Swepco pump

Jack Olsen · 04-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Every auto parts store has cheap hand pumps that will work for this. But has anyone found one inexpensive pump that's better than others? In other words, has anyone found a clever, simple and cheap way to do this that I ought to know about before I go and buy another cheap pump and get the car up on jacks?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Why not try the gravity method?

Hang a funnel as high as is comfortably for you
~6' of clear .75" tube runs from the funnel outlet to the trans inlet

warm fluid runs better

keep track of the volume, slow down near the end, ~3liters

Gogar · 04-03-2007, 11:50 AM

No pumping necessary.

Trans Oil Change for Musicians and Bachelors

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

I use an old electric water pump that I had in a large fountain.

Jack Olsen · 04-03-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
Why not try the gravity method?

I've done gravity in the past, letting the Swepco sit in the sun for a while first to warm it up. Just looking to see if I'm missing an easier/quicker way to do it.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

I don’t know how cheap but you can pick up a nice 12V pump and bucket, (Marine supply) reversible that they use to pump out engine oil in boats, I have used mine to change gear box oil and it works great, and its fast..

lespaul · lespaul's Garage

Warning. I ordered the Swepco hand pump and used it for my last transmission oil change. It comes with two small plastic clips on the end of the hose you stick in the fill hole. These clips are supposed to keep the end of the hose in the hole while you are hand pumping. However, after pumping, I reached up to pull the end of the hose out and found that one of the clips had broken off. I figured it had fallen into the transmission and began to dream of all the horrible things it would do to it. But to my utter delight, I discovered it was hanging (stuck to the oil) on the threaded inside of the fill hole.

I promptly broke the other clip off the end of the line. It was brittle and would have come off the next time I used the pump.

The lesson, if you use the hand pump, break off the clips before you start.

shbop · 04-03-2007, 01:24 PM

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_13350_13350

Here's one from Northern. It fits on a five gallon pail. You might also check-out West Marine. The boat guys use a small pump that screws to the top of a quart of gear oil. It use to be important to fill the outboard gear case from the bottom--up.

Decolliber · 04-03-2007, 02:39 PM

I have been using this Amsoil pump on both the 911 and to change the ATF in my BMW. It works very well and has attachments to fit bottles with different depths. I have two of them, so I dont have to clean them between using for ATF and for gear oil:
http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/g2039.aspx

Steve 82SC · 04-03-2007, 02:54 PM

I have that Amsoil pump that I used for a gearbox oil change. I was working on a cool day with the car up on jackstands, the gallon of Swepco on the floor, the pump inserted in the gallon container, and the clear tubing running up to the trans. It took 735 pumps (I actually counted!!!) for the fill. I've got a year to go before I do it again, but I'm certainly going to explore some sort of electronically assisted method for the next time.

Steve

NoLift911 · 03:38 PM

I have used a Briggs and Stratton, drill operated pump for about 11 years...used for changing lawnmower oil.

I have used and lended to many folks without issue, I pump everything from diff fluid, oil, gear fluid and trans fluids...I just pump soapy water through it after each use and let it air dry. Works like a banger and has for 11 years...

Simple is better and for $22 with 11 years of use - def some bang for the buck.

http://www.manddsmallengine.com/briggs/tools/5056d.html

shbop · 04-03-2007, 03:34 PM

The one from Northern, or others like it, will fill the trans quickly. We've been using a similar product for years. If it doesn't come with one, you can make an L, or U-shaped tubular end from aluminum, that will allow the supply end to hang, unattended, while you pump the oil in. When you're done, poke the same end through a hole in the top of the bucket, and there's no mess.

rfuerst911sc · 04-03-2007, 04:45 PM

If you have a air compressor you can modify a jug or the cap of the Swepco bottle with a piece of tubing and a air fitting. The tube would be permantely epoxied to the cap and go to the bottom of the jug. Put a piece of tubing over the tube and put the tubing in the tranny. Start compressor and regulate 10-15 psi via the air fitting and voila!!........you have built a home made transfer pump that can be used for years.

