Help! 328 gearbox oil change snafu | FerrariChat
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Help! 328 gearbox oil change snafu

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Davidindallas, Jan 7, 2009.

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  1. Davidindallas

    Davidindallas Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2003
    344
    #1 Davidindallas, Jan 7, 2009
    Given that I'd driven a whole 500 miles in the two and half years since my last major service, I decided to change all my fluids, including the gearbox. I put the car up on my lift (very handy) and dutifully drained the 4.5 or so quarts out with no problem. Now, I have a serious problem. The fill hole at the top of the transfer case takes a 12 mm hex wrench, which can be accessed from one angle below or above and will not budge. I have since read the helpful step by step advice on the 308 GT4 to check that plug first, but alas too late in this instance (and I'm not sure where that would leave someone who didn't want to run with the same lube for the life of the box). Short of removing the overflow tank and oil cooler is there some expedient here. I tried a shot of liquid wrench and slipped a small extension over the hex wrench to increase my leverage.
     
  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    #2 Steve Magnusson, Jan 7, 2009
    Have you already taken off the LH rear wheel and the fender liner for better access?
     
  3. Drew Altemara

    Drew Altemara Formula 3

    Feb 11, 2002
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    #3 Drew Altemara, Jan 7, 2009
    I think a little heat from a propane tourch is the next step. Be absolutely sure you have a good six sided hex socket or wrench on the fill plug squarely. If I remember these are brass (at least the ones on older ferraris are) and can round off easily.

    A little bit of Zen that focuses all your energy from your arm through the wrench to the fill plug helps also.

    Good luck.

    DrewAltemara
     
  4. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    Sep 30, 2003
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    Savannah
    #4 thecarreaper, Jan 7, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2009
    i use a long box end wrench and loop the hex key through box end , making the whole thing longer and adding leverage. this has always worked for me. i also do the change with the gearbox hot, i am not sure if that makes the fill plug looser or tighter, but they always come out with the added leverage from the wrench. i have a fine paint brush i use to add a small amount of anti seize to things like this to ease future changes, whether they are done by me or the next guy ( i dont keep my cars very long)
     
  5. fastradio

    fastradio F1 Rookie
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    #5 fastradio, Jan 7, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This makes the job so much easier...
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  6. Davidindallas

    Davidindallas Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2003
    344
    #6 Davidindallas, Jan 7, 2009
    Many thanks. I agree that taking the wheel and cover off would have made life easier, but as I'm on a four post lift, well... there I am. But, happy news, I've managed to get it off with a newly bought longer hex wrench, a generous application of liquid wrench and light taping right on the bolt/nut. The first thousandth of an inch and viola. I do think doing it hot would have helped as the bolt/nut be made of brass will expand less quickly (I'd think) than the steel that surrounds it. Live and learn. Now, I remove the fill hole on the bottom of the gear box and fill from the top of the transfer case until it starts leaking from the lower fill hole.
     
  7. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #7 f355spider, Jan 7, 2009
    One tip David, when reinstalling the top fill bolt, use a fresh crush washer, a small dab of anti-sieze lubricant, and tighten until it just barely starts to crush the washer. I did this and when I drained and refilled the transaxle a few weeks later, it was still hard, but not crazy hard to break loose. Not sure why they get that way...
     
  8. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

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    #8 FasterIsBetter, Jan 8, 2009
    Do yourself a favor and stop trying to do it with a hex wrench and slipping things over it to extend the handle. Go to Sears or another place that sells tools and buy yourself a 3/8" socket with a 12mm hex head. Then take a real breaker bar and do it right. I found that trying to get those old plugs out with a regular hex wrench or even a 12mm hex socket with a regular ratchet handle was almost impossible (just can't get enough leverage). But putting the socket on an 18" breaker bar gave me all the leverage I needed to break it loose. Just be very, very careful to be sure the hex is properly seated and straight before applying leverage. You don't want to strip the hex hole in the plug. And applying some heat wouldn't hurt either.
     
  9. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #9 yelcab, Jan 8, 2009
    +1. I just did this a few months ago on a 328 and had no problem. I do have the 12mm Socket, and a Sears Flexible handle ratchet. Makes easy work out of this job.
     
  10. Davidindallas

    Davidindallas Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2003
    344
    #10 Davidindallas, Jan 8, 2009
    I will say for the benefit of anyone reading this later in contemplation of doing this themselves that everyone's advice here is dead on and that's not really that hard. It can be done with the wheel on and I agree that the 12 mm hex socket is preferable and tried to buy one yesterday at Elliots (our alleged real Hardware store in Dallas) and ended up with a longer handled 12 hex wrench as 10 mm was the largest they stock (i.e., Allen wrench). I will definitely not overtighten the bolt going back on and will apply some anti-sieze compound.
     
  11. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #11 yelcab, Jan 8, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2009
    In Kalifornia, I can find the 12mm allen socket from Napa, Kragen, Pepboys, Autozone, as well as Sears. Places on line also has them I think. I will admit that we have many more imports here in California so the autosuppliers tend to carry more metric stuff.

    Kragen even carries the 17mm allen socket required for Porsche and BMWs gear oil changes which were impossible to find before ...
     
  12. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #12 f355spider, Jan 8, 2009
    I have a 12mm Allen socket...I still used a huge wrench to crack it loose each time...even when I was careful reinstalling (only a few weeks prior) and not put it on too tight.
     

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