Easiest way to check refill oil in transmission?

[TRnorwegian]

I've only driven forty miles since aquiring the car, and since these transmissions is sweaty, I wonder how much oil is hidden inside. How do I check and refill?

 

[DNK]

Jack stands or a lift.
Think the plug is on the drivers side.

 

[poolboy]

Anders, I'd think that since the car is new to you and who knows how good the POs' maintenance was that you'd want to replace all the fluids in the drive train.

 

[TR3driver]

While you are at it, install a magnetic drain plug.

Not sure if it's available in Norway, but here in the US, most auto parts stores sell a plastic pump that fits into the top of the bottle of gear oil, with a plastic hose and nozzle that will clip into the fill port. Each full stroke of the pump is one ounce. Makes a relatively easy way to fill the gearbox, once you've got the car up on stands (or a lift). And since you can measure how much goes in, you don't have to have the car level.

The stock fill plug (which is also where you check the level) is a square-headed pipe plug. It's kind of easy to round off with an open end wrench; and an ordinary box end wrench doesn't fit the square very well. My favorite tool for it is an 8-point 7/16" socket and breaker bar. Most likely you'll want to replace the plug, as they are generally somewhat mangled. Personally, I like to replace them with a "hex socket" pipe plug, which is hardened and turns with an Allen key (aka hex key).

Here's a (poor) photo of the fill plug, lifted from the article by Larry Young & Sam Clark on the VTR web site.

 

[TRnorwegian]

So if I unscrew this fill plug on side of the transmission, the drivers side of the car, how will I know how much oil is hidden inside?
I suppose when I change oil, I just fill the recommended number of gallons, but if sweating, one just top it off untill the oil comes pouring out?

What type of filling remedy to get the oil into the opening?

 

[BobbyD]

Anders,
Here's a better picture. The black arrow points to the drain plug while the orange arrow points to the fill plug. If you re-read Randall's post above, he explains that you need to get a "special" hand pump that is easily found at any auto parts store or at a Marine/Boat shop. An empty gearbox holds 1.13 liters and a gearbox w/OD holds 2.0 liters.

 

[71tr]

Don't you just fill the tranny until gear oil begins to seep out the fill hole?

 

[tdskip]

Don't you just fill the tranny until gear oil begins to seep out the fill hole?

Yes (on a level surface).

And this may spark debate (and I may be wrong here) but I've been told to use Hypoid 80/90 GL4 not GL5 when refilling.

 

[TR3driver]

If you just want to check the level, you'll need something to poke through the fill hole (with the car level). I use my little finger (pinkie); if I can touch the oil inside that way, there is "enough".

 

[Don Elliott]

On a TR3A that I restored, I cut a hole in side of the the tunnel and access the fill plug that way. The rubber plug that fills this large hole is the same as used for the jack holes in the floor pans.

 

[CinneaghTR]

I need to do this myself so thanks for asking the questions TRNorwegian.

What is the recommended fluid for the transmission? I thought I saw somewhere (Classic Motorsports?) that Redline was a good brand to go with.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[JFS]

A hole can be drilled and plugged in the TR6 exactly the same as Don shows for the TR3. When checking the oil from below, a paper clip bent to a 90 degree angle with the end wrapped with good sticky masking tape can be inserted then read to show the oil level -- just make sure the tape is well secured to the clip!

 

[Geo Hahn]

As an alternative to pumping the oil in... I have used a funnel and a short length of clear tubing with the funnel positioned in the engine compartment (down below the fuel pump on a TR3 -- similar location on a 6 I suppose).

I now have a hole in the tunnel similar to what Don shows (though smaller and using the tunnel plug from a TR3-4) and that is really the easiest method of all.

 

[poolboy]

A long plastic tube, one end in the filler hole and the other over the nipple of a squeeze bottle of oil.
Get enough tubing so that you can stand near the door and high enough to have gravity in your favor. It may prove to be a 2 person job, though; one to squeeze and the other to keep the hose in the hole.
I used this method until I found out about the pump Randall spoke of.

 

[fogdot]

I tried the pump that fits in the oil bottle, and found it to be messy, especially when lying below the car.
I got a 12v. pump from Harbor Freight, rigged a pushbutton switch, and plumbed it with a needle valve to control flow rate, and it works great, including rear end filling.
I can stick the suction tube down the side-flow radiator of my Stag and drain the system a lot tidier than opening a draincock.
Doing a quickie oil change every 2500 miles involves putting the suction tube down the dipstick tube. (Every other oil change involves draining from below and changing the filter)
I purge the system with used motor oil after using it for odd fluids.
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=9576

 

[tdskip]

Fogdot - how long does it take to fill the gearbox or diff?

Any issues with the pump moving a thick oil like use in the gear box?

 

[fogdot]

Here are 4 pix of my setup. No problem moving 90 wt. It pumps fast, but not uncontrolably fast. It is rated at 240 gph. I put a valve on the output, so it may take a minute or so to fill a trans. Note the micro toggle switch I put into the handle. I like my home made tool.
https://s562.photobucket.com/albums/ss63/Kanay/?action=view&current=DSCN6452.jpg
https://s562.photobucket.com/albums/ss63/Kanay/?action=view&current=DSCN6453.jpg
https://s562.photobucket.com/albums/ss63/Kanay/?action=view&current=DSCN6454.jpg
https://s562.photobucket.com/albums/ss63/Kanay/?action=view&current=DSCN6455.jpg
Dave

 

[Andrew Mace]

Perhaps a bit more "old school," but simple pump oilers such as this one work fine for me!

 

[angelfj1]

I concur with George H. I have used this method for many years.

 

[TR3driver]

On a TR3A that I restored,

On mine, I rebuilt the original trans cover (with a dipstick) with TR6 rods & forks to use on the TR6 transmission I installed. Now I can just pop the rubber body plug out, check the dipstick, and pour from the bottle.