Checking/filling manual tranny fluid

[Jand3rson]

My manual tranny on my E30 has a leak at the input shaft seal, which is not bad, but regular. I'm starting to fear that the fluid in my tranny may be getting low, but I don't know how to check or fill it. Do I need a pump?

[KenC]

You'll need a pump to fill it. You pretty much put in as much fluid as will fit. Remove the fill plug on the side of the tranny and stick your finger in the hole. If the fluid level isn't up to the fill hole, then pump some more in.

[AdamF 88iS]

You fill it until it overflows; but make sure you let all the excess overflow out before you put the plug back in. Overfilling will just cause more leaks.

[BS87]

Just don't be like my brother. Inspired by my tranny swap, he wanted to start working some maintinence on the old eta. He did everything fine, like ryan said, and then drove around for a few days without the fill plug in, until i found it on the porch railing. :?

[BahnE30]

can't kill a getrag. lol

[Bimmerfanatik]

Re: Checking/filling manual tranny fluid

My manual tranny on my E30 has a leak at the input shaft seal, which is not bad, but regular. I'm starting to fear that the fluid in my tranny may be getting low, but I don't know how to check or fill it. Do I need a pump?

Weird...I was just going to make a post about this today.

Just in the past day or two my gears have been getting harder to shift into, but also the clutch feels more spongy than usual, and requires more effort, as well as grabbing a lot lower than before.

Is this a case of low tranny fluid and needing to bleed the clutch line? Please? :)

What "pump" are we talking about?

[AdamF 88iS]

Re: Checking/filling manual tranny fluid

My manual tranny on my E30 has a leak at the input shaft seal, which is not bad, but regular. I'm starting to fear that the fluid in my tranny may be getting low, but I don't know how to check or fill it. Do I need a pump?

Weird...I was just going to make a post about this today.

Just in the past day or two my gears have been getting harder to shift into, but also the clutch feels more spongy than usual, and requires more effort, as well as grabbing a lot lower than before.

Is this a case of low tranny fluid and needing to bleed the clutch line? Please? :)

What "pump" are we talking about?

He's talking about a hand pump to get the oil into the tranny. Your clutch or throwout bearing may be on their way out because if they dont release all the way it will be difficult to get into gears and would also explain your funny pedal feel.

But of course check the easy stuff first, make sure your fluid is full, etc.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Re: Checking/filling manual tranny fluid

He's talking about a hand pump to get the oil into the tranny. Your clutch or throwout bearing may be on their way out because if they dont release all the way it will be difficult to get into gears and would also explain your funny pedal feel.

But of course check the easy stuff first, make sure your fluid is full, etc.

I was afraid of something like that. The car shifted and drove smoothly - just yesterday all of a sudden it felt strange using the clutch and shifting gears, notably the bottom gears (2 and 4)

I do seem to remember a pop sound when this stuff started happening, but I didn't relate it directly to the symptoms. Any thoughts?

[tommyboy]

But of course check the easy stuff first, make sure your fluid is full, etc.

I assume to do this, having a level car is a pre-req? ie front of the car is on jackstands and floor jack under the differential?

[erik325i]

I assume to do this, having a level car is a pre-req? ie front of the car is on jackstands and floor jack under the differential?

Yes, the car must be level.