Date:         Wed, 24 Sep 2003 16:07:53 -0500
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: changing transmission fluid...
Comments: To: Wesley Alden Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.LNX.4.44.0309241455530.8242-100000@maroon.cs.uchicago.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

First off, I have to assume yours is a stick shift tranny????

If so, then Redline MT90 is the way to go.

If the tranny is the same as on the gas engines, FIRST REMOVE THE FILLER
PLUG ON THE SIDE!!! Then and only then, remove the drain plug at the end
of the tranny. That way, if you cannot get the filler plug out, you
still can drive the van because you didn't drain out all the tranny
fluid. Beleive it or not, some filler plugs are stuck and cause real grief.

A short bolt whose head fits into the filler plug and drain plug, with
two nuts on the shank jambed together, makes a wonderful plug removal
tool in the very close quarters you are going to encounter. I have one
of those bent allen wrench thingy's and they are not worth a
tinkers........!! The bolt and jamb nuts thing works like a champ.

Good luck,

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Wesley Alden Pegden wrote:

>Okay, I'm sold on changing the tranny fluid to red line... but... some
>questions.
> I know I can order it.  What about finding it in chicago?  And, regarding
>the actual change, is it pretty stratiforward?  Make sure I can get the
>filler cap open, drain it out, and fill'er back up? (to the top?) I guess
>I need a funnel and hose for the filling...
>thanks,
>wes
>
>On Wed, 24 Sep 2003, David Brodbeck wrote:
>
>
>
>>On Wed, 24 Sep 2003, Wesley Alden Pegden wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>speaking of cold weather, is it worth swapping out my tranny fluid for
>>>something like red line?  Any folks have any experience shifting the van
>>>in really cold weather?  I'm not sure what's in there now, but i'm sure it
>>>ain't redline.
>>>
>>>
>>I didn't find the cold weather performance of Redline to be noticably
>>better than dino oil.  It's still stiff to shift when cold, and it still
>>tends to grind into 2nd until it warms up.  But my tranny is pretty worn.
>>One that has better syncros to begin with might benefit more.
>>
>>
>>David Brodbeck, N8SRE
>>'82 Diesel Westfalia
>>'94 Honda Civic Si
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>