Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: filling or refilling tranny?
From:Al and Sue Brase
Date:Sat, 11 Dec 2004 02:37:37 -0600

Warren:
You have an 091/1, unless someone cobbled in an early transmission
somehow. 091/1's started in 1983 and are distinguished by the shiflt
linkage coming from the main case rather than the intermediate plate
(approx 2"  thick housing imediately ahead of the main case.)
Al Brase

Warren Lail wrote:

>Okay,  I just filled my 091 4-speed tranny with Redline MT90.   The tranny is out of the bus and was totally empty.
>I carefully leveled it and pumped in 3.7 US quarts, but it did not bring it up to the bottom of the fill hole.  So, I
>checked Bentley again and it says in a footnote that the capacities given are for a RE-fill because normally
>1.5 quarts will remain in the tranny even after draining it (assuming, I think, that tranny is left in the vehicle
>and that the vehicle is level).
>
>So, I pumped more MT-90 into my tranny until it was just at the very bottom edge of the fill hole.  It took  right
>at 4.7 US quarts.  Interestingly enough, if Bentley's numbers are correct an empty 091 ought to hold 5.2 US quarts.
>Go figure.
>
>Now, my official recommendation (caveat; I'm a newbie).  If you have an 091 4-speed tranny, whether it
>is in or out of the bus, fill it to the bottom of the fill hole and call it good.  If you have an 091/1 tranny,  fill it to within
>15mm of the bottom of the fill hole.  Sounds a lot like 5/8 of an inch - sort of like Karl said all along.
>
>Now if I can just get this thing put back up in the bus...
>
>Warren Lail
>88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>
>"Then followed a battle of looks between them, but the captain soon knuckled under, put up his weapon,
>and resumed his seat, grumbling like a beaten dog."
>
>
>