Geabox and diff oil refill. Quantities?

[Chris_D]

OK pop-pickers, I'll be tackling the gearbox oil refill and diff oil refill jobs at the weekend.
Will be using Castrol Syntrans B75W in the gearbox and Syntrax Longlife 75W-90 in the differential as per Patriot 66's thread and don't see any reason not to not go with that combination.
However, reading a few threads on here it seems the correct amounts to use to refill seem a bit varied. Hence, what are the specified/correct amounts to use? Or is it re-fill until full/overflowing?

Patriot states 'Castrol Syntrans B75W in the gearbox and Syntrax Longlife 75W-90 in the differential.' Don't see any reason not to not go with that combination.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=96232&p=1413967&hilit=gearbox+oil#p1413967

csquire4 states 1.4L for differential refill in this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93116&p=1371012&hilit=gearbox+oil#p1371012

biojo states 1.0L for differential refill and 2.0L for gearbox refill in this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93505&p=1375832&hilit=gearbox+oil#p1375832

Guido's excellent diff-access contribution in this thread:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=92333&p=1358711&hilit=gearbox+oil#p1358711

I'll probably end up covered in slimy stuff by job's-end but any tips, tricks, handy hints would be beneficial for this enthusiastic amateur....

 

[stupot67]

Hi Chris,

1.4 -1.5L in the gearbox and 1.0L in the diff is just about bob on.

If your gbox and diff haven't leaked at all just measure the amount you drain out (Can't make a balls that way, unless you really try!)

One to add to your list of gearbox oils, Fuchs Sintofluid 75w80 (Check Opie oils site).

Probably preaching to the choir, but make sure you can remove the gbox filler plug, prior to removing the drain (Drivers side a few inches back from the bell housing)

Stu.

 

[Chris_D]

Hi Chris,

1.4 -1.5L in the gearbox and 1.0L in the diff is just about bob on.

If your gbox and diff haven't leaked at all just measure the amount you drain out (Can't make a balls that way, unless you really try!)

One to add to your list of gearbox oils, Fuchs Sintofluid 75w80 (Check Opie oils site).

Probably preaching to the choir, but make sure you can remove the gbox filler plug, prior to removing the drain (Drivers side a few inches back from the bell housing)

Stu.

Cheers Stupot.
Any particular advantage to going with the Fuchs stuff over the Castrol for the gearbox oil?
And yep, would have been easy to measure what's taken out and match to what to put back in...apart from the fact that the diff at least is covered in dark congealed gloop, resulting from possibly a long-term gradual leak. Gearbox looks to be leak-free thankfully.

 

[stupot67]

No advantage over the Castrol as far as I know, it just seems to be more readily available and is of the correct spec (lots of people will also recommend Red line D4 ATF, not used it personally, but is reported to improve the quality of the shift quite a bit).

Only manged to drain 950cc from my diff, which has no visible leaks, so I reckon despite your best efforts your bound to leave at least 50-100cc in the diff, so if you refill with 900-950cc you won't be far off the 1L total.

Stu.

 

[Chris_D]

reet, thx.
Castrol seems to be more readily available over here in Holland. Fuchs listed at one place I can find with minimum 12L requirement and forget about Redline, can't find that for love nor money! :|

Presuming I'll need to extract a bit if I manage to overfill, so as not to cause overpressure when either gets up to operating temp?

 

[stupot67]

Problem is, because they are fill plugs only and not level/fill plugs, you won't necessarily know you've overfilled until it starts to make it's way past the oil seals at a later date :?

That said, I'd be surprised if there wasn't a +/-10-15% tolerance on the fill volumes, so as long as you extract as much as possible (Diff more of an issue here than the box) all will be fine using the volumes previously mentioned.

All the best, there's nothing like a bit of old gearbox running down your arm and into your armpit......

 

[Chris_D]

Problem is, because they are fill plugs only and not level/fill plugs, you won't necessarily know you've overfilled until it starts to make it's way past the oil seals at a later date :?

