Manual Transmission - Clutch Bolt Fill Hole

[DOCTORBILL]

I was told on this Forum that the left bolt holding the clutch lever on top of the
transmission goes all the way thru the case and can be used to fill/refill the
transmission.

I recently drained my '93's transmission and tried to refill it via that hole!

Lots of laughs! Ha. Ha.

It is winter here in Spokane WA and the 80w - 90 transmission oil was like soft
butter.

Anyway - I refilled it the conventional was via the side plug using a 1/2" plastic
tube.

Now here is why I made this post....is that "bolt-hole" of any real use?

My Chilton Bible says the transmission holds 2.5 quarts.

I drained the transmission until no more fluid came out.

I could get only 1.9 quarts in before it had the dribbles out the side plug.

If I pull out that Bolt on top when the weather warms up, I can add the rest
of the fluid thru there.

Would that be dangerous?

Does anyone have a 'cutaway' drawing of the transmission so that I can see
what is under that bolt hole?

Can I use a wire or wood stick to "dipstick" the transmission oil level?

How much oil is too much oil?

Why does the Chilton Bible say 2.5 quarts when it took only 1.9 quarts?

Is the '93 manual transmission "touchy" about lubricant levels?

Should I be concerned about this or am I making a duck out of a flea...?

"Without questions there are no answers"

DoctorBill

[GM Line Rat]

Doc, when I Drained/refilled my 5 speed tranny a couple of months ago, it only took 2 qts of fluid and it was ozzing out of the filler hole by then! I must say it is in a PITA Postion to refill but I did as you did and ran a piece of 1/2" hose to the filler hole down below, then basically had to squeeze the hell out of the tranny lube bottles in order to get it to flow down that 1/2" hose, and this was in 80 degree weather . Cant exactly tell you about the access/Bolt hole in the top but here's the only 2 pics I Could find of an exploded view of the 5 speed tranny......Hope it helps?

[DOCTORBILL]

Wow! Nice cutaway drawings!

I copied and edited the first one to show where I "think" the bolt goes thru on
the top. It holds the clutch lever in place.



I opened it but didn't use it for reasons of Viscosity!

However ! I also noticed a lot of dirt and grit around it!

If I ever use it again, I will hose it off with "Gunk" and compressed air dry it!
Don't want any grit falling into the Transmission thru that hole!

What are those three in-line (with length of the car) "screw heads" with Phillips
Head slots just to the right of the engine for? Looks like for adjusting something.....

When you changed your Transmish Oil - did you notice any difference in the car?

Maybe it is just in my mind, but the Metro seems to be quieter and coast even
more easily than before.

Probably just in my mind..... the old oil was sure slippery as hell!

I want to open that bolt hole and look down in there with a high intensity
flashlight.

I'd like to know if I can see any oil.

My Chilton Bible shows a "dipstick" for the Transmission, but mine sure as Hell
doesn't have one!

That side hole is a "bastard" to get at!

Did your drain plug have a magnetic core? Mine did and had a pea-sized glob
on Iron metal on it - chunks and powder.

Probably from those days we "grind a pound" with our gears....

Now that I changed the oil, my first gear doesn't slip in as it did before.
I get a little grind if I do it too fast.....

DoctorBill

PS - to anyone wanting to change their Transmish oil - set the two quarts of
oil into a pan of really hot tap water for 10 minutes beforehand....

Makes the oil flow really nicely while it is hot - otherwise - molasses.

And be smarter than me - don't do it in cold weather!

[Crvett69]

if you want to do it from up top just remove the 1 10mm bolt holding speedometer gear in and pull it out of the transmission, gives you a 1" hole you can pour the oil into

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by Crvett69

if you want to do it from up top just remove the 1 10mm bolt holding speedometer gear in and pull it out of the transmission, gives you a 1" hole you can pour the oil into

Ya know, I thought about the Speedo cable hole, but the only time I had the speedo cable housing out was when the tranny was in the car and I Couldn't see down in the hole at the rear of the tranny. I needed some extra cable length to reach/ install the speedo cable on the back of the Tach cluster I installed a couple of months ago.

[91Caprice9c1]

It's true, I've done it. The bolt hole closest to the engine for the clutch cable brace goes through. I used a hose from my vacuum pump kit and an adapter to get the fluid into the hole, and punched small hole in the bottom of the gear oil bottle, then pumped the bottle with compressed air which REALLY helps to get the fluid in their QUICKLY - just take caution that you connections don't come loose - hose clamps are useful insurance. I wouldn't exceed 30psi. I've never been able to get more than 2 quarts in these 5-speeds when filling the traditional way, so I have accepted that as an acceptable amount of fluid which so far has not caused transmission failure in my fleet. Goodluck.

mechanicmatt