Sorry if I have missed this info amongst previous posts, but has anyone got the correct proceedure for checking the oil level on the Auto box ?.

https://www.freel2.com/gallery/albums/user...diesel.pdf

Thank you for the info, very usefull.

Alex I don't know where you get your info from but thanks for the info from me as well.
Checking the level wrongly on the FL1 can be expensive

So I was wandering how it should be done.
Thanks again
Andy Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I know this is a positively ancient thread but my daughter is having a 'discussion' about a gearbox leak with the dealer who sold her her FL2 so I want to forearm her about the fluid level checking procedure so that they don’t try and palm her off with some old guff.

While the procedure outline in the document Alex linked to makes sense when refilling a box, it’s not that clear as a method of checking the level. If only a small amount of fluid should drip out of the level plug, where has the rest of the additional 500 ml gone? And if nothing comes out of the level plug presumably one keeps adding fluid in 500 ml quantities and repeating the procedure until it does?

If you do a level test other than the correct way by the book, you get false readings, the box holds fluid in it's internals. With the engine off the fluid sits in the auto box sump at a higher level than recommended.

If you don't have a reader to give the fluid temperature, the nearest you can get is to run the engine until the coolant temperature shows normal.

Thanks. I understand the technique but I was just curious about the reference to only a small amount of fluid dribbling out if half a litre had been added. Surely if the fluid level had been correct, all of the additional half litre should come back out. And presumably, if none comes out, you need to add another half litre and try again?

The small dribble is from the fluid being shaken with the engine running. Adding the half litre brings the level up to over where it should be and will drain out on testing for the correct level, if half a litre is insufficient then more must be added to get the base line within the box.

What is the problem your daughter is having

Thanks again. Strangely the instructions say “with the engine running a small amount of fluid should drip out of the level plug” but this is after the half litre has been added. So where did the half litre go?

But that aside, the gearbox is lurching - for lack of a better description - when going from P to R or D or from D to R or vice versa. It did this about a year ago when she first got the car and a software reset apparently cured it. There has apparently been a leak from the gearbox and my daughter just wants to know what’s involved in checking the level lest they try and fob her off.

The half litre is in the box. If you have a leak then it will take whatever has leaked to get to a proper level


When was the fluid last fully flushed, should be done every 24,000 to 30,000 miles

But you need to fix the leak first

Leaving aside whatever might be wrong with my daughter's gearbox and going back to the LR instructions, if the level is correct, and you add half a litre, then it should all run out. If only a few drops come out, then the level was too low?

Correct, if nothing comes out or just a few drops, it was already too low (after adding the extra).

The last time I did this, after overfill (intentionally), I ran the engine to 56 degrees until the fluid basically stopped running out. It's been fine ever since. 100 ml too much won't affect the transmission. Incorrect fluid will, low fluid and temperature.