover might have found that removing 350ml from 3.0L engines improves shift smoothness or longevity.
It’s definitely a weird one!

26th Jan 2025 8:47am

Notyalc

Member Since: 27 Jul 2018
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 164

The only reason i could imagine would be to allow for the installation angle, if there is one. ZF probably give the procedure based on a transmission installation at 0 degrees. If the actual angle is different then a compensation may be required. However, 350ml sounds like a lot for an angle compensation….

Maybe like lots of other things its just a LandRover thing!!!

26th Jan 2025 9:12am

mmbanf

Member Since: 16 Mar 2021
Location: Milano
Posts: 171

Notyalc

I agree, the only explanation is an installation angle not 0 degrees.
on a total volume of 7000 ml, 350 ml could correspond to an angle of 1-2 degrees....

26th Jan 2025 11:58am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2909

Doesn't the transmission vent excess oil anyway?

26th Jan 2025 2:19pm

Crazymind

Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 200

The vent handles pressure not fluid volume. The vent allows air to escape. If the vent handled the overfill there would not be a need for manual removal.

26th Jan 2025 4:57pm

GavinC

Member Since: 23 Apr 2024
Location: Washington USA
Posts: 7

Transmission angle would seem to be a sensible hypothesis. I hadn't thought of that. I'll maybe try reaching out to LR directly to ask. Unlikely I'll get any info this way but worth trying.

Thanks for all the helpful contributors here. Much appreciated.

26th Jan 2025 6:15pm

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