I think your symptoms are just getting worse and the fluid change is mostly
coincidental. It sounds like you are have a problem developing clutch
pressure in the direct or forward clutch pack. Bad internal seals, ruptured
piston, or worn, broken seal rings on the direct drum. The Bentley has a
procedure for measuring pump pressure and a look up table of the expected
pressures for each gear position and speed. Time for some diagnostics.

All the Dexron fluids are basically 10w oil. The different specs are the
friction modifiers and required performance such as oxidation resistance,
seal compatibility, etc. The Vanagon tranny is so lightly stressed, that any
fluid will do. For extra grab, some like the Ford, (Mercon), fluid as it
does not have the friction modifiers so the clutches lock up harder.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark Keller
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 1:02 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Mobil Delvac ATF or Brand of Dexron Automatic Trans oil best suited
for Vanagons

Hi Dennis,

I know you may have gotten the anwser by now but I thought I'd send this
along.
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENCVLMOMobil_Delvac_Synthetic
_ATF.asp

The reason I'm here is that I have recently replace the xsmn oil in the
Carat, with Pennzoil  DEXRON III/ MERCON.  I notice a mushy 3000 to 3250
ish RPM range and have lower overall highway milage. To boot the van is
parked on a 7 degree grade, and before on cold start up I noted that the
xsmn needed a few secs in gear or idle before there was power xxsmn to
the wheels.  NOW this happens more regularly and on no slopes to.  I
reliaze the issue is basically with the drain hole in the torque
converter, but with the new oil all the issues seem more pronouced.  As
the Manual says DEX or DEX II, I wonder if  DEX III is less viscous, as
my sypmtoms seem to indicate  and if so, how to go about getting a
closer to original designed oil.

Mark Keller
91 Carat