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250 V8 Auto box

keithj
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:29 pm
Location: Mansfield

250 V8 Auto box

Post by keithj »

Hi, I am a new owner of a 1964 V8 250 which sadly has dumped its gearbox fluid in a cloud of smoke. Thanks to the RAC I have made it home but wonder what to do next.
A Take the box out and take it to a specialist
B. Take the engine out and then remove the box
C. Take the car complete to be repaired.
I have an engine lift and have experience with other car engine / gearbox removal.
Any opinions from people who have done this?

Christopher Storey
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Location: Cheshire

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by Christopher Storey »

Keith : when you say "dumped ( by implication all ) its fluid" do you really mean that ? or do you mean that it reached the stage of smoking and losing drive because of the loss of fluid? In my experience of the BW 35 which I assume this is , even the loss of about 4 pints will result in these symptoms , as happened to me with a Rover 3.5 litre. When I topped it up to a proper level, all was well - and even better when I stopped the leaks which were caused by loose bolts on the pan !

Before you do anything, have a look at the dipstick and the fluid colour. If still pink, then a top up is worth a try. If brown or otherwise discoloured, then I am afraid it's a box out job, and I can't remember whether you can get it out downwards on the 2.5 litre, but others will know

keithj
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:29 pm
Location: Mansfield

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by keithj »

Thanks for the quick response. I have just checked and there is still some nice pink fluid on the bottom of the dipstick. I'll try filling it up later and see what happens. Is ordinary modern auto fluid OK, I have seen elsewhere some doubt about this?

classiclife
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Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by classiclife »

Hello Keith,

Welcome, I'm also a new Daimler saloon owner with a V8-250.

To get you up and running again to check all is okay with the Autobox you can use a decent mineral ATF such as Comma AQM which is sold at Halfords - downside £10 per litre but pink / red in colour:
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engin ... gLsN_D_BwE

For better spec, once your Autobox is running smoothly again I use Penrite Classic ATF:
https://www.classic-oils.net/Penrite-Classic-ATF

Personally I would not use a synthetic ATF in your Autobox nor a Dexron III type.

I am certain some DLOC sages will be able to assist further re ATF.

Hope that assists ??

Regards.

Richard
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Clive
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat May 12, 2018 2:09 am
Location: Phoenix, USA

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by Clive »

Hi Keith,

I have found that the best place for BW35 gearbox information is on the Rover P5 forum. See http://roverp5.proboards.com/thread/693 ... d-pictures for complete stripdown/rebuild thread (although pictures went missing a while back). The forum has wealth of other threads on the BW35, including recommended rebuilders. I go with Type F fluid - but it does depend upon if the box has been rebuilt with different clutch linings.

Let us know where the fluid got dumped from.

Regards,
Clive

keithj
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:29 pm
Location: Mansfield

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by keithj »

You guys were on the nail. I filled up with ATF (normal modern stuff) to see what happened. Amazingly (to me) it now goes forwards and backwards so basically works. I say amazing to me as I also have an old Chevy which has given a lot of gearbox trouble and usually needs major attention when it chucks the fluid out. All I have to do now is figure out where it all came from. I can see where it went - everywhere but no obvious bad connections to indicate what is the cause. I will leave it to drain off a little before a more detailed investigation. Anyone suggest likely weak points?

tjt77
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Posts: 525
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by tjt77 »

the 2 main common leaking points are :- pan gasket.. this originally cork, not the best meterial.. and prone to issues such as shrinkage/expansion/ general deterioration.. commonly it shrinks, which can allow the retaiing bolts to loosen. making problem worse.. often the pan bolts are OVER tightened .. which crushes the gasket. assuring leaks further down the road when gasket settles ..
the other common leak point is torque converter seal.. which is a gearbox out job to fix.. box will come out from underneath.. but not recommend unless you have a fully equipped workshop, with hoist and transmission jack.. its important to disconnect torque converter from drive plate, and remove it with the gearbox.. re-installtion reverse procedure.. very easy to damage the seal with sloppy installation....

Clive
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat May 12, 2018 2:09 am
Location: Phoenix, USA

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by Clive »

Keith,

Bit of a loss as to where it came from if it just dumped a lot of fluid on the go. The only vent is the filler tube, and I can't think why it would make it to the top.

The seals on the shift rod leak with age, but normally fluid level is below them. What happens is that over a period of days, the torque converter drains fluid back to the box causing its level to rise and leak from the seals. So the box appears to leak only after a few days of non-use.

The fluid level must be checked with the engine running and after having selected drive/reverse. I think this is to make sure the torque converter is full as well as the servos. The fluid level drops appreciably with engine running (at least on my car).

If you did not check fluid level in this way, it is possible you overheated the box due to low fluid which could cause some smoking.

Regards,
Clive.

Ian Slade
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Location: Sevilla Spain

Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by Ian Slade »

I had an old Volvo that dumped fluid, mainly due to the fact it overheated, though for various reasons I never cured it, ( ex scrapped car box just fitted, and part exchanged the car when cold) but I think the reason was that that either the cooling pipes to the radiator were blocked or the was no flow due to an airlock, whether there is a pump for cooling I don't know however I would look at the temperature if there are no problems with the drive at normal running conditions.
Owner since the 70's, Genghis is slightly to my left.

Petelang
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Re: 250 V8 Auto box

Post by Petelang »

I've heard the speedo drive can leak copious amounts of oil when stood and level in box settles. Not experienced this myself but so I was informed.
Could it be overfilled and hence level greater than it should be, leading to just such a case?
Peter
Peter Langridge
Cloud Nine Classic Weddings, Nottingham.

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