As I've done over 100k miles I thought I would change the gearbox oil. However, I have been quoted over 500 quid which actually is more expensive than a service, is the oil that expensive or is it a BIG job? Geoff

It depends ...

There are varying degrees of gear box oil change, but know first that if you simply unbolt the drain plug and let the fluid out ... you'll only letting about half of the total contents of the box out. the other half remains in the torque converter and pipeworks inside the box.

That means you can change the fluid a number of ways:

- drain half then refill - 50% of fluid changed. Repeat the process again = 75% changed , then 87.5% etc etc. This is an easy method, can be done on the driveway ... but beyond 2 changes, you begin using more fluid that what the box could hold, so a little wasteful potentially.

- a full flush / megaflush - you tap into the pipes which run from the box to the radiators at the front. As the geadbox pump pushes fluid to the radiator cooler, you re-direct that into a drain, then pump in new fluid at the same rate into the rest of the pipe circuit. This way, you can change the whole lot in 1 go. Whilst potentially using less fluid that above, it a more involved process normally needing dedicated equipment.

- replace the filter + fluid. Drain the box, take the sump off, replace the filter, put back together and refill ( by either of the 2 above methods ). additional costs for filter, and its replacement.


So, various ways, various costs. So hard to say whether your price is good or bad, depending on the work done. V8 or else ...

fisha wrote:

- drain half then refill - 50% of fluid changed. Repeat the process again = 75% changed , then 87.5% etc etc. This is an easy method, can be done on the driveway ... but beyond 2 changes, you begin using more fluid that what the box could hold, so a little wasteful potentially.

This is what I did. I used Mannol AG60 and paid £72 for 20 litres of it back in 2020. See my post at the bottom of the first page of my thread here: https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic57338.html

Dead easy to do on the driveway and gearbox still silky smooth 2 years on and 20k miles later  Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

supershuttle wrote:

As I've done over 100k miles I thought I would change the gearbox oil. However, I have been quoted over 500 quid which actually is more expensive than a service, is the oil that expensive or is it a BIG job?

Geoff, here's the bill from mine, although I did get it done at the same time as the oil cooler. I was charged 1 hr labour for the gearboxes. On its own could have been more I guess? total cost for gearboxes/transfer box on their own was c. £300

Oil was £154 (7 litres at£22/Ltr). transfer box £30 - all plus Vat obvs!!

Here's my bill:

Click image to enlarge

Or, you could give Bodsy a call. I had Ian change my gbox oil and both diffs when I purchased the car. His number is 07770 638023 and he is very reasonably priced.

HTH

Ivan 2013 Vogue SE SDV8
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Luxury

I just contacted RCV for this and they advised against changing the oil unless the gearbox has issues. I am undecided now....

https://www.rcv.co.uk/

That really isn't good advice.

Go by what the manufacturer says which is to service it ever 50k to 70k. Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

When booking my 6y service (61,000 miles) I asked about gearbox oil change and was told that LR's schedule was 100,000 miles. I might aim to get it done at the next service, so maybe 75,000 miles. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Richie N wrote:

I just contacted RCV for this and they advised against changing the oil unless the gearbox has issues. I am undecided now....

https://www.rcv.co.uk/

CS wrote:

When booking my 6y service (61,000 miles) I asked about gearbox oil change and was told that LR's schedule was 100,000 miles. I might aim to get it done at the next service, so maybe 75,000 miles.

From what I have read the best way is to drain the oil , replace the filter and refill with the proper oil ZF Lifeguard I believe and NOT a full flush. overfinch modified

ZF now approve gearbox 'rinsing' (lost in translation from German, I think) as a service action. 2012 (L322) 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE, RSE, Fuji White over Arabica.
Previous V8s: BMW 645Ci, P38 4.6, P38 4.0, Merc CL500
Previous others: Honda x1, Volvo x7, Rover x6, BMW x6, Ford x1, Mercedes x2, Skoda x3, VW x2, Renault x2, Citroen x1, Mazda x3, Nissan x1, Audi x3, Kia x1, Fiat x4, Subaru x3, Austin x2, Triumph x2, Jeep x2, Hyundai x2, Lexus x1, Mitsubishi x1, Saab x2... and some others I've forgotten!

This prompted me to look at the German version. The ZF FAQ page talks about "Getriebespuelung" which I would translate as flushing rather than rinsing. They make the point that one should flush with clean approved gearbox oil rather than a flushing agent (they expressly say not to use flushing agents).

As to frequency, they say this depends partly on use and partly on the vehicle manufacturer's spec, with frequent high speed use, towing, sportier driving and a high proportion of short stop-start type use being factors favouring earlier changes. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Indeed - the ZF instructions are very clear that only fluid should be used. The last procedure I read vaguely suggested between 60-100K KM between flushes.

I don't speak German, so I've used the phrasing from here:

https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/aftermarket-...ange-kits/ 2012 (L322) 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE, RSE, Fuji White over Arabica.
Previous V8s: BMW 645Ci, P38 4.6, P38 4.0, Merc CL500
Previous others: Honda x1, Volvo x7, Rover x6, BMW x6, Ford x1, Mercedes x2, Skoda x3, VW x2, Renault x2, Citroen x1, Mazda x3, Nissan x1, Audi x3, Kia x1, Fiat x4, Subaru x3, Austin x2, Triumph x2, Jeep x2, Hyundai x2, Lexus x1, Mitsubishi x1, Saab x2... and some others I've forgotten!

I do our 8sp gearboxes every 30k miles... Never had a failure yet.