Service Question- Tranny Fluid

[kidafa]

Hi All,

Well its nearly time to do the 1st service on the stag since I've owned it...

Im planning on doing the following:

• Oil And oil Filter
  
• Brake Fluid
  
• Front and Rear Diff Oil
  
• Tranny oil
  

Ive allready done the coolant when i did the timing belt so thats ok....

The question I have is about draining the tranny fluid.. Ive read many different ways to do it, eg the plug or out the cooler lines....

Which method do you guys use and recomend to get the most out of the system that i can?

Have I missed anythign that I should be doing?

Cheers,

Chris

[RubyRS4]

Hi All,

Well its nearly time to do the 1st service on the stag since I've owned it...

Im planning on doing the following:

• Oil And oil Filter
  
• Brake Fluid
  
• Front and Rear Diff Oil
  
• Tranny oil
  

Ive allready done the coolant when i did the timing belt so thats ok....

The question I have is about draining the tranny fluid.. Ive read many different ways to do it, eg the plug or out the cooler lines....

Which method do you guys use and recomend to get the most out of the system that i can?

Have I missed anythign that I should be doing?

Cheers,

Chris

There should be a drain plug on the bottom of the gearbox. I'd be draining it from there. or faster draining, remove the dipstick at the same time.

[kidafa]

There should be a drain plug on the bottom of the gearbox. I'd be draining it from there. or faster draining, remove the dipstick at the same time.

Ive herd that this will not get all of it out though....

[chook]

few ways to do it, best is go to tranny shop, special machines that replenish the fluid.

Fill and drain it a few times.

or drain it, refill, disconnect cooler hose, sucking end in fresh fluid, other in drain, run it until out fluid is fresh

[Stinky Rooster]

If the fluid isn't pressurised as it is fed into the trans, you will never get it all out due to the sheer volume that the torque converter contains (that will not come uout under gravity). Either get it flushed at a trans specialist, or drain and refill it about 4 times in a week. Its about the only way I know of to get it all out, and it would be a LOT more stuffing around,and probably more expensive, than getting a specialist to do it.

[DaveB]

/\ 2nd that

On a side note, you mentioned changing the brake fluid? What is your procedure for bleeding the stagea's abs system? the compliance shop mechanic told me they had to be vacuum bled. Is there a way it can be done at home?

[KiwiRS4T]

Hi All,

Well its nearly time to do the 1st service on the stag since I've owned it...

Im planning on doing the following:

• Oil And oil Filter
  
• Brake Fluid
  
• Front and Rear Diff Oil
  
• Tranny oil
  

Ive allready done the coolant when i did the timing belt so thats ok....

The question I have is about draining the tranny fluid.. Ive read many different ways to do it, eg the plug or out the cooler lines....

Which method do you guys use and recomend to get the most out of the system that i can?

Have I missed anythign that I should be doing?

Cheers,

Chris

I have just done the auto fliud - what a mission!

Drain the pan but note that the plug is not at the lowest point so when you drop the pan it will still contain fluid (yep it went everywhere). You need to drop the rear gearbox mount to get the pan off so you need plenty of stands/jacks. I replaced the filter but the one supplied was not quite right - had to cut off some of the square pickup pipe. You could probably just wash the old one. The pan was full of gunk so I am glad that i took it off. I put the pan back on (after I worked out that the new filter was stopping it from going on) and then pulled off the supply hose to the oil cooler and stuck it in a plastic 2L bottle and ran the engine til it filled. then I poured 2L of new fluid down the dipstick tube and repeated until the fluid ran clean. I used about 15L in this process ( I got a 20L Fuchs Titan 4000 semi synthetic cheap $60).

My last Stagea I took to an auto service place that did a flush for $300 and they didn't even take the pan off so by doing it myself I am satisfied that I got it as clean as possible even though it was a major hassle. Even if you have to pay more for the ATF it is good for your peace of mind to do it yourself. You will probably only ever have to do it once!

[DaveB]

thanks for the writeup KiwiRS4T My RS4 is with MV Automatics in Adelaide today getting just that done (and a valve body upgrade ) which is a fairly reputable place here in Adelaide so I hope they at least drop the pan (well it's getting a service and they said they're fitting a new filter so I assume they'd have to drop the pan)

I asked about flush/fill and they said they only refill the pan ( !) and only flush the rest of the system 'if the oil looks like it needs replacing'. Hmmmmkay.... for $300 for a service, like you say, it better be a good job (although for a complete refil I would expect at least $100 of that to be gearbox oil cost alone).

[kidafa]

KiwiRS4,

IF i drop the pan do i need and gaskets or anything or it simply open her up and bolt it back together once im done?

[KiwiRS4T]

KiwiRS4,

IF i drop the pan do i need and gaskets or anything or it simply open her up and bolt it back together once im done?

I bought a kit with a gasket and a filter but when I dropped the pan the gasket was stuck to the pan so it could probably have been reused - you could always put a bit of gasket sealer on to make sure I guess. (Make sure you have a plan b - someone else with a car to go buy a gasket in case you destroy yours getting it off but mine came off in one piece OK). Good luck!

[skidkid]

Can anybody quote the tranny filter kit number for a Stagea S2? I think I have found a kit locally but would pay if I can find another S2 owner that can quote numbers.

[KiwiRS4T]

I don't have the numbers but it is a very common gearbox used on R34 Skyline and numerous other Nissans.