Filling ZF6 Fluid Question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
Filling ZF6 Fluid Question
Can the ZF be filled through where the shifter comes through from the trans? I was thinking I could slip in some tubing through there and fill it from inside the car.
I cannot get the fill screw out of the trans. I've tried using WD40, and heating with a small torch but it won't budge. I'm headed to Sears to try and find a decent 17mm but I'm afraid the set screw is already too screwed up for that to work.
I cannot get the fill screw out of the trans. I've tried using WD40, and heating with a small torch but it won't budge. I'm headed to Sears to try and find a decent 17mm but I'm afraid the set screw is already too screwed up for that to work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I wound up with a 17MM hex that I was able to get my 1/2 breaker bar on and that made the fill plug move.
As far as I know there is no way else to fill the trans.
As far as I know there is no way else to fill the trans.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
I found a 17mm allen wrench at sears that maybe I can put a pipe on for some leverage. I also founda 17mm socket but it was part of a 4 piece set and cost a pretty penny. I'll try both today.
Someone suggested using a dremel to notch the screw and using a flatblade screwdriver and hammer to turn the thing.
But if anyone knows if I can just fill it from the shifter, I'll do that. I've just put a short throw in so it's still somewhat all apart. I could pull the short throw back out to do it if I need.
Someone suggested using a dremel to notch the screw and using a flatblade screwdriver and hammer to turn the thing.
But if anyone knows if I can just fill it from the shifter, I'll do that. I've just put a short throw in so it's still somewhat all apart. I could pull the short throw back out to do it if I need.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
no, you can't fill it from the shifter. I suppose you could if you disassembled and removed the shifting mechanism, but you will not be able to remove the shift boot and stick a funnel down there. So for all practical purposes, no.
Auto zone sells a 3 piece hex set for $10. There is no getting around the fact you need to buy it.
I made this ,
and it failed.
I could not get my plug to budge, it came out easy with an impact gun on the 1/2 inch 17mm allen head socket. I know you will not be able to get an impact on the fill plug with the trans installed, but maybe you can get a breaker bar, a little heat, penetrating oil and patience and it will come out.
Auto zone sells a 3 piece hex set for $10. There is no getting around the fact you need to buy it.
I made this ,
and it failed.I could not get my plug to budge, it came out easy with an impact gun on the 1/2 inch 17mm allen head socket. I know you will not be able to get an impact on the fill plug with the trans installed, but maybe you can get a breaker bar, a little heat, penetrating oil and patience and it will come out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
You are talking about the large 17MM recessed allen, right? You keep mentioned a set screw, and now slotting a screw and using a screw driver. That makes me think you might be messing with the wrong bolt/plug in order to fill the transmissin.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
I say set screw because it looks like a big giant one but I am talking about the fill plug on the side. The big 17mm giant one.
So heat, penetrating oil and an impact gun huh?
Oh yeah, and patience? I don't have much of that right now!
Has anyone had luck replacing it with another plug? My Chev dealership doesn't have this part in stock and says it's discontinued.
So heat, penetrating oil and an impact gun huh?
Oh yeah, and patience? I don't have much of that right now!
Has anyone had luck replacing it with another plug? My Chev dealership doesn't have this part in stock and says it's discontinued.
Last edited by 89Corvette6spdFX3; May 11, 2009 at 04:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
If you pour oil from the shifter down, it will go down thru the shifter's linkage down to the rubber boot and end up on your driveway. Buy a 17mm allen socket, fill 2.2 quarts, use teflon on both plug's threads and tight both to 26 lbs.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 1
What if the plug is stripped?
Has anyone had luck replacing it with another plug? My Chev dealership doesn't have this part in stock and says it's discontinued.
BTW, i'm not talking about pouring it into the shifter...that's silly, I know it would just go in the rubber boot. I'm talking about where the shifter goes into the trans. Slipping a tube in through there.
Last edited by 89Corvette6spdFX3; May 11, 2009 at 04:48 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
I found that a blowtorch heating it didn't work as well as just driving the car a bit beforehand, though I augmented that with more blowtorch.
I'd think the plug is sorta generic, but worst case I'd say contact Bill B for a replacement.
Even if you could fill it via another means, the only way to know if it's filled to the proper level is to open the fill screw.
I'd think the plug is sorta generic, but worst case I'd say contact Bill B for a replacement.
Even if you could fill it via another means, the only way to know if it's filled to the proper level is to open the fill screw.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
I've been watching this struggle congrats, nothing like a broken, boogered, striped, tiny, lost, hiding, fell in some dark hole, fastener to make a week go by just dandy....
:auto :