Automatic Gearbox - Oil usage

[Jasonmarie]

What about plumbers PTFE tape ? Only a guess and not seeing the pipes

[Mr B]

Hi mate,

To be honest the connections shouldn't really need any additional sealant etc. if they are tightened up enough

Wayne

[D366Y]

Hi mate,

To be honest the connections shouldn't really need any additional sealant etc. if they are tightened up enough

Wayne

Cheers Wayne, I'll eat some spinach and try again then!

[Mc Tool]

Make sure you use 2 spanners , one to hold the fitting still and the other to tighten the nut. The nut and fitting need a fair bit of torque to get them to seal and this amount of torque is often enough to damage the other end of the fitting,where be it welded or threaded to something and by supporting the fitting you remove this potential for damage

[Mr B]

Make sure you use 2 spanners , one to hold the fitting still and the other to tighten the nut. The nut and fitting need a fair bit of torque to get them to seal and this amount of torque is often enough to damage the other end of the fitting,where be it welded or threaded to something and by supporting the fitting you remove this potential for damage

Good call

Wayne

[D366Y]

Cheers guys, since I fitted the new sump gasket it seems to have been much much better, I couldn't get the pipes on first time round as the exhaust was in the way so when I get some spare time I'll take that part off to give me some more space to have a look at it

Thanks as ever for all the help and great tips/advice!

Cheers
Danny

[D366Y]

Apologies for the thread resurrection (I seem to be an expert at this recently!!) But my auto box has recently started to occasionally take a few seconds to engage a gear and I just wondered how often the oil/filter needs changing?

As per this thread I changed it all in August 2019 so it has had 3 and a bit years, but that doesn't seem that long?

The Haynes doesn't have any guidance (that I could find) about how often the oil/filter needs changing as it just says to take it to an expert!

Cheers
Danny

[Paul G]

Apologies for the thread resurrection (I seem to be an expert at this recently!!) But my auto box has recently started to occasionally take a few seconds to engage a gear and I just wondered how often the oil/filter needs changing?

As per this thread I changed it all in August 2019 so it has had 3 and a bit years, but that doesn't seem that long?

The Haynes doesn't have any guidance (that I could find) about how often the oil/filter needs changing as it just says to take it to an expert!

Cheers
Danny

Hi Danny

Are you absolutely sure that the oil level is spot on? I've found that in 8/10 cases late engagement are oil level problems.

[D366Y]

Hi Paul, good to see you back on here!
The level is a smidge over where it should be, but it has been like that for a long time so I figured it must be something else if it has been working fine for the last couple of years anyway...?

[SCP440]

How many miles has your Auto gearbox done? From experience on C3's from years ago most need a refurb after 100k miles or 10 to 15 years, the seals shrink inside and this starts with a delay in engagement or a delay in going into top and/or reverse.
While its out it also well worth getting the convertor refurbished.
A worn convertor can use a lot of extra energy.
I recently fitted a refurbished box and convertor to a friends classic car and it has transformed the car. More power and it feels as if the car has 25% more power just because less is being wasted.

[D366Y]

The car has only done 87k Ish miles.
New filter just over three years ago, along with new flex plate and torque converter (well, as new as 40year old parts can be) so haven't touched it since as it has been working fine.

Does the oil ever need regular changing or should I just change the filter again at the same time?

[SCP440]

Sadly I doubt a filter and any amount of oil changes will fix it, it sounds like the seals have shrunk inside the gearbox. Even these fluids that claim to restore Auto gearboxes dont work in a C3 as the seals wont swell ( that is how this stuff works) as they are Synthetic rubber. Because they are leaking it is struggling to get up to pressure hence the delay.
Start saving as it wont get better sadly. As the weather gets warmer it will probably be noticably worse as the oil thins down.
I have a friend who can refurbish it for you if that is of any help?
Good news that you have a newish convertor but I would suggest you drain it and flush it before fitting it to a refurbished box.

[Mc Tool]

Easy to say but , why not give some thought to fitting a late-ish trans and converter. You could have 4 speeds ( top being an overdrive ) and a lock up converter without getting into electronic control issues.

[SCP440]

Easy to say but , why not give some thought to fitting a late-ish trans and converter. You could have 4 speeds ( top being an overdrive ) and a lock up converter without getting into electronic control issues.

A great idea, the A4LD that was fitted to some Sierra's is almost a bolt on option if you can find the correct one. The later ones need some basic electrics bit all doable. I am looking at this on my 3.0, its a bigger job as it was never fitted to a 3.0 V6 but I am hoping I can work it out

[Mc Tool]

Im working on fitting a 4hp22 ZF autobox to a V8 Rover engine for my Capri .