Thread: Removing gbox pan on 3.0

I bought the copper for the bolts of my tractor's dual wheels that are only fitted for a few weeks each year for sowing. However the copper caused too much interference so had to remove it to use grease instead. The thread is very fine for the bolt size so maybe copper is OK for coarser threads.

The gearbox changes are super smooth now. I hadn't noticed the gradual deterioration and didn't think its operation was anything other than normal. The oil was only tarnished but judging by the improvement it had lost some of its qualities so will change it earlier next time.

Hi Graeme, did the install of the steel housing need the engine lifted?
My 3.0 TDV6 has just ticked over 90k kms and although the changes seem fine, all the recommendations say it's due.

I snapped the oil tube rather than lift the engine - SOP if replacing the pan with a steel one.

I had intended doing the job at around 120K after having it assessed as "as new" at 90K but didn't get to do it until 147K. I intend changing just the oil again in 80-100K hoping to catch it before it degrades much. The TC was flushed by running the engine in 3-5 second bursts until clean oil emerged from a disconnected oil cooler line, hence very little old oil would have been left.

Hi Graeme,
Copper anti-seize will eventually cause stress corrosion cracking at the root of the threads on SS 316 bolting. I use a white paste ani-seize covers everything and it is quite good for temperature, not sure what it is called. Stainless steel bolts have less tensile strength than a HT bolt such as a grade 7 or grade 8 bolt. The bolting on a steel pan is shorter than the original plastic pan bolting, the bolts might bottom out before clamping the pan to the G/Box.
Sound like you are having a lot of fun, happy new year.

The casing holes go right through with the tips of the new bolts just emerging from the other side. Only some of the original bolts had corrosion on them and the majority of the new bolts tightened abruptly.

I wonder why the change to SS bolts. Perhaps its a BMW specification as the pan has a BMW label.

Hi Graeme,
The SS bolts could well have a lower tightening torque value. The white paste is called Thread-Eze ultra made by Chemsearch. The BMW label could well have something to do with it. Also depends of the grade of stainless. I'm pretty sure the bolts on my steel pan are stainless however I don't remember them coming out of the hole, the holes on the back and front of the pan are blind holes aren't they........