Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:02:12 -0700
Reply-To: aatransaxle <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: aatransaxle <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>
Subject: Re: Refilling manual transmission fluid
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Let it drain out till its level with the fill plug hole and likely it will
slow and eventually stop leaking...seen it lots.
You never think of seals as "breaking in" or fixing themselves, but I have
on many occasions.
Daryl of AA Transaxle
(425) 788-4070
aatransaxle.com
86 Syncro Westy..Happy the Camper
Zetec in the trunk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel VanderKwaak" <joelvanderkwaak@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: Refilling manual transmission fluid
> Hey all,
>
> Sorry to revive this old thread, but it's relevant ;)
>
> My van has a slow drip from one of the drive flanges, so tonight I
> wanted to top off the fluid before heading out on a road trip. I'll
> fix the leak when I get back.
>
> Anyway, I got a face full of fluid when I removed the fill plug, so
> the level definitely wasn't low. And this is with the passenger side
> jacked up, so I'm wondering if I just overfilled when I did the engine
> conversion in Spring 2007. I honestly don't recall how much I put in,
> but knowing me I did what Bentley told me. This is a syncro tranny in
> a 2wd, with the front nose cone replaced with an adapter plate, so
> it's possible I added more than needed when it was sitting on my
> garage floor..
>
> Should I be worried about anything? I'll be driving from SF bay area
> to Utah and back, and don't want any surprises (from the van).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Joel
>
> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:52 PM, mdrillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>> That is not an unusual amount of fuzz on the drain magnet at all. No
>> great cause for alarm, assuming the oil has not been changed for a long
>> while. If you wipe the fuzz off on a paper towel or tissue you can make
>> sure the pieces are all tiny. Bigger pieces are a cause for more alarm.
>>
>> I have changed old oil on many Vanagon transmissions and found that same
>> big ball of fuzz. Most of them lived on for years longer with just new
>> fluid. Even ones making whines or growls can do so for years, assuming
>> stock engine power levels.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Greg Potts wrote:
>>>
>>> Thanks everyone for their helpful replies.
>>>
>>> The diagram in the bentley had me looking on the TOP of the transmission
>>> for the filler. Once I hit google for advice I got a better idea of how
>>> to go about it.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate how much my ramps would flow the
>>> fluid to the front of the van. When I removed the filler plug it gushed
>>> at least a quart onto my driveway before I could run for a basin. (I
>>> always was told to remove the filler first, so that I won't get stuck
>>> with a dry transmission if for some reason the drain comes out and the
>>> filler won't.)
>>>
>>> Man, does that stuff ever reek! Once I had the filler out I removed the
>>> drain, and the plug had a LOT of metal filings on it:
>>> http://www.pottsfamily.ca/Vanagon/transplug.jpg
>>>
>>> But at least the chunks are small. And Frank was right, it isn't getting
>>> any quieter. Is there anyone here able to help haul a transmission from
>>> Allentown PA to Westies at Watkins?
>>>
>>> Next on the agenda: replace the temp sender II and change the engine
>>> oil. Sure is a lovely day out there today!!
>>>
>>> Happy Trails,
>>>
>>> Greg Potts
>>
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