RoverDan
16th March 2015, 22:42
Had the estate in for a different job and asked for the gearbox oil to be changed while it was up on the ramps. Have been suffering harsh changes on kick-down (e.g. overtaking) a really uncomfortable jerk, and also it would engage jerkily from N to D or R when warm (e.g. stopped at lights). I'd checked the solenoids at the loom connector on the wing and all were in range so it didn't look like a solenoid fault. I must admit I was trying cheap options before looking into a gearbox swap, fearing a cracked piston or having to chase non-obvious solenoid failures at £40 a pop.
3.2l of old oil drained out, reddish brown but not burnt smelling. 4.0l of oil went back in. All done to the Rover Technical Bulletin spec for procedure and temperatures - i.e. fill to drain plug level, not "measure and replace the amount drained out" - with Rover JF506e oil from Rimmers.
Given that only half the fluid has been changed, the improvement in gearchange is remarkable. Smoother across the range, and the kick-down jerk and R - N - D jerks are completely gone.
I must admit I wasn't expecting this much improvement from "just an oil change". I was convincing myself that I'd got a "sticky" solenoid or cracked piston or some such without the normal symptoms... :rolleyes:
Given that the old oil was clearly used but not apparently abused, I'm putting it down thus far to low oil levels. The TB states a 300ml tolerance, mine was 800ml underfilled.
3.2l of old oil drained out, reddish brown but not burnt smelling. 4.0l of oil went back in. All done to the Rover Technical Bulletin spec for procedure and temperatures - i.e. fill to drain plug level, not "measure and replace the amount drained out" - with Rover JF506e oil from Rimmers.
Given that only half the fluid has been changed, the improvement in gearchange is remarkable. Smoother across the range, and the kick-down jerk and R - N - D jerks are completely gone.
I must admit I wasn't expecting this much improvement from "just an oil change". I was convincing myself that I'd got a "sticky" solenoid or cracked piston or some such without the normal symptoms... :rolleyes:
Given that the old oil was clearly used but not apparently abused, I'm putting it down thus far to low oil levels. The TB states a 300ml tolerance, mine was 800ml underfilled.