gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 Given my slightly dissatisfying experience with a gearbox specialist in Hamilton, I thought I'd change the trans fluid on the 320d myself this time around. In fairness, I would probably have done it myself last time had I had time and the weather been favourable. The E46... Well, our E46... Doesn't have a dipstick or filler tube for the trans fluid. This isn't uncommon (any more) - there's a plug on the side of the gearbox through which the trans is filled. The joys of a 'filled for life' implementation. This creates a bit of an issue - you have to pump the fluid into the 'box. Not under any great pressure of course, but the source container is likely to be below the fill plug. Anyone who has worked on diffs may have come across this, too. Back in the UK I had a couple of litre Castrol gear oil bottles I used for jobs like this. Nothing unusual in that, except one of them had two tubes - the normal one from the top of the bottle, and the second was inside the bottle. This meant that squeezing the bottle pumped the fluid from the bottom of the bottle rather than the top. I've not been able to find anything like this over here. Obviously there must be a way to do this! Does anyone know where I can find such a bottle? Or does anyone have any hints or tips that don't involve going out and spending anything like significant money on a dedicated fluid pumping system, or is that likely to be the best (only) solution? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1057 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 the only other Oil I have encountered with this bottle is castrol gtx. the 1 litre variants. check your local stockist to see beforehand but most of those designs have been made redundant unfortunately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 the only other Oil I have encountered with this bottle is castrol gtx. the 1 litre variants. check your local stockist to see beforehand but most of those designs have been made redundant unfortunately. I have found the sort of thing I was looking for: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=835937440 $37 seems an enormous amount for what this is - an empty 1 litre plastic bottle with a pump top! Still, it's a lot less than the $200 or whatever to take it somewhere and get the job done by someone else. And this way I can hopefully ensure the sump gasket is correctly fitted, the bolts are correctly tightened, and that half the underside of the car doesn't get covered in trans fluid. Actually, half of the underside didn't get covered last time... It took more than three weeks before the smell of fluid dripping on to a hot exhaust dissipated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 Although this might do the job just as well: http://catalogues.repco.co.nz/#view=product&itemId=67071039&saleId=6707 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 Same thing, cheaper: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=835032001 No idea what the quality is like. So long as it works it's not really all that important! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1057 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 That above pump you just showed me will do the trick. Just make sure the ends are nice and secure..doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to do its job Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 That above pump you just showed me will do the trick. Just make sure the ends are nice and secure..doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to do its job Yup. I'll drill a hole in the top of the ATF bottle, fit a rubber grommet and make sure the pipe is to the bottom of the bottle. The grommet should hold it secure. If I need to hold the gearbox end, I'll get some help. 8.5 litres total capacity, although some will be in the cooler and some in the torque converter. (Not sure yet if I can drain that - it's easy on the Merc.) Just need to check how much I need to put in before starting the engine - it's full when the fluid is 90-125 degrees F and just starting to leak out of the fill plug hole while the engine is running, the car is level, and the gearbox in Park. In the meantime I need to stand on my left foot, place the index finger of my left hand in my right ear while rubbing my belly anticlockwise with my right hand and chanting "Filled for life, filled for life..." 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1057 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 What car is the oil going in? trans holds 8 litres and torque converter around 4. When I did my flush it took around 12 litres. I flushed the torque converter also and put a new filter in. Worth doing. I used full synthetic oil also in my trans. I have a 328ci with a GM trans Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 What car is the oil going in? trans holds 8 litres and torque converter around 4. When I did my flush it took around 12 litres. I flushed the torque converter also and put a new filter in. Worth doing. I used full synthetic oil also in my trans. I have a 328ci with a GM trans Hmm. Curious. It's in the 320d, so a 5L40E. I have a Tech Service doc citing 8.5 liters capacity from dry. Maybe they aren't including the torque converter? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1057 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 I dont think they are including the torque converter. It should be around 12 litres all up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
euroriffic 607 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 I just brought a wee bottle pump from Supercheap for about $25 that has a hand pump on top with a flexi tube with a metal hook like end so it stays in the box. Have used it a few times to do diffs and manual trans. Even has measurements marked on it so you know how much you've used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 23, 2015 I just brought a wee bottle pump from Supercheap for about $25 that has a hand pump on top with a flexi tube with a metal hook like end so it stays in the box. Have used it a few times to do diffs and manual trans. Even has measurements marked on it so you know how much you've used. Sounds similar to the 'Tom Thumb' one I found on TM - that was a SCA listing. I may have a look tomorrow, if I can be bothered to go out on a holiday weekend! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted January 24, 2015 I have a small electric oil pump that i got when i did the 540 trans some years ago, it has only had new trans fluid in it, you are welcome to borrow it if you want. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted January 25, 2015 Gravity will assist,once you get it flowing it will siphon if you have the container higher than the trans Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted January 25, 2015 I need to get one of those stands you see in hospitals... Y'know, the ones with bags of saline hanging off them. One of them with 5 litres of ATF hanging from it should do the job! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted January 25, 2015 I need to get one of those stands you see in hospitals... Y'know, the ones with bags of saline hanging off them. One of them with 5 litres of ATF hanging from it should do the job! they have pumps too! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave@nz 11 Report post Posted January 25, 2015 Use a 4L container drill the cap and fit a long plastic clear hose from bottom of container to car gearbox. Make sure plastic hose is tight fit in cap hole . Install small tap in plastic hose to turn flow on and off. Drill small hole in cap and pressurise container with air gun 5psi should do it. Fluid will flow from container along inside hose to tap, turn tap on fluid flows to gearbox. Dave. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
