Date:         Wed, 24 Sep 2003 19:57:57 -0700
Reply-To:     James Ballen <ballenjames@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James Ballen <ballenjames@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      changing transmission fluid...
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I just this on my 83.5 today.

I tried to do it the other day using the little trick w/the 17mm bolt head
and nuts...and even with repeated dousings of liquid wrench, the filler bolt
wouldn't budge and the nuts just kept slipping.  I'm guessing that my filler
bolt has never been out in 20 years, so it was incredibly tight.

I borrowed a 17mm "Snap-on" ratchet fitting from a friend which worked
beautifully.  Also used a simple hand pump to pump the Redline MT90 in,
which worked well.

I put in just under 4 quarts of the stuff, and it never overflowed.  The
Benteley says the capacity is 3.7 US quarts for a 1.9L WBX...
can anyone confirm this?

My friend who lent me the tools said he thought the capacity was more like
5+ quarts, but that it would be alright to run it a little low.

I feel a slight difference in the shifting, although it is slight.

Does anyone know what color the original tranny fluid VW used was ?

Mine was a deep, dark blue-green color...just wondering if this was the
original 20yo stuff.

good luck w/yours...I gotta say, it would've taken a LONG time to fill w/out
that hand pump.

-James
'83.5 CHC

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