Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 19:11:27 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: sounds of doomed tranny?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
When I first got my 88 GL it was really hard to get into 1st gear. Then
first chance I got, I had the mechanic check it, and he told me he could
not feel any oil down in the tranny. I said drain the oil, lets take a
look. He did and we did. Lots and lots and lots of brass/bronze floating
in the oil, So much so it really looked golden instead of dark like your
would expect manual tranny oil to look. Given the shifting problem,
plus the low oil and color, I had him pull the tranny and tear it down.
He found the synchronizers worn and something else ... don't remember
what. Anyway, the internal repair was a minimal cost, but of course the
labor to R&R was considerable. I had Redline MT 90 put in as the
lubricant. I have never regretted it. Got 60,000 on that tranny now with
no problems I just had the tranny fluid change again, and once again put
in Redline MT 90. There was no metal in the old MT 90 that came out, and
it was darker but clear. Appears to me that that is really good stuff
and I'm going to stick with it. Prol'ly didn't need to change it but I
feel better changing it about every two years. Pretty cheap insurance.
Seems like I put 7 pints of fluid in there to just feel it through the
file hole.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
zampano wrote:
> Well,
>
> I just drained my oil transmission fluid and replaced it with Redline
> MT-90.
>
> Have been having symptoms like whining, and then the other day it
> started bucking in reverse. Not when going slow, but if I speed up a
> bit (in reverse).
> My drain plug looked like a stalactite, or something like that. The
> fluid had a bronze shimmer to it, and was milky. I dipped my hand into
> it and once the oil dripped off I had little metal shavings all over my
> hand-tiny, looked almost like glitter or suchwhat.
>
> Cleane dup the drain plug, put it back in and filled it with 3 quarts
> of MT-90. I could stick my finger into the hole and bending my index
> tip, I'd hit fluid. I'll leave it at that.
> Seems like a lot of different data floating around regarding capacity.
>
> Going for a test drive as we speak.
>
> matthias
>
> 84 wbx wolfy 4 spd
>
> On Monday, March 17, 2003, at 02:39 PM, Bradley Flubacher wrote:
>
>> Or change it to an even better lubricant: Amsoil!
>>
>> ;)
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>> developtrust wrote:
>>
>>> Before you do any repairs, drain out the old gear oil and replace
>>> with Red
>>> Line Synthetic gear oil. When I drained mine the original gear oil was
>>> filthy. The Red Line made a huge positive difference in shifting. But
>>> then I
>>> did not have problems or "moaning" in 3rd & 4th. Switch gear oil and
>>> have it
>>> diagnosed again. Others may have better advice, but with 134 miles on
>>> the
>>> transaxle you might need a rebuild or new tranny. Mine was replaced
>>> by the
>>> original owner at 99,000.
>>>
>>> William
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> i'm in the process of selling my '82 vanagon. a potential buyer
>>>> had
>>>>
>>>>
>>> his
>>>
>>>
>>>> mechanic look it over and the mechanic advised him the tranny is
>>>> going out
>>>> or will be very soon. this took my by surprise since i was unaware
>>>> of any
>>>> problem with it. easy shifting, smooth and decisive gear changes,
>>>> etc.
>>>> however, in 1st or 2nd (but not in 3rd or 4th that i can hear) there
>>>> is a
>>>> very slight "moaning" sound which i always assumed indicated some
>>>> wear in
>>>> the gears. the van spends most its time in lower gears, in the city
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>>
>>> it's
>>>
>>>
>>>> the original transaxle with 134,000 on it. i'm getting a diagnostic
>>>> test
>>>> from triple-a but wondered if anybody had some thoughts based on this
>>>> description. thanks. art mcginn
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
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