Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:46:48 -0400
Reply-To: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject: Re: My auto transmission troubles
In-Reply-To: <BAY125-DAV7C244BFF5729442C0A43CA0090@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Thanks Dennis,
I found no breather on the AT section. I even looked at my old one
in the basement. Can you point me to where it is supposed to
be? The one on the final drive is fine. My linkage adjustment and
kickdown performance is good too, I tweaked it a couple months ago.
I checked the ATF level and final drive level (cold) and they were
about where I left them last night. Start it up and the ATF level
goes so far down it is not even on the stick. Then as it warms up,
and I actually drive it like is specified to check the level, the
fluid comes back. Why does it do that, and where does it go when it
is "missing"? Still no leaking at the torque converter seal.
Edward
At 11:35 PM 6/27/2007, you wrote:
>First thing to do is check the breathers at the top of transmission. There
>are two, one for the auto section, one for the final drive. Make sure they
>are not covered or plugged with dirt. The outer cans should be loose and
>turn or rattle. Then adjust the level and see what happens.
>
>Overfilling the auto section can cause all the large rotating parts to
>stir the oil and foam it. This can also cause the leaking and pressure
>problems.
>
>Then make sure the accelerator linkage is properly adjusted. If the
>throttle is floored and you are only doing 45, it should down shift on its
>own. Floored and kick down activated will keep it in 2nd until over 5,000
>rpm.
>
>Dennis
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Edward Maglott
>Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:47 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: My auto transmission troubles
>
>I've got Tranny trouble! Here's the story: '86 Vanagon with ~200k
>miles on it. I had this "good used" tranny installed about 20k miles
>ago. It's mileage is unknown. It's always had a little leakage that
>appeared to be gear oil coming from the pan and the place where the
>final drive and AT mate. So I'm driving on a nice trip, climbing a
>mountain in WV, full throttle, 3rd gear, about 45 mph or so
>iirc. See smoke coming out the back of the van and pull off. It
>appears to be the torque converter seal, and it's dripping pretty
>fast onto the exhaust pipe right under it making lots of smoke. Open
>the engine cover and it is also spraying the ATF up inside the engine
>compartment. Nothing catches fire. After 15 minutes, things have
>cooled down, and I have a small puddle, about 6 inches in diameter on
>the ground. I check the non running level, and it is high, like
>normal. Start the engine, the dripping starts again, check the
>level, and it is in the normal range. It is getting late and I forge
>ahead to get to a town with a flaps. On down hill or flat under
>little load, it smokes (leaks) less. Up hills, it is bad. I try
>lower revs vs going into 2nd and having the revs up around
>3500-4000. It seems to be about the same. (Now realize maybe the
>smoking amount is more related to amount of heat in that header pipe
>rather than amount of oil leaking. More load, hotter pipe, more smoke)
>
>Find advance auto and buy a quart of ATF and a snake oil product
>called "No Leak Transmission Treatment." Label says it will fix any
>leak within 200 miles of driving or your money back! Also says, if
>it doesn't fix the leak, repairs may be needed. I check the level
>and it's still in normal range. I put in almost all the 16 oz of
>leak fixer. I leave another 6 inch puddle on flaps parking lot. I
>drive about 25 miles to nearest walmart for camping. Plenty of smoke
>on the way, but after parking at walmart, the puddle is not as
>big. Damn if that stuff didn't completely stop the leak within 200
>miles like the label said. So at that point I'm driving with the ATF
>level too high because I added the no leak. Tranny is operating
>normally except for a few times a slightly odd shift from 2nd to 3rd,
>and seems to engage reverse harder than normal. I'm really focused
>on getting the van home, several hundred miles at that point.
>
>I get home, get the van nice and level and check the running level of
>ATF. It's high. (Side question: How does the level being too high
>damage the AT?) So the next night, I go out and suck about 24 oz out
>of AT. Now it get's weird. The following night I go out to put ATF
>back in to the proper level. Level is now too low. I put back in
>everything that I sucked out, and it is still way too low. I end up
>putting about 3/4 of a quart additional in to bring it up to normal
>range. Weird. There is no puddle on the ground. Where did it
>go? I check the fill plug on the final drive, and something does
>come out. Just an ounce or 2, and it smells and feels like gear
>oil. It definitely has that thick slippery feeling of gear oil, not
>the thin oil feel of ATF. Maybe a little thinner, and it is quite
>dark in color. I can't remember the last time I checked the gear oil
>level. I suppose it is possible that the level was low enough that
>the excess ATF could have gone in there. Not likely though, because
>I think it would have been well over a quart. My ATF is dark, pretty
>normal looking and feeling, and doesn't have any of that strong smell
>that gear oil has.
>
>That's my story. Since I refilled my ATF, I'm going to re-check my
>final drive level. Any other thoughts about my short and long term
>prognosis here?
>
>Thanks,
>Edward
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