Monday, June 11, 2012 - 10:56 am, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
Having read the following regarding doing the gearbox fluid change yourself -
'You can flush the fluid yourself at home without any fancy equipment. I just flushed a ZF 4 speed trans - same principles apply. Undo the top oil cooler line going into the radiator. Put a large diameter clear plastic hose over the brass thread on the radiator. Place the end of the hose into a container. Start the car for 2-4 secs and observe the oil going through the hose. Mine started out looking like mud. Turn car off. Place funnel in dipstick and refill trans with fresh oil. Start car again for 2-4 secs and watch the fluid again. I used a graduated clear plastic bottle - I knew how much oil was coming out - so I knew how much oil to put back in. When the oil started to look clear and red then I was done - took 12 litres of fluid to get it to this stage. Reassemble the oil cooler line, check level - go for a drive - check level again. Capacity is about 8 litres. Draining the pan or sucking it out the dipstick I could only get 2 litres out at a time no matter what I did'.
I have a couple of questions:
Firstly, can anyone tell me which side of the radiator the 'top oil cooler line' would be?
Secondly, this guy was talking about a ZF 4 speed box which took an amazing 12 litres. Has anyone Any idea how much I would need for a TT gearbox?
Monday, June 11, 2012 - 01:34 pm, by: Trevor Marsh(Tma7)
I've done it now. I guessed correctly (the one nearest the drivers side for mine).
I was amazed that I had to put in about 7 to 8 litres before the stuff coming out ran redder. I didn't keep pumping the stuff further because, although the fluid coming out never became clear red (as it was going in) I figured it might never actually stay that clear going through the lines etc and it's not cheap stuff.
I used Dexron 111 because I've never had any juddering at all.
Just been for a 10 k drive and it ran well. I can't say there's a great improvement because my gearbox (auto) has always been smooth.
I have to say this was one of the easiest jobs I've ever done on a car and really satisfying knowing it's been done and done properly.
Dan McColl Goo Roo Victoria (The Nazi State) Pretty Red Thing and The Black Rattler
Monday, June 11, 2012 - 05:28 pm, by: Wayne Womersley(A49kidx)
Ha Guys, Can I ask a question! Is there any sort of filter in the Auto Gear Box. Does it need to be serviced when one is flushing/changing the fluid. I also noticed Trev did not use Toyota fluid, any thoughts?
Monday, June 11, 2012 - 05:38 pm, by: Tom Richards(Tomr)
his car is TT. Only toyota type 4 for V8
There is a filter that can be washed and replaced, but my experience has been it is not worth the effort to remove the pan. It has always been clean and not required cleaning.
Friday, June 15, 2012 - 01:21 pm, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
I agree, I replaced my filter at 150,000km's and the old one still looked fine - magnets were clean too. Waste of money & time but oh well. Fuel filter is a worthwhile job though - surprisingly difficult and unpleasant.