Dipstick & transmission flush RESOLVED

[124JOE]

the hand pump is a one quart turkey baster
and costs what $10-$12 bucks
i found one once and still have it

[normanmanske]

The method for filling I use is a helper with a funnel and a long clear plastic tube. I get under the car and watch while the helper pours the tranny fluid down, when the fluid reaches the correct level I plug the end of the tubing and button up the tranny. I considered the one man operation with a pump and decided the easiest and least messy option was my choice. Plus I had a teen-age son mooching off of us at home, so I put him to work as the helper. Cheaper than buying the pump.
Ron

While this would work. But why not just drain from the bottom, replace the drain plug, remove the shifter knob, the boot and surrounding wood and unbolt the shift mechanism. Poor a premeasured 1.75 qts in from the top and call it a day?

have you done it this way im about to do the same and flush the trans on the count i dont know when it was done last and dont know if they used GL1 gear oil or not and i have a gallon of it from napa part number #65-201 and been told if it wasnt a mineral gear oil used last it can gum up and mess stuff up in side

[Fi8spider]

Oil syringe.
A quick search uncovered something similar to the one I have for injecting fresh oil into gearboxes and diffs at service time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oil-Syringe-200 ... B000RA0XLO

You maybe able to find something local and save the postage cost.

[zachmac]

[quoteWhile this would work. But why not just drain from the bottom, replace the drain plug, remove the shifter knob, the boot and surrounding wood and unbolt the shift mechanism. Poor a premeasured 1.75 qts in from the top and call it a day?[/quote]


have you done it this way im about to do the same and flush the trans on the count i dont know when it was done last and dont know if they used GL1 gear oil or not and i have a gallon of it from napa part number #65-201 and been told if it wasnt a mineral gear oil used last it can gum up and mess stuff up in side[/quote]

I did NOT do this. Once I got to looking at the shift assembly and posts about it I realized you basically can't get gear oil to the tranny this way. Do NOT do it the way I suggested!

I wimped out and took it to an Indy garage to let them do it with a lift.

[4uall]

not sure if I should be happy or sad The weather has changed since my original post and of course life always gets in the way so i have not done the trans fluid flush and fill yet. Lots of non weather impacting stuff to do in the meanwhile. Please keep the advice and techniques coming (photos are always welcomed and encouraged). I am always taking photos of everything I am doing to my Fiona so I will post on flickr when completed (probably in March).

[SergeantSavage]

I did mine yesterday, with the recommended Napa GL1 and a 'gallon pump' that I bought from Auto Zone for about 8 bucks. My car was up high on four jackstands at the time, which made it easy to get a wrench on the fill plug, as well as giving me room to work the pump with the bottle upright. No problems. I'm grateful for learning here that we should use that particular oil, or else I would have just put the typical GL5 in it. Knowledge is power..

[4uall]

2 quick questions

1) does the transmission fluid need to be "warmed" by driving prior to draining?

2) other than time is the fluid temperature sensitive when changing?

working in an attached unheated garage that is well insulated

[jsab]

It certainly drains faster and easier when warm. And you can warm the new lube bottle up in hot water before you pump it in to get it to flow easier if it's that cold out.

[redcars]

It is best to do it with warm oil so that more of it drains out. When doing my trany oil change I like to remove the bottom plate from the transmission and look at everything. It also lets me clean the inside of the bottom plate and clean and paint the outside if it needs it.

[4uall]

Crap! Looks like March/April it is then. On to the electrical & accessories etc

[SergeantSavage]

Is the car in a running condition? If so, you could get the wheels off the ground with jackstands and run it in the garage (safely, securely, good ventilation..etc) to get the oil warm enough to properly drain.

[4uall]

she runs like a top (or a really well maintained Fiat ) that was my concern was running her up on the stands and going thru the gears guess I will give it a try in the upcoming weeks or when back from vacation

[SergeantSavage]

In the interest of safety, you don't really need to rev it or anything while it's on the stands in gear. Idle speed and fifth gear will get the internals moving nicely and the oil will be warm enough within five minutes or so.

[4uall]

so it won't stall the engine? hmmmmm look at me mom I'm learning!

[SergeantSavage]

No it won't stall because there is no load on it. Maybe give it a little gas as you release the clutch. Be careful-- that's the key. You don't want the car trying to move around while it's on the stands. No big deal-- I'm just an overly cautious guy. The only reason I mention this option is because that is exactly how I did it, on a cold day in the garage.