PTU and Engine Oil Change...

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Got the engine as well as the PTU oil done.

Engine Oil: Pretty straight forward, just showing you guys the switch I made from el cheapo middle of the road Pennzoil stuff to some better Amsoil fluid and filter...





Oil filter is about 33% larger than that cheap service station filter I had on there...btw, I WILL be changing that filter sooner than 25,000 miles, lol.

Onto the PTU. I am still experimenting with beefing up the PTU I have on my bench, but in the meantime, I am still running my original one and decided to do the drain plug and vent tube extension mod.

This PTU fluid is coming from somewhere. Top of the vent tube and vent tube hose was clean, so wondering if it is leaking from somewhere else.



I like the idea of having the drain on the lowest point to get all of it out, so I bypassed the existing drain port and just added the bottom one. I was only able to drain out 12 ounces...so 6 ounces disappeared somewhere. When I drilled the hole for the bottom drain, I stuck a paperclip in there (bent like and "L") and spun it around to see if any grease or sludge would be on it as maybe those 6 ounces converted to "grease", but, to my surprise, came out clean. IDK...weird. I never had an oily spot on my driveway.

Drain plug installed...matched my RDU drain plug. Also put heatshrink around it to keep the cap from ever spinning off.



Love the v-bands...so easy, LOL:


With removal of the front downpipe, I could very easily get to the top vent. By feel of course, but very easy to reach. Added the hose and was able to get this clamp on tight:


Used this tool to tighten it blind. Was pretty easy actually:


Bottom end buttoned up:


Removal of the vent cap and placed this barbed fitting for filling only:


For the PTU, I went with some Amsoil 75W140 Severe Gear ****. Since I only needed 18 ounces, and there's 32 in the quart pack, I poured out 14 ounces and storing it in another bottle for later:


IV bag-style fill job:






Hole was punctured in bottom of pouch. Even so, it really did take quite awhile. I let it hang there in the hot sun so it got very viscous, I'm sure, but still took a few hours to drain. On the new PTU, I will be adding a second fill line next to the vent port. This will keep from fighting the air coming up.

Installed vent cap, zip tied it off to the side and all done!

 

[SM105K]

Heck yeah. Awesome set up dude.

 

[luigisho]

That IV drip reminds me of member Iqoniq's video and fluid change. He is looking into a setup that allows more effecient refills also.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

That IV drip reminds me of member Iqoniq's video and fluid change. He is looking into a setup that allows more effecient refills also.

Yeah, I think the only real answer is to tap the case for another source of air relief. I'm sure there's a few ways to skin that cat, just gotta figure out an easy way without removing the PTU. Haven't figured that out, but it'll be easy to do on the one I have sitting on my workbench.

 

[SM105K]

Can't you use the fill hole as a vent with your set up?

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Can't you use the fill hole as a vent with your set up?

You could, but I've got the PTU with the cooler. There is no official "fill hole". That was replaced with the cooler and the temp sensor. Yes, I could remove the sensor, but it's a bit of a pain as there are a few very difficult to reach bolts holding the heat shield covering the sensor down. I'm just gonna live with it like this until I get the new PTU installed. That one will have the existing vent tube, but right next to it another barbed fitting with a hose for a filler. Problem solved.

Then all I gotta do is unscrew the cap to drain (easy to get to), close it, then fill from the top of the engine and it should go way faster. I'm all about making maintenance as easy as possible. That usually means putting a bit of extra effort in the beginning, but will make for easier work going forward.

 

[SM105K]

You could, but I've got the PTU with the cooler. There is no official "fill hole". That was replaced with the cooler and the temp sensor. Yes, I could remove the sensor, but it's a bit of a pain as there are a few very difficult to reach bolts holding the heat shield covering the sensor down. I'm just gonna live with it like this until I get the new PTU installed. That one will have the existing vent tube, but right next to it another barbed fitting with a hose for a filler. Problem solved.

Then all I gotta do is unscrew the cap to drain (easy to get to), close it, then fill from the top of the engine and it should go way faster. I'm all about making maintenance as easy as possible. That usually means putting a bit of extra effort in the beginning, but will make for easier work going forward.

