zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

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garyinwestoz
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zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by garyinwestoz »

Hi ya

the auto transmission is this 80 528i was not engaging reverse very well - very laggy - forward gears seemed fine, so I decided to do filter and fluid replacement - hoping to avoid a transmission swap.
Haynes manual says requires 2.0 litre Dexron II

I purchased ; Penrite ATF FS full synthetic ( bmw 265, 807, GM dexron III F/G/H https://www.penriteoil.com.au/applicati ... full-syn#/

and Ryco filter kit

Jacked car up on stands , ran in R + D for 5 mins to heat transmission up and then drained fluid - approx 2.0 litres

to remove pan ( to install nee gastket and filter) have to first removed dip stick - man that was on real tight - had to use big cresent and mallet to loosen it. - note: had to jack up left side ofcar to create enough space to get under to undo. this took 45 mins!

removed pan bolts 4- M10 - about 4 mins

removed filter bolts 12 - T30 screws - about 6 mins

cleanup up pan, and bolts, about 30 mins

installed new filter, gasket and then pan - had to redo pan couple fitness to get gasket to sit properly, took maybe 30 mins to install all this.

refilled via dip stick, with strip of hard plastic folded in half length ways , 2.0 litres of new ATF fluid - took about 10 mins to fill - had to go real slow as its only a small hole

lowered car - started and went for quick drive up and down street - reverse now works much better.

attached is picture of old and new fluids.

the old fluid was quite brown and comparatively thicker compare to the new stuff - less discos if thats the term.

any thoughts?

Image
Last edited by garyinwestoz on Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
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528i-1981
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 5:50 am
Location: Franklin, TN

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by 528i-1981 »

Hi Gary - your images didn't make it. I think you need to host them off-site. If you don't have an account already, imgbb works great with FF's front-end.

https://imgbb.com/

Cheers, and we northern hemisphere dwellers are little envious of your summertime activities!
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
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Mike W.
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Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by Mike W. »

Yep, they like fluid changes. No need for synthetic, although it shouldn't hurt. I would suggest the next engine oil change or two to change the fluid again. Remember, the system holds much more than 2 L so you really only changed a small part of it. Next time though just pull the drain plug, don't bother with a new filter.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
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Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by garyinwestoz »

I was wondering about the remaining 3 litres - thats in the torque converter - how is that flushed out/replaced -
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
Contact:

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by garyinwestoz »

528i-1981 wrote: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:02 am Hi Gary - your images didn't make it. I think you need to host them off-site. If you don't have an account already, imgbb works great with FF's front-end.

https://imgbb.com/

Cheers, and we northern hemisphere dwellers are little envious of your summertime activities!
thanks for the suggestion - have joined and uploaded - hope it now works - see original post

here is the car in question

Image
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
User avatar
Mike W.
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by Mike W. »

garyinwestoz wrote: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:56 am I was wondering about the remaining 3 litres - thats in the torque converter - how is that flushed out/replaced -
That's the point, it can't really be flushed out except by repeated changes. First change it's about 50% new stuff. Second change it's about 75%. Third change it's up around 90%.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
User avatar
Lock
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Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:51 pm
Location: Olympia, WA
Contact:

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by Lock »

If you still have issues or want to dig deeper, go a little further and remove the valve body. You already take out half the bolts when replacing the filter, and this transmission is so simple it's one item of two pieces sandwiched together with a gasket in between.
I did this when chasing a 1-2nd slip, I think I made a thread a while ago. I found that the two gaskets had tears in them that the new gasket covered up.
New gaskets also have the latest 'upgraded' layout which is supposed to improve shifting too.

Image

Image
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
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Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by garyinwestoz »

thanks for the tip about the valve body gaskets

any idea on where to get transmissions parts from?

I found this today - a manual on the hp22
posted on Ozzie frogs forum

74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
User avatar
Lock
Posts: 456
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:51 pm
Location: Olympia, WA
Contact:

Re: zf 3hp 22 transmission oil change.

Post by Lock »

Yea I found and used that same manual from aussiefrogs. Their forums have some good discussions of fixing the 3hp22.
I ordered a complete 3ph22 gasket kit from eBay, just some random store. You could post at aussiefrogs and ask those guys too, their cars seem to be autos more than ours so some of their members might have spares or know sources.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
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