GEARBOX OIL LEVEL

[hatman]

Now you know it's at the right level couldn't you make a dipstick for use via the gearlever hole? (Something like a piece of piano wire with the present level scribed on it? You could then post the measurements on here so that we could all make our own versions.)

[tonycharente]

Now you know it's at the right level couldn't you make a dipstick for use via the gearlever hole? (Something like a piece of piano wire with the present level scribed on it? You could then post the measurements on here so that we could all make our own versions.)

Sorry folks.... I'd put it all back together without seeing this suggestion. Perhaps someone else could do this?
Tony

[tonycharente]

Now you know it's at the right level couldn't you make a dipstick for use via the gearlever hole? (Something like a piece of piano wire with the present level scribed on it? You could then post the measurements on here so that we could all make our own versions.)

Update:

Today I took my gearlever out again. This gave me the chance to try to provide the above information. First I peered down the gearlever hole with a torch and found that in fact oil IS visible, deep in the depths, looking down past the left hand selector "slot". I then got a length of stiff (domestic wiring) insulated electric wire, to act as a dip stick, pushing it down past the left hand selector "slot". After several trials, I found it was easier to see the trace of (still new and therefore pretty transparent...) oil on the cable after I had roughened the surface of the insulation.

I pushed the wire straight down until it would go no further (i.e. stopped by the casing directly below I think). Here is what I found. The distance from the end of the wire up to the top of the gearbox hole was 177mm. (I mention this as a control figure, to make sure you can check that we're talking about the same thing....) The distance UP (from the end of the wire) to the oil level "line" was 30mm. The distance DOWN (from the top of the gearbox hole) to the oil level "line" was 147mm.

The above measurements taken with car on level and completely cold. (Well about 15?C actually, we don't do cold.... ). This is after having drained the box and refilled with one litre - so my level may be slightly high given that when you drain things they are never really emptied. Also between putting the oil in and doing this measurement the car had been driven about 20 miles - so the oil had had the chance to find its normal level.


Perhaps someone would like to do this measurement with a box that had been filled up to the filler/level plug and then driven, just to make sure?

Hope this helps!
Tony

[handi_andi]

Tony
The measurement you give would seem to make alot of sense, 1 litre = 1,000,000 cubic millimetres. So a depth of 30mm would give a gearbox area of 33,333 square millimetres. So supposing a gearbox length of 200mm (approx 8") then the gearbox would be 167mm wide (6.5 inches approximately). All of which appear to be in the right ball park.

I intend to check my gearbox level shortly, so I'll try your level measurement technique and see what I find.

Could be a very useful tool for all of us thanks.

Andy

[garyeanderson]

Lads, please have a close look at the photo on the previous page. there is not much of a passage until you get to the ball bearings before oil will move from the gearcase to the tailshaft housing. use the fill plug hole put oil in until it flows out.

Gary