I have the same set up. I filled mine form the vent as well. That makes sense about the fill plug, which I forgot.

 

[dillrepair]

"iv style". your pic reminds me of the other day giving blood to a guy in icu. nice clean high viscosity blood.

 

[High on Ethanol]

I cant imagine needing to change it as often once you have better fluid in it.

If i had to go through all that....I'd probably just walk.

Lol im getting ready to drain and refill the rear diff and front diff. Already did the transfer case. Contemplating dealer for the transmission drain and fill.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

I cant imagine needing to change it as often once you have better fluid in it.

If i had to go through all that....I'd probably just walk.

Lol im getting ready to drain and refill the rear diff and front diff. Already did the transfer case. Contemplating dealer for the transmission drain and fill.

Actually at this point, after installing the longer vent tube for filling and the bottom drain plug, future fluid changes will be very, very easy. Time consuming, yes, as you have to wait on the fluid to drain out, but otherwise easy.

 

[High on Ethanol]

Actually at this point, after installing the longer vent tube for filling and the bottom drain plug, future fluid changes will be very, very easy. Time consuming, yes, as you have to wait on the fluid to drain out, but otherwise easy.

But why would it need changed often enough to need these types of things?

I mean I could see it if it saw heavy track duty. Idk maybe I'm missing something. I'm never changing my fluids again unless I go in deep water.
Lol

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

But why would it need changed often enough to need these types of things?

I mean I could see it if it saw heavy track duty. Idk maybe I'm missing something. I'm never changing my fluids again unless I go in deep water.
Lol

Yeah, the first thing you said. Track duty.

 

[luigisho]

Can it go in faster under pressure. like hand pump or something?

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Can it go in faster under pressure. like hand pump or something?

I was thinking about this and tbh, I don't think so, or at least I wouldn't try it. You may end up over pressurizing the case and push oil out/past the seals. You don't want that, not without having some way to vent that pressure.

There are really only 2 options I can see if the PTU isn't removed from the car. Live with the slow fill (leaving it in direct sunlight or heating it helps some), or remove the temp sensor and use that as the "vent".

For me, it really isn't a big deal to leave it sitting for the day, so I go that route. For others, it may be the other option.

But I still think the best option, if you are able, is to add a second vent tube. This would mean having to have the PTU off, but that's not really worth it unless you're replacing it. A second line/fill hose would go way faster. Currently the thick oil going down that small hose is competing with the displaced air that is traveling up that same hose as the case is filling with oil.

 

[6500rpm]

Just give the bag a few gentle squeezes, take the hose off the bag and let it burp, repeat. I do mine that way with a bottle and it takes about 10min to refill. Warming the fluid was a good idea that I never thought about!
If you use a clear plastic hose you can watch the fluid fwiw, but I only use it for the fill process and pop the factory hose back on when I'm done.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Just give the bag a few gentle squeezes, take the hose off the bag and let it burp, repeat. I do mine that way with a bottle and it takes about 10min to refill. Warming the fluid was a good idea that I never thought about!
If you use a clear plastic hose you can watch the fluid fwiw, but I only use it for the fill process and pop the factory hose back on when I'm done.

That's what punching a hole in the bottom of the pouch is for. No need to detach hose for burping.

And no need to switch to clear hose. Outside of the time needed letting that pouch drain into the case, the job is actually only about 10 minutes.

Remove drain cap. Drain old stuff. Put cap back on. Remove vent. Attach extension hose. Hang bag. Attach hose to bag. Cut hole in bottom of bag. Fill. Reattach vent. Done.

 

[GrolarBear]

I'm curious, what trans fluid are you switching to?

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

I'm curious, what trans fluid are you switching to?

Amsoil signature series

 

[Sho_Ride]

Well , I’m no mechanic and sadly, I’m usually here to ask questions rather than to contribute answers.
But, by the pictures it seems like the leak is coming from the top of the PTU where the vent hose attaches?

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Well , I’m no mechanic and sadly, I’m usually here to ask questions rather than to contribute answers.
But, by the pictures it seems like the leak is coming from the top of the PTU where the vent hose attaches?

Yeah looks like it was, I got a new hose and now a hose clamp, so hopefully that's the last of that lol