I accidently drained the trans fluid, cold engine. Dont ask, Im exhausted from other things, and didnt have my head on straight. I know where the fill is, and I have a transfer pump. What should I do now? Which fluid is readily available in Florida? Im a one man show. 2001 VDP NA. Thanks in advance.

 

If you have another car, run down to your nearest Advance Auto Parts and ask. Gotta ask: how did you drain it?

 

Autozone, O'Reilly's, Advance...I believe all 3 deliver. Get the 5 qt container, usually saves a couple of buck.

 

Drain pan bolt.

 

Which fluid?

 

Should I fill till overflow? Then start it, run it thru the gears, and check again?

 

US original Esso LT71141
rebadged as Mobil ATF LT71141

Part calalog & fluid change... https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...s.%2001.220%29.
...and there's that nifty at the top of this forum "How To", then there's the Search and then there's always YouTube.

 

thanks for the file!

 

Hi Reddevil,

We've all done something on our cars that we wish we hadn't!

Fluids known to be correct in your ZF 5HP24 transmission are:

ZF LifeGuard 5
ESSO LT 71141
Mobil 1 LT 71141
Febi Automatikgetriebeöl Nr. 29738
VW/Audi G 052 162 A2
Pentosin ATF 1
Ravenol ATF 4/5 HP

Of these, the ones I have found to be most available and affordable in the U.S. are the Febi and the Pentosin. I order the Febi from ebay (partscontainer is a favorite seller), or I get the Pentosin from one of the local auto parts stores (they usually have to order it in but can typically get it within a day or two).

When you have the fluid and are ready to inject it into your transmission, important steps include:

1. You must have a method of measuring the transmission fluid temperature; the best is to use the transmission's temperature sensor and read its signal with a scan tool via Live Data; an alternate method is an infrared thermometer aimed at the fluid draining from the transmission, not at the pan (the pan temperature can vary greatly from that of the fluid);
2. The vehicle must be level;
3. The engine must be running;
4. Hold the brake and shift through each gear position, holding each one at least 3 seconds;
5. Do not open the transmission fill plug until the fluid temperature reaches 30ºC; if you are using an infrared thermometer, open the fill plug when its temp is a little lower than that;
6. Begin adding fluid until it just overflows;
7. When the fluid temperature reaches 40ºC and fluid is just trickling out of the fill hole, reinsert the fill plug and tighten;
8. If the fluid temperature reaches 50ºC, the fluid level will be too low, so reinstall the fill plug, allow the transmission to cool (it may take overnight to cool sufficiently), and start over;

IMPORTANT: Do not trust Valvoline, Castrol and other third-party fluidmakers who claim their fluid is "suitable" or "recommended" for your transmission. Exhaustive research by our forum members has established that these fluids do not conform to the chemical qualities of the known-correct fluids listed above.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don, Im confused. Do I put fluid back in it, leave it unplugged, and measure the temp as it flows out? I dont have a way to measure live data, but I do have the thermometer.

 

When the fill plug temp is a little lower than 30ºC / 86ºF, remove the fill plug and begin adding fluid until it overflows a little. It will continue to overflow a little as the fluid temperature rises and the fluid expands. Aim your infrared thermometer at the fluid emerging from the fill hole. When the fluid temperature reaches 40ºC / 104ºF, allow the fluid to continue to flow out until it is just a trickle, then immediately reinstall the fill plug and tighten. Take care not to touch the hot exhaust pipe.

Cheers,

Don

 

Car is running during this process? If so, do I go thru the gears at the same time as the fluid temp is being measured?

 

The engine is running the entire time the fluid level is being set. If you shut off the engine with the fill plug open and the fluid cold, you will dump a liter or more of fluid.

I go through the gears before the fluid temp begins to approach 30ºC / 86ºF, and then get under the car to monitor the fluid temp. The reason you go through the gears is to ensure the valve body passages are full of fluid for an accurate fluid level check. You only have to go through the gears once, but sometimes I'll do it a couple of times if the fluid is warming up slowly.

 

Thank you. Last 2 questions. Do I put any fluid back in first, since I already drained it, and then wait for the temp to come up to 30. And last, when it reaches 40, do I shut it off, let it trickle, then plug it?

 

I would get about 5 quarts (or liters) of ATF from the store. You need to have a way to pump the ATF from the bottle into the passenger side fill plug of the transmission. You must have the vehicle off the ground and it must be level. With the engine off, you pump the ATF into the side of the transmission until it dribbles out of the fill hole. Go start the engine and immediately go back under the car and continue filling up the transmission until it wants to dribble back out. It would be best to loosely reinstall the fill plug and run the transmission through the gears a few times. Once that’s done, go back under and see if it needs anymore ATF. If so, top it off until it dribbles back out and tighten the fill plug. Yes, it would be best to have a way to monitor the transmission fluid temperature.

 

Yes, before you start the engine, add fluid until it begins to dribble out. Then start the engine and perform the process I outlined.

When the fluid reaches 40ºC, leave the engine running and install the plug. If you shut off the engine, a lot of your fluid will run out!

Note that 40ºC / 104ºF is not very hot - it's just a little higher than average human internal body temperature.

The fluid level cannot be set accurately without measuring the fluid temperature. See the attached document from ZF.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thank you

 

thank you

 

I have a lift, so level wont be an issue. I also have another highly reliable car...a Porsche.🤣

 

Air-cooled or water-cooled....?