300K (actually 290K) kilometres on the odometer about to click over and since it's a while since it has had an ATF oil (or should say ah half) change, I thought that it's about time as with some very hot recent days here in Melbourne - its been misbehaving at times.
Up to now, I've been a great believer if it ain't broke; don't fix it!
So, upon "attempting to do so" and under the great advise of some AF'r some time ago, don't drain the oil, until you locate the filling point. That was a task in its own right. Only after degreasing the top of the AL4, was I able to see it let alone get to it, nevertheless I knew where it was and thus attempted to remove the drain plug.
Armed with the 27mm 3/4" drive socket, I attempted to remove the drain plug but found no 27mm drain plug (and no 19mm oil level plug by the way).
What was/is there is a standard oil drain plug WITH a 8mm Square Drive. I had modified a standard 3" 3/8" extension drive to 8mm by grinding and filing it to 8mm square. This drain plug is so tight that the 8mm square drive started to distort and no doubt shear off if I had continued. So, I sought a proper Chrome Vanadium 8mm plug tool and to my disbelief, (I went to five [5] stores that I expected to have it), they did not know what I was talking about. On Monday, the Bearing place I visit will have enjoyed its holiday and will open - I hope they have *8mm or 5/16" key bars available so I can adapt to another home made tool.
Questions,
1. Why no oil level set up, does this mean, simply drain and add 3l of ATF?
2. Is it possible that previous (dealer) workshops dispensed with the 27mm drain plug and 19mm levelling plug and simply replaced them with a single drain plug.? I can assure you that the previous one owner never touched anything under the bonnet.
3. Is this contrary to available documentation as to how to correctly top up oil level on a AL4 Auto G/B?
4. Our C5 is a late 2004 model, was there a change from the 2 drain plugs to a single drain plug?
5. Why did they do it up so tight that my home made tool failed? My home made tools don't fail by the way.
Best regards,
John
Up to now, I've been a great believer if it ain't broke; don't fix it!
So, upon "attempting to do so" and under the great advise of some AF'r some time ago, don't drain the oil, until you locate the filling point. That was a task in its own right. Only after degreasing the top of the AL4, was I able to see it let alone get to it, nevertheless I knew where it was and thus attempted to remove the drain plug.
Armed with the 27mm 3/4" drive socket, I attempted to remove the drain plug but found no 27mm drain plug (and no 19mm oil level plug by the way).
What was/is there is a standard oil drain plug WITH a 8mm Square Drive. I had modified a standard 3" 3/8" extension drive to 8mm by grinding and filing it to 8mm square. This drain plug is so tight that the 8mm square drive started to distort and no doubt shear off if I had continued. So, I sought a proper Chrome Vanadium 8mm plug tool and to my disbelief, (I went to five [5] stores that I expected to have it), they did not know what I was talking about. On Monday, the Bearing place I visit will have enjoyed its holiday and will open - I hope they have *8mm or 5/16" key bars available so I can adapt to another home made tool.
Questions,
1. Why no oil level set up, does this mean, simply drain and add 3l of ATF?
2. Is it possible that previous (dealer) workshops dispensed with the 27mm drain plug and 19mm levelling plug and simply replaced them with a single drain plug.? I can assure you that the previous one owner never touched anything under the bonnet.
3. Is this contrary to available documentation as to how to correctly top up oil level on a AL4 Auto G/B?
4. Our C5 is a late 2004 model, was there a change from the 2 drain plugs to a single drain plug?
5. Why did they do it up so tight that my home made tool failed? My home made tools don't fail by the way.
Best regards,
John