[s-cars] ZF transmission filling

[Grant Lenahan]

Thanks for the tips.

Cant you just buy a plastic manual pump for $10 and use that to pump it up and over?

Sans lift i let my tranny guy do it

highly advised every 50k or so.

Grant
On Jan 7, 2011, at 11:03 AM, Cody Forbes wrote:

> I'm not sure who out there is familiar with this and who isn't, so I'll start with a little explanation.
> 
> Since the mid 90's the VAG automatic transmissions have not had a dipstick nor a fill tube. Adding oil, and checking the level, is done from under the car through a hole in the transmission oil pan. The hole is access to a stand pipe; basically a tube that extends upward from the bottom of the pan and it's upper edge is at the height of what the hot, engine running, oil level should be. The filling procedure (after service or draining) is to add oil until it starts draining back out, then start the engine and continue adding oil until it starts coming out again, then stop filling and continue to let the transmission warm up.. At 40 degrees Celsius (I believe VAG says 35-45C, I always use 40) trans fluid temperature (as read via VAG-Com) the fluid should be very slowly draining out then you reinstall the filler plug.
> 
> You might imagine that getting the fluid up hill into the trans requires a special tool, and you are right. VAG has their version which I've never personally used nor seen. AST Tools sells one for $400+ which I have used and is good (http://www.toolsource.com/drive-line-filler-system-p-105564.html). I built one for under $40 worth of parts from Home Depot, and so can you.
> 
> http://jcforbes.com/jcfpics/transtool
> 
> What you have is a garden sprayer (the kind that pressurizes a bottle of fluid then has a hose to a sprayer), a few brass fittings, a ball valve so you can stop flow without letting the pressure out of the bottle, and some nylon hose to extend the short one on the sprayer. The difference between mine and the AST version is theirs pumps fluid directly instead of pressurizing the bottle. Theirs also pumps a bit faster than mine, but that can be solved by a larger feed tube inside the sprayer. Really the pumping speed is of little consequence anyways unless you start with a warm transmission and need to get the fluid in FAST before it is too hot to correctly set the level.
> 
> Oh, and fluid temp can be measured 'close enough' with an IR temp gun on the pan. I have compared IR readings vs VAG-Com readings and they are within 1*C when measured near the filling hole. Temps across the pan vary by about 2-3*C.
> 
> -Cody
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Grant Lenahan
glenahan at vfemail.net