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Date:         Sat, 5 May 2001 14:00:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Dorm <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Dorm <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
Subject:      Re: ATF Level too high - what now?
Comments: To: lalofs@enteract.com
Content-Type: text/html

<html><DIV> <P>speaking of ATF, when I drain my Automatic Transmission, how much will come out (I know it won't drain completely without turning the vanagon upside down [this would make working on cars so much easier, why don't they do this?]. I'm going to put redline DF ATF in it (this is the replacement for Dexron III, redlines other ATFs are for Dexron II, or for towing vehicles or&nbsp; motorhomes [their High Temp, they offer a total of 3 ATF's]). <BR><BR></P></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Larry Alofs <LALOFS@ENTERACT.COM> <DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: Larry Alofs <LALOFS@ENTERACT.COM> <DIV></DIV>&gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: ATF Level too high - what now? <DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Sat, 5 May 2001 15:14:17 -0500 <DIV></DIV>&gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt;Chris Knust wrote: <DIV></DIV>&gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Hi, <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I just found out that the ATF level of my 87 Westy´s automatic <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; tranny is too high. According to Bentley´s (37.9a) I am supposed to <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; check the final drive´s oil level now - however it does not say how to <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; do that. In the absence of a dipstick for the final drive I rely on you <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; folks to tell me! What do I have to do? <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (2) In case I find the oil level of the final drive being too low, Bentley <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; mentions the cause as a broken seal between final drive and <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; tranny. Is there only the one seal shown on p. 37.10 which is <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; accessible with tranny and final drive installed or is there another <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; seal which can be the cause as well? <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (3) Is it possible to replace the seal of the tranny´s bottom plate <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (don´t know the correct english term for that, sorry) with the tranny <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and final drive installed? How do I drain the ATF Level partly to run <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; proper checks after having checked the final drive´s oil level and <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; how do I drain it completely to replace that seal (which seems to <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; be a bit wet, but I will need to run some tests with a cleaned-up <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; engine first and do not want to do that with a ATF level being too <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; high, as Bentley warns not to run the tranny with too much ATF. <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (4) Finally - do I check the ATF level with the selector level in P or <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; in N? Manual and Bentley both say "P", however the picture shown <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; by Bentley on page 37.9 with the dipstick and the affixed label <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; clearly shows that the label says "N". <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Thanks for your help! The archive server does not want to respond <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; to my questions :-( <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Cheers <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Chris <DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Troy, MI <DIV></DIV>&gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt;Chris: <DIV></DIV>&gt; You check the level of the oil in the final drive by removing the plug in the <DIV></DIV>&gt;side and poking your little finger in there to see if you can feel the oil. <DIV></DIV>&gt;To get the plug out you will have to buy or improvise a hex driver ( 17 mm I <DIV></DIV>&gt;think). I took a bolt with a 17 mm head and welded the other end into an <DIV></DIV>&gt;extra socket. <DIV></DIV>&gt; I don't think that you can fix the seal between the trans and the final drive <DIV></DIV>&gt;while they are in the car. <DIV></DIV>&gt; You can remove the bottom pan from the trans while it is installed so <DIV></DIV>&gt;that you can replace the gasket. If it is leaking, first check that all the <DIV></DIV>&gt;bolts are reasonably tight. <DIV></DIV>&gt; If you just need to remove a little fluid from the trans, the easiest way <DIV></DIV>&gt;is probably to suck it out thru a hose inserted in the fill/check tube. It <DIV></DIV>&gt;probably doesn't matter whether you check the fluid level while it is in Park <DIV></DIV>&gt;or Drive; I seem to get the same result either way. Warm it up reasonably <DIV></DIV>&gt;well and have it level and idling. <DIV></DIV>&gt; The typical way to drain the fluid is to disconnect the filler tube at the <DIV></DIV>&gt;trans. This involves a large open-end or adjustable wrench (be sure it fits <DIV></DIV>&gt;tightly). You may have to pound on the end of the wrench and say a few bad <DIV></DIV>&gt;words. <DIV></DIV>&gt; If you drop the pan to change the gasket, clean the screen and of course the <DIV></DIV>&gt;sludge out of the pan. Leave no lint. It can plug small passages in the <DIV></DIV>&gt;governor. (Don't ask) <DIV></DIV>&gt; <DIV></DIV>&gt;Good luck, <DIV></DIV>&gt;Larry A., Chicago <DIV></DIV><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>


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