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<P>speaking of ATF, when I drain my Automatic Transmission, how much will come out (I know it won't drain completely without turning the vanagon upside down [this would make working on cars so much easier, why don't they do this?]. I'm going to put redline DF ATF in it (this is the replacement for Dexron III, redlines other ATFs are for Dexron II, or for towing vehicles or&nbsp; motorhomes [their High Temp, they offer a total of 3 ATF's]). <BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Larry Alofs <LALOFS@ENTERACT.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: Larry Alofs <LALOFS@ENTERACT.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: ATF Level too high - what now?
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Sat, 5 May 2001 15:14:17 -0500
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Chris Knust wrote:
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Hi,
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I just found out that the ATF level of my 87 Westy�s automatic
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; tranny is too high. According to Bentley�s (37.9a) I am supposed to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; check the final drive�s oil level now - however it does not say how to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; do that. In the absence of a dipstick for the final drive I rely on you
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; folks to tell me! What do I have to do?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (2) In case I find the oil level of the final drive being too low, Bentley
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; mentions the cause as a broken seal between final drive and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; tranny. Is there only the one seal shown on p. 37.10 which is
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; accessible with tranny and final drive installed or is there another
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; seal which can be the cause as well?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (3) Is it possible to replace the seal of the tranny�s bottom plate
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (don�t know the correct english term for that, sorry) with the tranny
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and final drive installed? How do I drain the ATF Level partly to run
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; proper checks after having checked the final drive�s oil level and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; how do I drain it completely to replace that seal (which seems to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; be a bit wet, but I will need to run some tests with a cleaned-up
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; engine first and do not want to do that with a ATF level being too
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; high, as Bentley warns not to run the tranny with too much ATF.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; (4) Finally - do I check the ATF level with the selector level in P or
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; in N? Manual and Bentley both say "P", however the picture shown
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; by Bentley on page 37.9 with the dipstick and the affixed label
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; clearly shows that the label says "N".
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Thanks for your help! The archive server does not want to respond
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; to my questions :-(
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Cheers
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Chris
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Troy, MI
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Chris:
<DIV></DIV>&gt; You check the level of the oil in the final drive by removing the plug in the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;side and poking your little finger in there to see if you can feel the oil.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To get the plug out you will have to buy or improvise a hex driver ( 17 mm I
<DIV></DIV>&gt;think). I took a bolt with a 17 mm head and welded the other end into an
<DIV></DIV>&gt;extra socket.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; I don't think that you can fix the seal between the trans and the final drive
<DIV></DIV>&gt;while they are in the car.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; You can remove the bottom pan from the trans while it is installed so
<DIV></DIV>&gt;that you can replace the gasket. If it is leaking, first check that all the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;bolts are reasonably tight.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; If you just need to remove a little fluid from the trans, the easiest way
<DIV></DIV>&gt;is probably to suck it out thru a hose inserted in the fill/check tube. It
<DIV></DIV>&gt;probably doesn't matter whether you check the fluid level while it is in Park
<DIV></DIV>&gt;or Drive; I seem to get the same result either way. Warm it up reasonably
<DIV></DIV>&gt;well and have it level and idling.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; The typical way to drain the fluid is to disconnect the filler tube at the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;trans. This involves a large open-end or adjustable wrench (be sure it fits
<DIV></DIV>&gt;tightly). You may have to pound on the end of the wrench and say a few bad
<DIV></DIV>&gt;words.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; If you drop the pan to change the gasket, clean the screen and of course the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;sludge out of the pan. Leave no lint. It can plug small passages in the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;governor. (Don't ask)
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Good luck,
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Larry A., Chicago
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