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Date:         Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:42:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Automatic transmission question
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <020401cc457e$c86eeb50$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I still haven't heard anything telling me *why* new fluid can be a bad thing. What is the physical or chemical mechanism at work here??

Larry A.

On Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote: > a compromise cheater method is to just change some of the ATF. > use the right type ATF of course.. > I have a sucker tool I made with an old fuel pump . > and I just pull maybe 2 qts of old ATF out of the dipstick tube.. > then top up with new fresh good ATF. > > If I do that on a properly working auto trans.. > and put in two qts of new Royal Purple synthetic ATF ..the trans 'goes' > noticeably better. > > and for sure .. > on any fluid system that is very shaky and old.. > especially brakes, clutch hydraulics and auto trans.. > if it's on the edge already............changing the fluid 'a lot' can > totally blow out the whole system ...like push it over he edge to complete > failure.. > > Scott > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "J Stewart" <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 5:09 AM > Subject: Re: Automatic transmission question > > >> Larry, >> I was told at the time it was due to mixing old/new trans fluid. It was >> back before the power the power flushing like they do today, so only some >> of the trans fluid was changed, basically what was in the pan. I have also >> been told by a couple of mechanics that if you have a high mileage vehicle >> and don't know if/when the trans fluid has been changed it is best to >> leave it alone unless you are having problems. Jeff >> >> >> >> Jeff Stewart >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> >> That is very interesting. I hope that someone out there can explain >> how and why this would happen. >> >> Larry A. >> >> >> On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 10:16 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> >> wrote: >>> >>> Now, that brings up a question I have. I've now owned my '85 w/auto trans >>> for just over a year. Even though the PO gave me a ton of maintenance >>> records going back 10 years, nothing about the trans fluid ever being >>> changed-tho it could have been done at a Jiffy Lube, who knows. It has >>> been >>> my (unpleasant) experience on two used vehicles where trans fluid status >>> was >>> unknown that changing the fluid caused total transmission failure with a >>> few >>> days. Since my fluid looks OK and the trans is shifting fine, I've >>> decided >>> to just leave it alone. Jeff >>> >>> Jeff Stewart >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> Jim, >>> Change the fluid every two or three years. You don't get to drain >>> it all because of the torque converter, but that's the best you can do >>> without expensive flushing procedures. Check fluid warm, idling, with >>> van level. Do not overfill. Frequently lubricate the place where the >>> throttle cable from the front hooks to the lever on the side of the >>> trans. It's a ball that snaps into a spring loaded socket, a real >>> PITA if it rusts solid. >>> Leaks that can be tracked down visually: >>> Bottom pan gasket >>> Filler/check tube joint to pan >>> O-ring on the governor cover (up on the side of the differential, >>> held on with a wire bail) >>> Rusted thru governor cover >>> >>> Common and annoying leak: Seal behind the torque converter. This >>> is the usual suspect if you seem to be getting oil spray on the left >>> side of the engine compartment that may be coming out of the openings >>> in the bell housing and the torque converter looks oily. To get to >>> this seal you separate the engine and transmission. Don't let the >>> torque converter fall off the front shaft prematurely. Then carefully >>> pull the torque converter off the front shaft and you will see the >>> seal that it fits into. What fun! >>> >>> Larry A. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 7:36 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I have a 91 Vanagon GL automatic that my daughter drives. I've done a >>>> little >>>> work on it over the last year or so and it is in pretty good, reliable >>>> shape. The one thing that is giving me some trouble is the automatic >>>> transmission. If you can help me with that, read on. >>>> >>>> I have driven Vanagons for 20 years or more, but I have never had an >>>> automatic transmission. I have done about everything you can do to a >>>> vanagon, almost, except mess with an automatic transmission and though >>>> my >>>> wife has had them on her non-vanagon cars, I have never had an automatic >>>> Vanagon. I just recently learned how to check the fluid level in them. I >>>> know virtually nothing about them. My daughter's car is leaking AT fluid >>>> so >>>> that it has to be topped up once a month or so. >>>> >>>> So I have two questions. One, what should I do, in general, to the >>>> automatic >>>> transmission just to keep it in good shape? What are the preventive >>>> maintenance best practices? Two, what should I do specifically about the >>>> loss of fluid; what is a "usual suspects" list of things to address? >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> Jim >>>> >>> >>> >


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