Auto-adaptive Gearbox

[DerekW]

Reading my last posting, I realise it's open to misinterpretation. The "lump on my garage floor" isn't my XM, it's the spare VVT engine and box I acquired!

Derek

[lez]

Thread resurrection but some info to add...

taxi driver friend of mine bought a merc, zf (I like the quote that zf are bosch and are reliable... you must be joking..) and its got a similar sealed for life box, but life to them is 10yrs/100thou, needless to say its got a plug where the previous model had a dipstick, and on the merc forum, is a thread on how to remove said plug, and fit some steel tube, and order a dipstick as a spare for the prev years one....

how do you drain oil, find lowest part of gearbox and drill.... only joking, but its a theory...

[Jan-hendrik]

What's the point of the dipstick though, I wonder.

[DerekW]

I know this is a very old subject but the problems still remain.

I'm thinking of making a temporary dipstick with a stop collar to use when I do my next oilchange. Stick it in the breather hole when the engine is cold and the oil has drained into the sunp, mark off the oil level, drain the 'box and refill it to the marked level.

That should obviate the need to run the engine to warm the oil up.

Can anyone see any problems with that?

DerekW

[lez]

if your going to do it cold, let it stand for a day before drasining so as much as possible drains down.

the zf box is a right pita, as i have current head gasket issues and my box was already quirky, i'm wondering if i should call it a day

[CitroJim]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread...

Derek, it won't be possible to make up a dipstick for use in the breather hole as there's too much in the way to get to the oil...

I'm lucky perhaps that both mine have dipsticks but I don't use them when changing ATF. I meausre carefully what comes out and measure the same quantity back in.

You know it's OK like that if you know the level was good last time and there has been no leaks..

If you check the level you must do it at the temperature specifified and with the engine idling to get an accurate result. Measuring cold with the engine not running will not be accurate...

Lez, don't call it a day!

What's your head gasket issues and what symptoms is your 'box displaying?

I'd be temped to whip the engine and transmission out - not hard, 've done it several times on both Xantias and XMs - and do the head gaskets and 'box at the same time...

Both jobs are easier than you might think. This is my efforts on rebuilding an HP20:

http://www.eastment.net/4hp20/4hp20_introduction.htm

I've not documented head gaskets on the ES9 but it's not hard at all. If you want some more advice then just shout...

This post has been edited by CitroJim on March 15, 2013 06:51 am