No transmission fluid question

[gt crazy]

would it be ok to start my car with no transmission fluid as long as it isnt in gear? I need to know and im scared to start up my car without knowing for certain. I think it would be ok because as long as it isnt engaged in gear but i have been wrong before.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by gt crazy would it be ok to start my car with no transmission fluid as long as it isnt in gear? I need to know and im scared to start up my car without knowing for certain. I think it would be ok because as long as it isnt engaged in gear but i have been wrong before.

Bad plan!! Even though you do not have the gear selector in any gear, the gears are still meshed and will turn on the main and lay shafts, which will turn the shafts in their respective bearings. No gear oil, no lubricant, and eventually no bearings.

[gt crazy]

ok would another question about that then.

with no speedometer cable hooke up would it shoot all my gear oil out of it that hole? And since my drive shaft isnt connect would it come out of that hole also? What should I do about the holes? I need to start the car so i can see if this alternator is going to work after i install it.

[heimue]

Namba's answer is correct if your question was like "can I drive a hundred miles w/o gear oil?", but since you only want to test your alternator your engine will not run longer than a few seconds, and the gearbox will run completely w/o load. There is nothing to worry about it, just make sure its set into neutral. If you are still afraid, have somebody hold down the clutch pedal while you check your voltage, but I think that would be overkill already.

Dieter

[gt crazy]

I think i might just buy some cheapo gear oil and just put it in and put it in there start the car have enough time to fiddle with things see how the car is acting with the alternator and just let the oil drain out of the speedometer cable whole and driveshaft hole spot. That should keep everything lubed up enough for a 10 minute fiddle process right? I guess it just depends on how fast the oil decides to drain out... Maybe i should get REALLY REALLY thick gear oil so it drains out slower?

[namba209]

I'll go along with Dieter for a sub 10 second start and run. What's residual in the bearings will suffice for one or two runs. For a 10 minute run, you'd need a barrel of oil to keep the tranny lubricated with the driveshaft and speedo connection removed. To check out your new alternator, it won't take long at all. With a charged battery, start the car, watch the ammeter. It should go full scale for a couple of seconds then drop down towards the center. That's all you need to see. HTH.

[opelbits]

Rubber glove or ziploc on the back end of the trans. It will still probably leak out, but it won't be all over the floor. Same for the speedo drive, you need something like the rubber glove, but smaller and stretchy..........eh, nevermind.

Take the speedo cable out of the other car and screw it on. Hold the end up higher than the trans. You will get gear oil in it, but again, it won't be all over the floor.

[oldopelguy]

Is there a reason you can't install the driveshaft and speedo cable?

[gt crazy]

my rear has all stripped gears where the torque tube is so im not installing anything till i fix my rearend gears i dont want to make anything worse. Not to mention my turbe tube and the center joint just fell into pieces. But the reason for my speedometer gear aint on is because it is to short. Its a long story for that but its just to short and i guess i need to buy a longer one? or try to stretch out my current one?