Gearbox Oil Change Dilemma

[quiksta]

I have encountered a dilemma while changing the gearbox oil in my 32 gtr. Now I've loosened the drainage plug and dropped the oil but now i can't get the filler plug off (lesson learnt). I've tried using a torque wrench but it still doesn't budge. Can anyone give suggestions on what to do?

I've heard that you can fill the gearbox via the interior but i am unsure on how to do this. Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks

[Deano45]

I have encountered a dilemma while changing the gearbox oil in my 32 gtr. Now I've loosened the drainage plug and dropped the oil but now i can't get the filler plug off (lesson learnt). I've tried using a torque wrench but it still doesn't budge. Can anyone give suggestions on what to do?

I've heard that you can fill the gearbox via the interior but i am unsure on how to do this. Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks

There is stuff you can buy that chill the metal (which it will shrink) and hopefully loosen it for you. Or Maybe try using some WD40 or similar to penetrate the threads.

You can't refill a GTR gearbox through the top as you have the transfer case to fill also.

[quiksta]

Thanks for your reply Deano, i'll try some wd40.

I also forgot to mention that there is redish silicone type sealant around the plug.

[quiksta]

Wd40 didn't work. Any other suggestions?

[turbo_brian]

Thanks for your reply Deano, i'll try some wd40.

I also forgot to mention that there is redish silicone type sealant around the plug.

Loctite, find out who the stupid prick was that did that and go and sink your foot up their arse!!

only way to break loctite is to heat it up, which is not good when your talking about oil on the other side.

If you have someone elses CO2 fire extinguisher floating about fully charged, discharge the entire thing on the nut and see if it cracks the thread (seriously COLD blast of CO2 might help), otherwise you will need to look at heating the damn thing.

B.

[quiksta]

I had a feeling it was loctite. I'll heat it up and see what happens.

[SSHatch]

Just using a good old heat gun should do the trick.

You don't have to get them that warm do ya?? Surely??

Worst case scenario... steal the missus hair-dryer and wave that over it for a bit...

[quiksta]

This f***n plug won't move no matter what i do. I don't know what to do now.

[stolen_s15]

Easy solution mate, just take out your gear stick and fill it through there, I had to do exactly that its not hard.. Just make sure you dont get gear oil on your interior, that shit smells terrible

[quiksta]

Can anyone else please confirm if i can fill it through the shifter on a 32 gtr as i'm getting conflicting opinions. Initially i thought it was only 33's where you could do this.

[turbo_brian]

For a GTS you can fill through the gear lever in the cabin, I used to do this with my CA 180sx, no issues at all, but leave it for 30 minutes before driving for the oil to flow through everything.

With the GTR's, I believe you cant do that because of the transfer case in the ATTESSA system, but I can not confirm this.

With regards to the loctite bolt, you need to heat the bolt up until it starts smoking, the smoke will be the loctite breaking down and begining to burn, at this point, you need to get into it and try to get it out (while red and glowing, or at least smoking).

If you dont get the bolt while it's smoking, the loctite will simply turn hard again, and set, making the bolt bloody hard to get out.

I had the same issue with a crank bolt on my 1JZ Soarer, to the point that I headed the stupid bolt until the bearings around the crank begain to melt and dis-figure, and the focking thing still wouldn't come out, ended up dismantling the car and pissing it off, was cheaper than removing the engine and fixing.

B.

[Johnny]

tried a breaker bar? like a really long one?

also the freezing idea sounds good to shrink the metal; maybe a bottle of nos lolz

goodluck to you mate, hope it all works out.

[(B1) MR_fanny]

yeah id get it up on a hoist and use a long ass breaker bar. eek...you drained it already so cant drive it. makes it all the more harder. a tow maybe?

[quiksta]

If i eventually have to get it towed, is it ok for the car to roll around with no g'box fluid?

[br3ndan]

put it on a flat bed to be safe.

Loctite isnt that bad, i put it on mine, and with a bit of push it will come free..

Altough i know it comes in different strengths... (one of screws, one for studs etc) Maybe the person before you put the wrong type.. (as in too strong maybe the one for studs? )

Probably not the best idea to use a torque wrench.. as there mainly use for tightening... and it could dmg it by putting to much force on it.

TRy just using a breaker bar....

I had a similar trouble with my diff.. the person in japan must of use some super loctite on the drain plug. Lucky i have a hoist, so i hoisted it up, and got the whole body weight onto it, managed to crack it..

Good luck with it all...

And its good to learn lessons the hard way some times....

[Beer Baron]

Easy solution mate, just take out your gear stick and fill it through there, I had to do exactly that its not hard.. Just make sure you dont get gear oil on your interior, that shit smells terrible

NO NO NO. DO NOT TAKE THIS ADVICE.

in a GTR the shifter goes into the transfer case. so all you'll be doing is pouring gear oil into the transfer. not good. for one the transfer case doesn't take gear oil and 2 you will still have an empty gearbox.

first thing is always undo filler plug before drain plug. for 2 reasons. 1 it helps drain as air can enter the filler and replace the fluid coming out. and 2 so you don't end up in this situation...

if you have access to an oxy torch you can heat it up and you'll be able to get it out. also the plugs are usually actually a metric size so a socket square drive fits 'ok' but it's not perfect. there are proper metric gearbox plug remover tools that fit it perfectly and wont 'butterfly' it. they are quite exxy to buy but i know UAS has a set and they use them. they do make things easier when a plug is nice and tight.

also once out some companies make replacement plugs with a nut shape so in the future you can use a normal 6 point socket to get it off.

anyway the best bet is heat up the area around the plug and get it out, or try and freeze it. you can buy CO2 in a can.

[quiksta]

Thanks for all your replies guys. Unfortunately i don't have access to an oxy torch so looks like i'll have to go the c02 in a can route and purchase a breaker bar. Any suggestions on what length bar to get taking into consideration that i don't have deep pockets like alot of other gtr owners? Also as you have suggested the square drive doesn't fit perfectly so do you know the exact size of the socket that's needed to get the plug loosened?

[Beer Baron]

not sure of the exact size of squre drive off the top of my head (it's metric though), but if you ring UAS ( www.nismo.com.au ), ask for john and tell him the beer baron told you to call he can tell you what size and maybe offer some more advice too.

[nada]

Hey, theres a thread about gearbox oil changes.. lol would have been good if you read that first but yeh lesson learnt, nuff said.

Ok when i changed my gearbox oil i had the same problem i couldnt get either plug undone.. well not with a car jack anyway..

pretty much u need a pit or a hoist, i used the hoist at my tafe..

the filler came out with abit of elbow grease, but the drain was the hard one for me. i sprayed it with abit of WD40 then got a metal tube, the longer the better and just connected it to the socket handle and then just pushed and pulled and yeh it came off eventually..

The reason behind why its so hard to get off is because the plugs are tappered so the more it goes in the harder it will be to get out. another thing is try not to butterfly the socket, in my case it was ok lol i machined brand new ones

Good luck on the change!