Gearbox oil level

[TimJM]

I am checking the gearbox oil level and want to check if my understanding is correct.

The car is dead level (spirit level bubble bang in centre on main chassis rail) and I have undone the gearbox oil fill plug as can be seen in my photo below. Once the plug was out oil started dripping out the hole. I thought that the correct fill level is when oil starts coming out the fill hole so is my gearbox oil is currently at the correct level.

The reason why I thought it should be low is when I removed the propshaft oil ran out. Also, when I forgot to put the propshaft back in before my first start up if spat gearbox oil all over the main chassis rails and my floor.

I though with both these event should mean the gearbox oil is now low but yet the oil runs out the plug when removed.


So is the gearbox oil level OK as is?

[pmessling]

I've always gone with when it runs out if the fill hole too.

Does the engine and gearbox sit level within the chassis?

[TimJM]

pmessling said:

I've always gone with when it runs out if the fill hole too.

Does the engine and gearbox sit level within the chassis?

Yes, the bottom of the gearbox appears to be exactly level with the main chassis rail.

[Tanguero]

Was it previously filled with the car jacked up at one end only? If so its possible to put quite a bit more oil in that will fit with it sitting level. I just go by the T5 manufacturers manual and measure the amount of oil I put in.

[TimJM]

It could have been. The car has the gearbox refurbished after losing 5th gear just before I bought it (hence when the gearbox oil is so clean). Perhaps the garage that filled the gearbox overfilled it slightly.

So it sounds like the oil is at the correct level. I will tighten the fill plug back up and think about booking the MOT!

This was the last job to tick off from my 7 month rebuild project.

[Mr Cerbera]

I have always filled my gearbox with it deliberately not level (i.e. with the driver's side higher) so that I can get the recommended amount in. When the bottle's empty the box is full IMHO.

[scotty_d]

I just fill it to the level when it's lifted on my ramp iirc 2.55l or there abouts takes it to my level plug.

[TimJM]

I just spoke to a TVR specialist (they just happened to call me about something else so thought I would ask them). The advice was when it is at the fill level it is the correct amount. With the gearbox level take the fill plug out and once oil stops flowing out it is correct level - any more is over full.

[buba]

I have to fill my gearbox after i replaced the rear oil seal, reading this Tim is a great help

[Chaz9950]

You'll probably find most gearboxes, diffs and t-boxes have a 'fill to spill' hole, making them deliberately awkward to overfill.

Since it's a manual 'box, a little overfilled won't hurt. If you have too much, you'll just trash a seal when the gearbox heats the oil and air up, and expands it. No biggy, but an easily avoidable PITA!

Edited by Chaz9950 on Friday 21st February 19:03

[Tanguero]

Chaz9950 said:

You'll probably find most gearboxes, diffs and t-boxes have a 'fill to spill' hole, making them deliberately awkward to overfill.

Since it's a manual 'box, a little overfilled won't hurt. If you have too much, you'll just trash a seal when the gearbox heats the oil and air up, and expands it. No biggy, but an easily avoidable PITA!

Edited by Chaz9950 on Friday 21st February 19:03

Expansion won't cause any problem as there is a vent on top of the housing for exactly that reason.

[Chaz9950]

Tanguero said:

Expansion won't cause any problem as there is a vent on top of the housing for exactly that reason.

Cancel my last in that case! Still, in the interest of anyone who reads this, overfilling your gearbox isn't something I could recommend...

[Jhonno]

I can confirm this is a bd of a job with ACT performance manifolds!

[scotty_d]

Jhonno said:

I can confirm this is a bd of a job with ACT performance manifolds!

It is a little tight, I use a killer spray bottle to fill it,makes light work of it and I know exactly how much oil is in there, getting the top plug out is a bit of a FAFF!!!

[Jhonno]

scotty_d said:

Jhonno said:

I can confirm this is a bd of a job with ACT performance manifolds!

It is a little tight, I use a killer spray bottle to fill it,makes light work of it and I know exactly how much oil is in there, getting the top plug out is a bit of a FAFF!!!

Getting it out and in.. I used a fill syringe thingamy.. Still a bd. Took me 2hrs. I have oversized hands and arms though, didn't help!

[TimJM]

Given the horror stories on access to the fill plug I was dreading this job but I'm lucky and have abnormally long arms and fingers. I could easily reach the plug hole and removal/refitting was simple. Maybe I should have been a pianist - I've been called a pianist by a few people in the past...at least that's what I think they said.

Anyhow, if the gearbox oil needed a lot of oil my plan was one of these mini pumps:
http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/121841/reviews.ht...

Or I have heard some people run tubing down from the top and into the fill hole and then fill it from above the engine bay with a funnel attached to the tubing.

[Chaz9950]

TimJM said:

Anyhow, if the gearbox oil needed a lot of oil my plan was one of these mini pumps:
http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/121841/reviews.ht...

Or I have heard some people run tubing down from the top and into the fill hole and then fill it from above the engine bay with a funnel attached to the tubing.

Speaking from experience of this sort of stuff, if you use a tube and fill from above, not only will it take ages, but you won't see when it's full either....

The pump isn't expensive, and it will be handy for the rear diff too. And any other cars you work on.

[scotty_d]

Chaz9950 said:

TimJM said:

Anyhow, if the gearbox oil needed a lot of oil my plan was one of these mini pumps:
http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/121841/reviews.ht...

Or I have heard some people run tubing down from the top and into the fill hole and then fill it from above the engine bay with a funnel attached to the tubing.

Speaking from experience of this sort of stuff, if you use a tube and fill from above, not only will it take ages, but you won't see when it's full either....

The pump isn't expensive, and it will be handy for the rear diff too. And any other cars you work on.

At a 3rd of the price of Halfrauds!!!
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/190797947292?nav=SEARCH


Any Rov guys in here know this as we fill all our submersibles oils up with these, works a treat.