Automatic gearbox filter

[Alan_M]

Does anyone know where I can get a new filter for an auto box. SJ don’t list them and if I search for ZF 4 HP-2H filters I just get results for Land Rover discos - are they the same?

[Excel SA]

Hi Alan,

The service notes for the automatic gearbox suggest the filter just needs to be cleaned when an oil change is done.....Maybe newer ones filter better and are disposable???

Parts list also refer to it as a filter, oil strainer.....maybe it's just for large bits.....

Neil.

[Pete Boole]

I bought my ZF spares from JPAT - JP Automatic Transmissions - they were really helpful. The filter doesn't come with the required O-ring - need to order separately usually. The sump gasket is re-useable but I fitted a new one. Be careful with the electrical plug - they are astoundingly expensive!!

Pete

[Excel SA]

I'd go with what Pete says!

The right spec of gearbox oil for automatics is important as well....plonkers will add in anything I've found. Just changed all the oil on my wife's "new to her" car - it had been overfilled and I suspect the wrong oil used as when cold it doesn't change into R or D particularly pleasantly and firm brake pedal pressure was needed to keep it stopped....Plonker mechanics

Best I look after that electrical connector on my old gearbox then - may be worth more than the transmission!

Neil.

[Alan_M]

Thanks Pete and Neil.

I did read service notes and saw that they do just say to clean it, but the car has been off the road since 2009 so was going to follow Pete’s recommendation last night to change it, which with regards to time sat I think will be best and a few ATF changes in the first few hundred miles.

[Hawaiis0]

I also cleaned mine when doing a fluid change. Shouldnt need to swap it.

You dont have an auto!!!

[Excel SA]

Hi Alan,

I'd do a bit more researching about changing the fluid and see if you can do a more complete flush (or transfusion) rather than just draining the oil in the sump which means the new and old oil mix....On the Merc there is a Mercedes workshop how-to on flushing the oil and am sure there is a similar procedure for the ZF box - this purges all the old oil out of the valve body, torque converter etc. It requires draining the oil out through the oil-cooler return hose into a bucket and replacing with clean oil into the gearbox as you do so (after draining the oil in the sump, cleaning/replacing the filter etc...). I have just done this on the Merc - you add in an extra 3 litres of oil, run the engine until you've drained 3 litres of old oil out, add in more clean oil and so on. You may have to adapt the quantities and keep them smaller but it's not really all that difficult to do. My guess is that you probably end up with 90% clean oil this way.

As a disclaimer I am not automatic gearbox expert, but have done some research - and my wife tells me the cold shift into reverse on the Merc is improving after the full flush.....

Here is an example on a ZF gearbox - there may be more info on the 4HP with some searching - https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-x ... iy-217150/

I'm sure you wouldn't need all the complication of hoses he uses - I simply clamped a clear hose over the steel outlet pipe from the Merc's cooler. I did also fit a hose over the pipe I'd removed in case I had picked the wrong pipe and the oil came out the wrong end.....

Neil.

[Pete Boole]

I changed the oil on my Rover 75 in the same way - interrupted the feed to the cooler - works well using transparent tubing - you can see when the old oil has stopped coming out and changes to nice clean oil. You've still got to drop the sump to change the filter though!

Pete

[richardw]

Does anyone know where I can get a new filter for an auto box. SJ don’t list them and if I search for ZF 4 HP-2H filters I just get results for Land Rover discos - are they the same?

The Land Rover discos use the same ZF4HP22 box as the Excel. Also used by BMWs of the same era, and some jags I think. The filters are the same. Ashcroft Transmissions is a specialist for Land Rover applications and their website Is a good information resource.

Cheers, Richard

[Alan_M]

You dont have an auto!!!

https://tenor.com/bj2Uk.gif

[Alan_M]

Thanks guys.

Had a look at jpat and found the parts catalogue for the box - https://www.jpat.co.uk/uploads/1/0/3/5/ ... p22-24.pdf.

This lists a few different filters, so will give them a call.

Ashcroft I did know, but had forgotten about as had 2 P38 Range Rovers.

I have done the full flush on a Merc before by removing the return cooler. Will need to see how solid the connectors are as ideally don’t want break any hoses/connectors. If I can remove I probably will go for a full flush.

[DavidOliver]

There are different filters used in ZF boxes, Land Rover is different to Jaguar as an example, they are not interchangeable.
I suggest you remove the sump pan and filter and take a photograph as even Ashcroft Transmissions may not know what is in the Lotus.
A full oil change is highly recommended and Automatic specialists offer 100% oil change, including oil radiator and pipework.
If the oil radiator is located inside the engine coolant radiator, as with the Jaguars, I strongly recommend installing a new exterior radiator as coolant leaks into the transmission oil wrecks the clutches and is not apparent until too late.
Also the most recent oil type, ZF type, is recommended although it is rather expensive.
You may also find that the selector is mechanical, not electrical, as on earlier automatics.

Dave the cog.

[Pete Boole]

The ZF4HP22 in the Excel is most like the Sherpa installation - pretty much the only one with a mechanical speedo drive.

Pete

[Excel SA]

The transmission cooler is a stand-alone item. Looking at mine, which is out of the car, the easiest way to do a complete flush would be using a banjo fitting and clear pipe off the exit from the cooler - I can't see the access to the pipes off the gearbox being easy at all when it is in the car. The engine and transmission coolers sit on a bracket behind the radiator - transmission one is the smaller one - no idea what access would be like with the engine in place.....

Neil.