Date:         Sun, 22 Sep 2002 19:57:14 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Deep in the Abyss... a Tranny fill plug!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

A reasonable point but keep in mind that he has no idea how much is in
there now if he can't check it through the filler hole. Unless of course
he has already drained it.

I don't think it would be such a difficult feat to fill it through the
drain hole and get the plug back in before loosing very much. I have
done a similar thing at junkyards. I don't like to remove and pay for a
used Vanagon tranny until I pull the plug to see how much and what kind
of debris is clinging to the magnetic post. Some quick finger action
limits the loss to a few ounces. Put an empty pan below to verify how
much was lost and try again if too much escaped. The thing holds around
5 quarts and the level is not all that critical. On 4 speed models VW
even suggests lowering the fill amount by 1 quart to "reduce shifting
effort". Look it up in the latest Bentley, page 35.60.

Mark


Bruce Nadig wrote:
>
> Don't drain the oil yet!
>
> If you can't get the fill plug out, I think it is a VERY bad idea to drain
> the oil unless you have a proven plan to put get the oil in through the
> drain. If you do force oil up through the drain then try to quickly install
> the plug before it all runs out method also leaves you with no idea as to
> how much gear oil is actually in the box.
>
> The "I Hope It Will Work" approach is a very bad idea. I've been there too
> many times. Inevitably it won't work. All you will end up with is an empty
> gear box and no way to fill it. At least it has oil in it right now.
>
> I don't have a solution to your problem, but I can tell you that draining
> the oil isn't it.
>
> Good Luck,
> Bruce
>