Checking the fluid

...The only way I have found to do it! Is to use a long piece of 'Broom Straw' as a dip-stick through the side filler hole! It works!...

1. Park car on level surface, or with nose facing down the driveway, provided its not too steep.
2. Remove the side filler plug.
3. If fluid runs out, it's full, or if the fluid is level with the bottom of the opening, it's full.

Thanks ... I purchased the allen ehad socket to remove the plug ... and what do we sue for gear oil ..reg 90W. any additive ??

Ron

Standard 80/90 weight gear oil in mine. I would fill it till it runs out the filler hole. Car jacked up a little in the back.

If you want to change the oil it should take 3.75 quarts

Thanks Again ....

Ron

It turns out 9138's fluid looks like it has never been changed snce new. It has 40Km on it. The fluid looks a little metalic. A friend is going to analysis the fluid this week to see if its aluminum, steel or bearing material. Looks like it will be coming out soon and going for a rebuild sooner then I thought.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by accobra:
... and what do we sue for gear oil ..reg 90W. any additive ??

Ron

Lloyd Butfoy has said that positraction lubricants won't hurt and may help some ZFs. He recommends 80W90 gear oil to be changed at the same interval as your motor oil.

Roy Butfoy recommended 80-90 weight GL-4 gear oil to be changed out every 12,000 miles.

Jack DeRyke recommends 80W90 posi-lube.

Many people swear by synthetic, even though it tends to cause leaks. Lloyd has said he likes Mobil 1.

See:

http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6450045562...660037562#2660037562
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6450045562...980098562#2980098562
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6450045562...240009562#5240009562
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9550045562...960019562#2960019562

I am going to change mine since the owner could not verify how long it has been since the last change. I am planning on running Red Line Heavyshock, I thought I had seen it mentioned in a post and wonder who has tried it in there ZF??? I put it in my motorcycles transmission and I am really impressed at how much easier it is to downshift and it has made the tranny quieter.
Jeff

Probably a silly question but where is the drain hole and what size are the tools to remove the side and "bottom" access ports?

Try here:

http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9550045562...300029562#6300029562

Aloha

I have run Redline in my ZF since about 1997. No runs no drips. I am going to try Royal Purple the next time as I tried it in our other Ghia bodied car (Karmann Ghia 1970) and it seems to shift a little beetr and no leaks (97,000 miles on the tranny).

I found a 17mm hex head 1/2" socket in a kit with two others (13 and 15 I think) at Auto Zone for $10.

I had to cut 1/2" off the length to get it to work and used a 17mm open ended box wrench to turn the socket (since I still didn't have room for the ratchet).

I found some shavings on my magnetic drain plug but not too many (considering the last time the fluid was changed)!

I only got about 5 pints of fluid out...so I guess I was low.

7.5 is the volume RIGHT?

I only have 4 pints of Castrol so I need to find more...Wal-Mart, Advanced Auto and Auto Zone had none :-(

Thanks to this forum for helping me through the process!!!

quote:

7.5 is the volume RIGHT?

Right (3.75 Quarts = 7.5 pints). Just remember to fill very slowly so the oil can creep over the internals and not just gush back out the fill hole.

Newest issue...I have 2.5 quarts of Castrol Hypoy C and CAN"T FIND ANY MORE LOCALLY???
Wal-mart (tried 2), Target, NAPA, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto.

If you were gonna "mix" with Castrol, what would you use?

I "found" Hypoy C at a foreign car repair shop in a 55 gallon drum and the owner "sold" me a few pints.

I guess the Subaru guys are Jonesin' for Castrol also. I enjoyed the forum and the transmission fluid "cocktails". http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920674

Last night my wife and I took 1717 for a little ride. When we got home i decided to go ahead and change the lube in the ZF. Put the RedLine Heavyshock in. WOW what a differance.
Jeff

Difference? Positive?
What is different?

Used Mobil 1 90wt gear oil in mine,easy to find. as I recall when I made the change from the regular gear oil, the shifting was much easier at startup,
Also the synthetic's are superior on lubricating where the gear teeth contact.

Mark

Sorry Tomcat did not see your question...it shifts smoother, and a whole lot easier.
Jeff