I drained the fluid from my transmission for a routine service. I know the exact amount that came out. Trying to avoid refilling with the fill plug on a hot engine. I believe you can detach the top cooling line from the radiator and then pump the fluid down the "Line" into the transmission not going through the radiator cooler. I plan to refill with the exact amount I took out (trans was working fine). And in a few weeks do another drain and fill checking fluid level via the messy fill plug routine.

My question is has anyone pumped fluid into the trans using this method. I need to put in about 2 quarts.



My car is a 2000 xk8, ZF five speed.

 

Replacing only what you took out does not mean you are at the correct level, only that you are back to where you were. I would go for doing the correct fill procedure for the first refill. That way you know for sure where you stand and then for the future drain fills you can replace just the amount you took out and be at the correct level. Plus you can do it thru the fill hole.

 

I have topped up my trans fluid via the upper tube at the radiator. This fixed my hot "Transmission Fault" problems.

As the other poster mentioned, this is not a correct method for refill or how I used it for that matter.

 

I always fill through the top cooling linr of my xk8. It is so much easier!!! Just dont lose your little o ring that will pull out of the cooling line. I did buy 3 more o rings snd i keep them in car just in case! But yes as long as you put in what you took out (measurements on fluid) this technique works 100%

 

Hi David,

Sure, you can add fluid to the transmission via the upper cooler line. There is no suction from the transmission (just pressure from the pump at the lower line), so the new fluid may flow slowly into the transmission, but you can get it done with patience.

As Vern correctly mentions, you won't know if your fluid level is correct at the correct measuring temperature (40 deg. C/104 deg. F for the ZF 5HP24), but you'll be back to where you started.

Cheers,

Don