Hand pumps fresh ATF up into bottom- and side-fill transmission ports on Ford, GM, VW, Audi, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and BMW using 12 threaded adapters.
Own a Chevy Cruze, Malibu, Equinox or Sonic with a 6T40 six-speed and just found out there is no dipstick? You are not alone. GM's 6T35, 6T40 and 6T50 family sets fluid level at a plug on the case, and the only way to add fluid properly is to push it in under pressure while the engine runs. This Orion Motor Tech 3 liter (3.1 quart) hand fill pump does that, with 12 threaded adapters, a gauge and a relief valve, at a size that suits a drain and fill or a level correction.
You fill the reservoir with fresh ATF, tighten the cap with the supplied lid wrench so it seals, and stroke the handle to pressurize the tank. The gauge shows the pressure you have built and the relief valve keeps it from going too high. Fluid travels through the 42.5 inch hose to a ball valve and quick coupler, and from there through whichever adapter matches the fill opening. Open the valve and fluid flows; close it and the flow stops instantly, which is what you want when you are watching a level hole.
The factory level check, reprinted by ATRA in bulletin 1725 and by GEARS magazine, is precise about temperature. The level is set with the engine idling in Park, the car level on a lift, and transmission fluid temperature at 85-95 C (185-203 F) on the driver information center or a scan tool. You remove the oil level set plug. If fluid runs in a steady stream you let it drain until it drips; if nothing comes out, you add fluid until it drips. Set it too cold and the unit ends up overfilled; too hot and it is underfilled. ATRA warns that underfill wears components, while overfill pushes fluid out the vent tube, foams the fluid and can cavitate the pump. A pressurized pump with a shutoff valve is how you add a little at a time at the right moment.
Our 6T40 fluid change guide covers how much a service takes and what shops charge, and how to do a drain and fill walks through the general process.
The 6T40 procedure calls for Dexron VI only, so pick up a jug of ACDelco Dexron VI before you start. If you are dropping the pan, the 6T40 and 6T45 filter and pan gasket kit lets you service the filter while you are under the car. Heat is the biggest enemy of these units, which our 6T40 overheating guide explains, and a correct level is the cheapest protection there is.
Because it is a hand pump, a nearly empty tank takes a fair number of strokes to build pressure, and the cap must be snug or it will not hold air. The 3 L tank covers a drain and fill on most compact front-drive units in one or two refills. For full refills after an overhaul or on larger trucks, a 10 L air-powered unit such as the 10L pneumatic fill and extraction pump saves time.
| Reservoir Capacity | 3 L (0.8 gallon) |
| Pump Type | Manual hand pump with pressure gauge and relief valve |
| Adapters | 12 aluminum ATF fill adapters |
| Hose Length | 42.5 in |
| Operating Temp Range | 41-113 F |
| Item Weight | 4 lb |
| Fits | Ford, GM, VW, Audi, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, BMW gearboxes, transfer cases and diffs |
Yes. Those units have no dipstick and are filled while you watch the oil level set plug. The pump lets you add Dexron VI under pressure and shut the flow off the moment fluid drips from the level hole.
At a transmission fluid temperature of 85-95 C (185-203 F), engine idling in Park, car level. Setting it outside that window leaves the unit over or underfilled.
Twelve aluminum adapters on a storage belt, covering common fill threads on Ford, GM, VW, Audi, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and BMW units, plus transfer cases and differentials.
It handles a drain and fill or a level correction on most compact units in one or two refills of the tank. For complete refills after an overhaul, a 10 L pump is faster.
Usually the cap is not tight. Snug it down with the supplied lid wrench so the tank seals, and expect more strokes when the tank is nearly empty.
