Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2015 09:02:46 -0800
Reply-To: Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: A/T problems -- fluid level high
In-Reply-To: <54F54B96.7030101@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Honda is one exception Scott. Measured with engine off.
Angus
> On Mar 2, 2015, at 9:50 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
>
> lol ...
> there 'was' ...probably long-lost by now ..
> an Owner's Manual that came with the van ..
> that gives this very basic information.
>
> and for something like checking AT fluid level ...any year Vanagon
> Owner's manual will do ..
> as ALL ..
> I have never heard of one exception in many decades of dealing with cars
> with conventional automatic transmissions..
> it is *always' ..engine running, trans in park or neutral..
> vehicle pretty level ..and warmed up is ideal .
> It's been that way in cars since about 1950 or something way back like
> that.
>
> when running the fluid is pumped into the torque converter and valve
> body area and probably main trans part too ..
> when not running that all drains down.
>
> what 3 o( or 4 ) functions does the ATF in an auto trans do .........?
> it's 4 things .
> see below
>
>
>
> 1, makes the torque converter work, transmits power between vanes ..one
> side connected to engine, the other to trans.
> 2. it's used to operate servos that tighten or lossen bands that grap
> the outside of gear mechanisms creating the various gears.
> 3. it lubricates all the moving parts,
> 4. it's used to remove heat from the transgression via an oil cooler
> ....typically one inside the radiator or 'normal' cars ...
> ( vanagon has a similar device mounted at the front of the trans ..and
> ATF-to-coolant heat exchanger )
>
>> On 3/2/2015 7:38 PM, James wrote:
>> When we got our '91 automatic three years back Frank Condelli told me that the ideal ATF level was halfway between the two marks, and that it could only be measured with the engine running and the transmission warmed up. He said it would always be higher than the upper mark when cold, but that the only reliable check was with the engine running.
>>
>> Some US automatic transmissions have an upper mark for cold checks and a lower mark for hot checks, but I've not seen that in a VW.
>>
>> James
>> '91 Westy Weekender automatic
>> Ottawa, ON
>>
>>> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 07:04:24 -0800
>>> From: rickdcooper@GMAIL.COM
>>> Subject: Re: A/T problems -- fluid level high
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>
>>> Well, I feel like a bit of an idjit. I thought I'd take Dennis' advice
>>> and follow the prescribed procedure for checking the ATF (hot engine,
>>> running, on the level) just to be sure, and what the heck -- the ATF level
>>> is fine! Right on the higher mark on the dipstick.
>>>
>>> So why was (and presumably still is) the ATF level so high when the engine
>>> was off and cold? I thought I'd read that the lower mark on the dipstick
>>> was for cold readings and the higher mark for hot readings. Not true?
>>>
>>> Anyway, this is a big relief. I'm thinking I should get that stock ATF
>>> cooler out of the picture anyway.
>>>
>>> Rick
>>>
>>> On Sun, Feb 22, 2015 at 4:36 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Just to clear things up, how are you checking the fluid? Van needs to be
>>>> level especially side to side and the ATF is checked with the engine
>>>> running.
>>>>
>>>> Dennis,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>>> Of Rick Cooper
>>>> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2015 3:30 PM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: Re: A/T problems -- fluid level high
>>>>
>>>> Thanks guys for the recommendations. Dennis, yours was especially useful
>>>> since it caused me to rethink my diagnosis. The ATF on the dipstick is
>>>> nice and clean, no obvious corruption at all. I assumed the trans cooler
>>>> would still be the culprit since oil floats on water. But maybe it's not
>>>> the cooler. I'll follow Larry's advice of draining via the filler tube
>>>> opening and that should give me a better idea of the state of the ATF.
>>>>
>>>> Likely won't get to this until next weekend but I'll report back then with
>>>> my findings.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again for the help,
>>>>
>>>> Rick
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Feb 22, 2015 at 9:00 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If the fluid is contaminated with coolant it will be an obvious milky
>>>>> white mess. If not look for differential fluid or a bad valve body,
>>>>> torque converter or clogged vent.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dennis,
>>>>> From my phone.
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>> From: Rick Cooper <rickdcooper@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>> Sent: 2/22/2015 11:00 AM
>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>> Subject: A/T problems -- fluid level high
>>>>>
>>>>> After having the auto transmission in my '87 2WD overhauled last
>>>>> month, I noticed the ATF fluid level creeping up. I've only driven the
>>>>> vehicle three or four times, for a total of maybe 50 miles. When I
>>>>> checked today the fluid level was way, way up -- maybe 4 inches up the
>>>>> dipstick! I'm guessing the stock cooler has failed, and that I ought
>>>>> to have replaced it at the time of overhauling the transmission.
>>>>>
>>>>> What are the next steps now? Can I resolve the problem (pending
>>>>> installing a new cooler) by simply taking the stock cooler out of the
>>>>> equation? Is this as simple as connecting the coolant hoses together
>>>>> with a coupling or perhaps removing one and connecting the remaining
>>>>> hose to both connectors, thus creating a loop?
>>>>>
>>>>> What about the polluted ATF? Will a drain and refill eliminate the
>>>>> problem or do I need a more rigorous flushing procedure? Any and all
>>>>> advice much appreciated!
>>>>>
>>>>> Rick
>>
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