The gearbox oil and filter were changed on my 3.6 tdv8 a couple of years ago , but I've now got a very small leak from the sump joint , I've got a new gasket and I'm going to change it , just looking for advice around the fluid if I drain it into a clean container would it be ok to re use it or am I just being tight and should go for new !! Opinions much appreciated

Noooooooooooooo  Tony
You're always in the ........it's just the depth that varies
2011 5.0 Autobiography Fuji White
2019 Audi Q2 in White
04 SL55AMG

Gone:
07 4.2 SC in silver.
06 4.2 SC in black RSE
RRS 4.2 SC in Black RSE
52 4.4 Vogue in silver
04 Mercedes CLK 320 Conv
03 4.0 V8 ES Disco in Silver
00 TD5 90 County
98 4.6 HSE in Epsom x3
97 3.9ES Disco
93 L 4.2 LSE in black
too many classics to mention !
V8 Lightweight
Too many series to mention !
IID for L322

Theoretically, operating under normal conditions & temperatures, the fluid has a life of 160,000km or ten years – at least that’s what ZF quote in the 6HP26 repair manual. Since then they’ve changed their recommendation to “a regular oil change at between 80,000 and 100,000 km or after 8 years depending upon the stress”.

So, after only 2 years of use your fluid should be re-usable…….but you just wouldn’t, would you?

Phil

If you are going to the bother of dropping the pan filter off, then you might as well put a new filter and new oil back.

As Phil says it should be good for a good while longer, but unless you are sure that what you are putting it into is surgically clean then you could end up putting some back into the box, which isn't going to be good for it!

Search zf lifeguard 6 for replacement fluid. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

I've got the fluid from the dealers already but was just wondering wether or not you could put it back in as the life is supposed to be 80-100000 miles , just wondered what harm dropping it into a spotlessly clean tub would do , I also accept a £100 on oil compared to £2000 for a gearbox is pretty much a no brainer I was mainly looking at opinions on reusing oil which has only done 20000 miles . But I'll be following the advice and topping up with new , another question how much "should" come out as several litres are held up in the cooler and torque converter? I've got 5 litres of the genuine stuff from the main dealers , all the kits I've seen come with 7 for a full fluid change .
Thanks for the advice I'm happy to bow to the greater knowledge of this sites contributors .

If it is clean there wouldn't be problem. Frequently with tractors and other plant and equipment where the gearbox and rear axle / hydraulic oil is all combined it usually has a life of around 1000 hours - and due to the quantity on modern large 4x4 tractors a cost of £300/£400.

Frequently if a hydraulic pump pump has to be changed or seals replaced the old is re-used. The only difference though is with a tractor they all have cartridge oil filters - which are usually changed every 300/500 hours.

It wouldn't bother me re-using transmission oil if there is plenty of life left in it and it's clinically clean. If it's more than 50% through its life scrap it - don't be a cheap skate  2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

If it is omly 2 years old then there is no reason whatsoever why you should not reuse it,if it looks clean when it comes out why not,am not sure why some comment not to do so

The comments are based on the fact it isn't good practice to re-use old oil of any description. Regardless of supposed life left in it unless this is being done in an operating theatre there is a high risk of introducing contaminants whereas using new oil fresh from the bottle is far less likely to do that.

Also just think that nice new fresh oil is prolonging the life of the gearbox just a little bit more. If we all changed our engine oil for example every 3000 miles I'm sure engines would last even longer as any metallic particles however small or minimal are causing more wear. 2004 RR 4.4 V8 Autobiography

I do not understand how clean oil coming out into a clean or even new container can get contaminates into it,yes for all those perfectionists use new oil as is good practice but the question was 'could it be reused' and the answer is Yes.You could always filter it if you were in doubt.

Which was my point. You could reuse it, but only if totally clean. Unless you are positive you haven't contaminated it, with mud off the sump, dirt in the container or off your hands. Then why run the risk. if you are sure it's clean, and weren't adverse to filtering it into a clean container, and it hasn't had much use then in theory it would be fine.

Personally would use fresh though, as for one thing if the OP had just changed his oil and filter and not had a flush then putting new in would also dilute the original old fluid further which remained in the system when the oil and filter change was done. As we know about half the fluid stays in the TC and cooler, so a fluid and filter swap dilutes the original fluid about 50:50. So adding fresh fluid at this point will mean you have 75:25 new/old in there. Which can only be a good thing  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

Yes agree there Northern but he did say it was a new gearbox so when refitted it would have been 100% new oil .

nope, OP said in first thread that the oil and filter had been changed.  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

i would put it straight back in! and have a spare litre, for what might need topping up etc.

-theoretically, you can re-use a condom!

but these days, id have difficulty re-filling that!