DanielDudley · 04-03-2007, 05:34 PM

I use one of those giant syringe like units. Sucks it up and spits it out a quart at a time.

911pcars · 05:59 PM

Jack,
I was going to post a picture of a hand pump I got from HF a few years ago (<$10). They don't show it in their online catalog anymore but I did see one in my local branch store last week. It looks like the Amsoil pump but mine doesn't require 700+ pumps to dish out <4 qts. of Swepco - more like 20-30. I think Steve was exaggerating a bit. The suck and push volume depends on the size of the inlet/outlet tubes, and the bore and stroke of the pump body - sorta like your 3.6

. The HF website does show a manual pump with a long lever designed to screw onto a 5 gallon jug.

The gravity-fill rigs show ingenuity, but it's either a spousal team situation or a one-person dive and low-crawl under the car once the gear oil reaches the fill opening. And to increase fluid flow, you end up heating the lube in your wife's Calaphon cookware although you could stir fry after the lube change. Did I mention that oil heated to +100ºF is not only less viscous but retains heat nicely and creates distinctive 2nd degree skin blisters?

The motorized marine oil pumps are neat but slightly overkill unless you change gear oil frequently (more than once every few years). However, some folks manage the disposable income for stuff like that.

FWIW, I think you'll come up with an imaginative and creative method for this mundane job - perhaps something involving eddy currents and reverse osmosis.

Sherwood

Long Nose · 04-03-2007, 06:14 PM

Jeez, I wish I had read this last week. I am still stiff from laying on my back for two hours trying to pump swepco into the trany - I had no idea it could take that many stokes to fill up a tranny with a hand pump - might as well use a soap dispensor!!!!

I didn't even know my arms bent that way normally!!! You can't even do exercises to prepare for that type of motion!!

I think I'll use the I.V. drip method next time.

tab tanner · 04-03-2007, 06:25 PM

Do you guys think a garden sprayer would work? I made one up to pump ATF into the Boxsters ans some BMW's. I wonder if it would work for the heavy gear oil?

Green 912 · 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rfuerst911sc
If you have a air compressor you can modify a jug or the cap of the Swepco bottle with a piece of tubing and a air fitting. The tube would be permantely epoxied to the cap and go to the bottom of the jug. Put a piece of tubing over the tube and put the tubing in the tranny. Start compressor and regulate 10-15 psi via the air fitting and voila!!........you have built a home made transfer pump that can be used for years.

That is the good way in my book as there is little to nothing to purchase or clean and store. There is also nothing to get contaminated with dirt mice droppings or the like.
You don't even need to make an elaborate or reusable device.

Drill a hole in the jug cap a little smaller than some 3/8 clear tubing. Cut a section the tubing and shove it through the cap enough to hit the bottom of the jug. Poke a hole in the side of the jug near the top. stick the fill tube in the fill hole and wedge it with the handle of a small screwdriver metal end out. Now stick your handy dandy air blow gun tip in the hole in the jug and puff the jug up a little. Just enough to get the fluid moving but not enough to blow the cap off. Keep adding air as needed to get the fluid into the trans. when the gearbox is full remove the air and the flow stops unlike the funnel and hose method. There you have to ether overfill and spill or dribble, check, dribble and recheck until full.
When you are done pitch the entire thing no messy cleanup and you are only out $0.10 worth of cheap tubing. if you don't have a compressor use your Motive brake bleeder or a garden sprayer to pressurize the jug.

Warming the fluid up is a big help. My wife loves it when I put a jug of gear oil in the kitchen sink and fill it with hot water to heat soak for an hour or two.

Jeff Alton · 04-03-2007, 09:01 PM

I have a high volume hand pump that takes me about 5 mins to fill a 915, really not that big of a deal.

Cheers

eapcpa · 04-03-2007, 09:19 PM

This is how I do it on my various vehicles with variuos fluid requirements. The pumps have pretty good output. The gallon jugs are just empty washer fluid bottles with the oil label taped on with clear packing tape. Buy a pump for each jug and keep your jugs full.
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/drivetrain/e36_final_drive_fluid_change.html