TD5 Missing Auto Trans Fluid!!

[WildOne]

I drained the auto trans fluid today and only got 4 litres out:eek:. So following Raves instructions on how to refill transmission, filling, starting vehicle, working through the gears, applying park and, whilst still running, topping up the auto untill a thin stream of fluid runs from the filler/check hole. I only managed to get just under 5 litres back in :confused:
Now according to Rave the auto box capacity is just under 10 litres.
So what have i done wrong?

[dmdigital]

The 9.7 L is from empty - including cooler, pipes etc. I thought the same, that it was going to take a lot more, but it doesn't

[WildOne]

So, and i'm saying this touching alot of wood, i'm not up sh*t creek?

[Kandy]

I drained the auto trans fluid today and only got 4 litres out:eek:. So following Raves instructions on how to refill transmission, filling, starting vehicle, working through the gears, applying park and, whilst still running, topping up the auto untill a thin stream of fluid runs from the filler/check hole. I only managed to get just under 5 litres back in :confused:
Now according to Rave the auto box capacity is just under 10 litres.
So what have i done wrong?

The majority of oil is up in the torque converter and doesnt come down to drain out so you have no worries. Im not sure how to remove the lot (I think i read somewhere it can be sucked out?? by a specialist??, any way planning that at 100,000K- 12000 to go. Would like to go to a synthetic but know that gearboxes can be fickle on type, ie brand of oil, and know of noone using a synthetic-- maybe Ill stick to the factory recommendation and change more often (20000 reg change, 40000 full 10l change???)

[BigJon]

4 litres on a drain and refill is about right. If you pull the pan and filter off you will get a bit more out.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

4 litres on a drain and refill is about right. If you pull the pan and filter off you will get a bit more out.

BigJon, do you use anything different (from say, Tassie ;) ) for the heat in your part of the world?

[justinc]

I can confirm that if you remove the pan and filter, about 5.5 litres will come out if left to drain for 30 minutes or so. Be careful when refilling these D2's, frequently select gears during the refill process and leave idling in neutral for a while to make sure it draws up adequate fluid . Then go for a short drive, the fluid needs to be at about 40degC to be at correct level. I would actually overfill these slightly, I have been advised to do this by a ZF rebuilder as the dipstick-less pans seem to have a lower level and can be benefitted from a little more oil capacity, perhaps .5 litre or thereabouts.

JC

[BigJon]

BigJon, do you use anything different (from say, Tassie ;) ) for the heat in your part of the world?

Umm, air conditioning?? No need for it now, was minus two degrees this morning.

As far as ATF , Dexron III.

[PhilipA]

I haven't tried it, but I read that you can take a cooler pipe off at the radiator, then have an assistant start her up until you fill a litre bottle.
Then add a litre to the sump,and so on. This pumps from the converter to the cooler.
After 5 or so bottles you have chnaged all the oil. You should be able to tell by the colour, especially if you put in synthetic.
Hopefully I will not have to do it for many years,as mine has synthetic.
Appreciate feedback on this as I will probably try it unless someone says don't
Regards Philip A

[mcrover]

About the only way to empty the converter is to take it off.

I dont have a hydraulic schematic for the ZF in a D2 to show you what I mean but basically you cant empty a converter without either taking out the drain (if it has one) or laying it flat and sucking it out through the ports.

Even if it had a drain (that most dont these days) then you would still have to pull the box back off the engine to drain it as there isnt an inspection plate on any of the ZF's that I have seen.

Best idea is to change the 5.5 ltrs regularly with Dex3 unless you are already running synth as you have buckleys of getting all the Dex3 out without removing the box.

The only time I would look at changing all the fluid in the auto my self is if I had had a failure of some sort and there was the possability of contamination through the box, then even after the rebuilt box was installed, I would run about 20ltrs through buy having a cooler line run into a 20 ltr drum and another 20 ltr of clean fluid running back into where the cooler line came off.

We use a similar system on the big earth moving equipment to change the fluids but it is a pumped system, 1 pump out of the oil cooler and the other pump set to the correct pressure for the system works a treat for 400 ltrs of hydraulic oil.

[HAK]

your converter would hold a few L's

[skidmark77]

the way i flush the hyundais at work is to pull off a cooler hose. (the one that pumps it into the oil cooler) start the engine and let it pump it out, then put in new stuff from a 60 drum while its still running. when the clean oil comes through i turn off the motor. then refit the hose the top up fluid as required. you do waste a bit of good oil, but i only do this procedure to the cars that have really dirty oil,
all cars are basically the same so this will work on any auto