Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 10:41:04

Title: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 10:41:04
When I pulled the radiator out the other day I noticed that the ATF fluid was black.  ::)  And the box has got a bit 'thumpy' since as I lost some fluid and havn't topped it up yet.  :(

Changing the ATF is a job I've never fancied to be honest, so I phoned up a local gearbox specialist for a quote.......

Take a seat.......    £180 + VAT!!!!  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: minifreek on 12 July 2016, 10:51:36
Wait until you go to Vx and buy the 2 filters and the gaskets for the gearbox sumps.....

Just glad I bought the ATF fluid from B&Q when it was on offer a few months ago....

£180+ VAT is about right.....
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: aaronjb on 12 July 2016, 11:13:28
And when you're laying under the car wearing a sump full of stinking ATF all over you and your clothes.. it'll seem like a bargain! ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Nick W on 12 July 2016, 11:15:29
When I pulled the radiator out the other day I noticed that the ATF fluid was black.  ::)  And the box has got a bit 'thumpy' since as I lost some fluid and havn't topped it up yet.  :(

Changing the ATF is a job I've never fancied to be honest, so I phoned up a local gearbox specialist for a quote.......

Take a seat.......    £180 + VAT!!!!  :o :o :o


The filter and gaskets cost £100 from Vauxhall, add £25 for a gallon of ATF(all retail prices remember). Considering what a fiddly, messy job it is to do without a pit or ramp, £180 seems pretty reasonable to me.
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 July 2016, 11:37:23
Or clean the filters in petrol or similar and use a decent flange sealant to do away with the gaskets.

Then get some Dex3 (not hard to find at an ok price, I used Triton 4000 from Opie on a recent one for circa £25 for 5 litres).

You do need a decent size oil catch tray
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 12 July 2016, 11:39:23
I have wondered if it would be possible to change the fluid by having the engine running and disconnecting the pipes from the cooler.
The old ATF could be collected as it comes from the pipe going to the cooler while the new ATF could be sucked in via the return pipe from the cooler ?
I suppose the flaw in the theory is that the old filter gets left where it is.  :-\
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: aaronjb on 12 July 2016, 11:47:08
Basically exactly what one of these does: http://www.robinair.com/products/transmission-fluid-exchanger

Also the only way to change the fluid in the torque convertor.
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 11:59:53
And when you're laying under the car wearing a sump full of stinking ATF all over you and your clothes.. it'll seem like a bargain! ;D

That's exactly why I've never fancied doing the job!  ;D  Think I'll top it up for the time being.....  ::)
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Shackeng on 12 July 2016, 17:07:11
I've recently done mine again, and using one of these:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/transfer-suction-extractor-accessories-scavenge/dp/B009S6M88Y to drain the rear sump, lower it and remove and clean the filter, lower and drain the front sump (to find a broken thrust washer >:(), and then refit sumps with new gaskets and refill with ATF from GM, 20L for about £45. The whole job took less than two hours. It is well worth doing.
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 17:29:23
I thought about something like this (http://www.mad4tools.com/silverline-drill-powered-pump-accessory-44497-p.asp?gclid=CMr4pJGr7s0CFZAW0wodcNAL7w) to suck out as much ATF as I can before dropping the sump. Same idea as Shack's but cheaper.  ::)  :y
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: BazaJT on 12 July 2016, 19:00:27
Filter and both gaskets available for very reasonable price from ABS.Black is definitely not a good colour for ATF to be,I don't suppose you recall if it smelt "burnt" do you?
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 19:07:07
Filter and both gaskets available for very reasonable price from ABS.Black is definitely not a good colour for ATF to be,I don't suppose you recall if it smelt "burnt" do you?

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: STEMO on 12 July 2016, 19:16:15
Filter and both gaskets available for very reasonable price from ABS.Black is definitely not a good colour for ATF to be,I don't suppose you recall if it smelt "burnt" do you?

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)
Have you ever considered buying a car that is not permanently on life support?
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: BazaJT on 12 July 2016, 19:18:52
Oh,come on! Where's the fun in that ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 19:31:53
Filter and both gaskets available for very reasonable price from ABS.Black is definitely not a good colour for ATF to be,I don't suppose you recall if it smelt "burnt" do you?

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)
Have you ever considered buying a car that is not permanently on life support?

No.  :P
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Nick W on 12 July 2016, 19:42:19

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)


In that case, I would check the level, add however much is needed and leave it well alone.
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 July 2016, 20:08:45

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)


In that case, I would check the level, add however much is needed and leave it well alone.

Why's that Nick?  ???
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 12 July 2016, 20:16:56

No but given the car is on 242,000 miles and I'm pretty sure it's never been changed, I suppose I can't complain.  :)


In that case, I would check the level, add however much is needed and leave it well alone.
The shock of changing the fluid will probably kill it stone dead.

Why's that Nick?  ???
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 09:12:20

The shock of changing the fluid will probably kill it stone dead.


Why would it do that?  :-\
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: pauls on 13 July 2016, 09:23:14

The shock of changing the fluid will probably kill it stone dead.


Why would it do that?  :-\

Cant prove it but I had my filters and fluid changed and 2 days later the box had a hissy fit throw up a load of codes and died.
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 09:32:38
You're all doing a good job of talking me out of this!  ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: STEMO on 13 July 2016, 15:23:31
Don't have one of these 'engine cleans' either, it's only the crap that stopping stuff escaping everywhere.  ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2016, 15:33:40
Don't have one of these 'engine cleans' either, it's only the crap that stopping stuff escaping everywhere.  ;D

Mine does that anyway!  ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox service
Post by: TD on 13 July 2016, 18:23:01
You're all doing a good job of talking me out of this!  ;D

When I had an omega, I asked my local garage about changing the gearbox oil and filter.
Owner asked if I was having problems with the box, when I told him no....he said leave it alone then.
He's not one to turn down work and he wouldn't himself have done the work.....so it wasn't because its a messy job...
So, I'll leave it to draw your own conclusions......