That said, I'd be surprised if there wasn't a +/-10-15% tolerance on the fill volumes, so as long as you extract as much as possible (Diff more of an issue here than the box) all will be fine using the volumes previously mentioned.

All the best, there's nothing like a bit of old gearbox running down your arm and into your armpit......

hehe, i've had that warm, nasty liquid down the arm sensation a few times. yuk. :roll:
thx for the tips stupot :wink:

 

[Chris_D]

I LOVE freebies!! :lol:
OK, It's only a can of cockpitspray that probably smells like catp!ss and a bottle of paint renovator that probably does more damage than good. But 100 quid for that little lot is a tidy little price.

 

[Chris_D]

Ach s**t! I've fkd up there - I've ordered 2L of diff oil when I shouldve ordered 2L gearbox oil.
What a plonka! drrr.

 

[csquire4]

Don't worry, you'll use a little over 1 litre, refill until it spills out.

Have you go the big syringe type device to refill?

 

[Chris_D]

Don't worry, you'll use a little over 1 litre, refill until it spills out.

Have you go the big syringe type device to refill?

Yer, Got a oil-extractor pump too for the diff. Should be reet...

 

[patriot66]

Hi Chris
I recommend that you get one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261808337155
and this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161573232457
and 2 of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172567589151
I took my Zed out for 10mins to get it warmed up then back home and drove the front up on my inspection ramps. Then jacked up the rear on the central jacking point and put it on axle stands. Make sure the car is as level as possible. There is a rather flimsy aluminium under tray held on with a few self-tappers that you will need to remove to get at the diff. As mentioned slacken off the fill plugs before the drain plugs. Put a new O-ring on the gearbox plugs...none reqd on the diff.
I got almost 1.8 litres back in the gearbox and 1.2 litres in the diff.
I've done a few miles now and have no regrets in choosing Castrol oils. Changes are so much smoother and the car seems quieter and more civilized also. Also a lot less noise/clunk from the diff when reversing.

 

[Chris_D]

Hi Chris
I recommend that you get one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261808337155
and this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161573232457
and 2 of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172567589151
I took my Zed out for 10mins to get it warmed up then back home and drove the front up on my inspection ramps. Then jacked up the rear on the central jacking point and put it on axle stands. Make sure the car is as level as possible. There is a rather flimsy aluminium under tray held on with a few self-tappers that you will need to remove to get at the diff. As mentioned slacken off the fill plugs before the drain plugs. Put a new O-ring on the gearbox plugs...none reqd on the diff.
I got almost 1.8 litres back in the gearbox and 1.2 litres in the diff.
I've done a few miles now and have no regrets in choosing Castrol oils. Changes are so much smoother and the car seems quieter and more civilized also. Also a lot less noise/clunk from the diff when reversing.

I've got a filler, but not as fancy as that one but it'll do the job i think.
Got the 14mm hex key after reading guido's tip too.
Good idea to get some new o-rings as suggested
Will be using a diy garage with a choice of pit or lift. Will go for a lift as pits make me feel claustrophobic. Brrr. :lol:
Did you fill til overflowing or take a bit out once you reached full?
Thanks for the tips!

 

[stupot67]

Hi Chris,

Don't fill the box and diff until it flows out, they aren't fill/level plugs like you used to get, go with the volumes you have (1.4L in the box & 1.0 in the diff) or your Deffo going to end up overfilling.

Stu.

 

[Chris_D]

Hi Chris,

Don't fill the box and diff until it flows out, they aren't fill/level plugs like you used to get, go with the volumes you have (1.4L in the box & 1.0 in the diff) or your Deffo going to end up overfilling.

Stu.

Will do.

 

[patriot66]

I let both the gearbox and diff drip dry for ages after I pulled the plugs out. Replaced the drain plugs and I then filled them both very slowly until the very first sign of oil weeping back out and then let them drip for a while again until it fully stopped before replacing the fill plugs.