Gearbox oil level

jonboy

Member
Hello everyone i am new to this forum, I have a ford pop hotrod with rover sd1 with a BW 35 auto box,and i need some help with gearbox oil level as i dont have a standard dipstick, Mine is only about 13 inches long and only have two marks on it, any suggestions please.
 
Unless you get a matching dipstick and tube it will be difficult to set an accurate level. If the pair you have are matched (but just short) then the chances are that the lower mark is the COLD level, to give you a starting point so you can set it to the upper mark when its HOT.

See here:

BW35/65 Checklist.

for how to check the level.
 
Ok Harvey thanks if i used a piece of wire would i be able to touch the bottom of sump or is there anything in the way
 
Ok Harvey thanks if i used a piece of wire would i be able to touch the bottom of sump or is there anything in the way

The dipstick tube goes in from the front so anything you put down the tube will bend and go along the sump not down to it. You could measure the dipstick and see where the marks come on the tube relative to the sump.

There was another thread of a similar nature on here a while back that chased its tail for a while.


Also what will happen if you overfill

You risk causing leaks and having fluid blown out of the breather or the dipstick tube.

Too low a level causes delayed engagement of gears from NEUTRAL. (And can cause the box to drop out of TOP gear).
 
Yes, to prevent accidental engagement of reverse in that instance.

Somewhere in the WM/Haynes/Vehicle handbook is a diagram of when the detent button needs to be pressed.
 
Thanks Harvey i only need press for reverse just wanted to know if this was normal, i only have handbook for SD1.
 
Hi again Harvey been out today trying to get reading on dipstick ,very difficult to get , i have used chalk but hard to see, do you think if i used a piece of wire the same length as my dipstick it would give me a better reading John,
 
Have just checked there is a plug near the back end of sump is this a drain plug, or is it connected to anything inside box.
 
Have just checked there is a plug near the back end of sump is this a drain plug, or is it connected to anything inside box.

If it's just above the sump gasket in the main case it's the port for a pressure tester to screw into. Most P6B BW35 sumps have a drain plug, but over the years different sumps get fitted for various reasons. Removing the pressure port plug won't help you drain the box because it's above the normal fluid anyway, and although I don't use a pressure tester, in the past when I have I don't remember much fluid coming out anyway. Just remove all the sump bolts bar 2 at the front edge at the corners, and one at the rear, then slacken the 2 at the front a bit, and remove the one at the rear while supporting the sump. Then lower the rear and allow the fluid to spill over and out.
 
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