A  proper flush by machines ...
that are supposed to get all the old out, and fully new in, would be the
better transmission service.

R &  R fluid and screen is also a good service .
you won't get all the old fluid out of the torque converter doing it that
way,
but you get to look in there....
and if you do it yourself are, odds are the workmanship will be massively
better than the common crap work I keep seeing *all the time* on vanagons
and cars lately !
You are *miles* ahead doing it yourself,
or working with an individual you trust, who cares, and is intensely
committed to doing really good work.

also.......Royal Purple Synthetic ATF.
I recommend it for sure.
Even if I just pump 3 qts. out through the dipstick, and refill with Royal
Purple...
the van feels and goes noticeably better.

at 114K and it's only had fluid topped up .........that makes me a little
nervous.
it's common for the differential pan cork gasket to be rock hard and leaking
a bit.
there are two parts of the auto trans of course,
the ATF part with torque converter and planetary gears and bands,
and the differential part, which takes gear oil of course.
that should be changed if it's never been done.

also ...........very important ....at the very aft end of your throttle
cable, up in there where it's hard to see or get at, there is a ball pivot.
Make darn sure that pivot moves nicely.

have fun !
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Gilbert" <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 7:42 PM
Subject: My AT is fine, but...

> Vanagoners,
>
> I'm curious for your recommendations.
>
> My '84 Westfalia automatic transmission runs just fine. The van has
> 114k original miles, and has had very little transmission maintenance,
> save for an occasional topping off of fluid.
>
> Should I leave well enough alone, r/r filter and fluid, or have the
> thing power flushed?
>
> Thanks.
> kevin