Date:         Mon, 23 Aug 2004 21:10:49 -0500
Reply-To:     Chuck Mathis <cmathis@HOUSTON.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <cmathis@HOUSTON.RR.COM>
Subject:      Re: ATF filter: urban legend?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Craig,

No 17mm allen nut hole on the automatics.

The final drive and auto tranny don't share fluids.

When you drain the tranny fluid from the dip stick tube you get the 
majority of the old fluid out.  When you drop the pan you will get some 

more out.
There will still be a little left in the torque converter.  Bentley 
specifies one amount for just a drain and fill, and another for filter 

changes.

A while back I bought an inexpensive garden sprayer intending to turn 
it into a pressure bleeder for the brake system.  Before I got a 
round2it hacking it up, I bought a a pressure bleeder on sale and 
tossed the garden sprayer in the corner.  While looking at pouring ATF 

through the dip stick/filler tube using a funky funnel it occurred to 
me that if I trimmed the sprayer end off the hose it would slip down 
the filler tube rather neatly.  I put a couple quarts and a little 
extra in the canister, pumped up the pressure, poked the hose in the 
tube and pulled the trigger.  In a matter of seconds the canister was 
empty and the tranny was full.  The garden sprayer, marked "ATF", now 
rests on the shelf next to the brake bleeder.

 >Date:    Mon, 23 Aug 2004 15:51:19 -0700
 >From:    Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
 >Subject: Re: ATF filter: urban legend?

 >After the ATF is drained, what's the easiest way to refill and check 

the level?

 >I've heard of a 17mm allen nut hole.  Or, is this for the gear oil in
 >the final drive section??

 >I was thinking of just pouring a few quarts of tranny fluid down the
 >tranny filler tube with a special funnel and checking the level with
 >the stick.    I disconnected the tranny fluid filler tube and drained
 >most of the fluid in the process.

 >Are there other things I should chck out before taking the van out for
 >a test drive?

 >I guess the automatic transmission and the final drive differential
 >share the same fluids?

 >-- Craig


Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'