Changing the transmission fluid

[Frodge]

Where do you place the floor jack and the jacks both front and rear. You obviously can't have the jack and stand in the same spot. Do you use anything on the jack as to not mar the surface of the car?

[Cusser]

I personally don't like jacking up on four jack stands myself - I'm a $%&^##$%%^&*($## chickensh*t !!!

But what I did for my jack was to cut (with a jigsaw) a circular piece of wood to fit in the recess; I also found that handy for R&R of engine. I'd post a picture if I had one, and I do; except I now use a low profile HF jack with a longer lift range. Yes, I cut that "perfect" circle with a jigsaw.

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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[heimlich]

I never put mine on four jackstands. It's too many places I think can fail. Two jackstands and one or two jacks on one end of the car. If the wheels are off those get thrown under the car as well.

Cusser, I do my engines as you do as well. I had an idea with those Harbor Freight wooden dolly things. If you buy one and remove the casters from them and put another board on then and then bolt the board to the original and put the castors on the new board there will be enough room to slide the jack under it. You can then jack the engine out and let it rest on the dolly.

[Frodge]

I'm not putting it on four jack stands either. I have them, not for me. Will my technique work that I described a couple posts back....

[heimlich]

[Frodge]

I mean, level is as level as the suspension etc is. I bet if you put the car on a 4 point lift its not even 100% level. I would say if you dobqhat I suggested and fill it to close to spec and then back it off the ramps, check and add if necessary, it will be very close, assuming you're on level ground.

[Cusser]

[heimlich]

[Zundfolge1432]

[79SuperVert]

[Zundfolge1432]

[79SuperVert]

Correct. MT-90.
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Central Jersey VW Society

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[Zundfolge1432]

Here's a different way as other mentioned it screws into oil bottle and you pump the fluid in by hand. Little off topic but there is a line of specialty funnels made for specific car makes. The red funnel fits all Toyotas and screws in leaving both hands free. The blue one does Lexus models.

And then there's this old fossil, it still works and this is what gas stations used as bulk gear oil dispenser. It holds several gallons and the hose is long enough to operate the hand crank while not having to be under the car.

[MI-Bug]

[Frodge]

What kind of safety margin is built in to the oil level in a bug transmission? My transaxle is topped up to the bottom of the hole. But let's for instance say you developed a small leak, at what point of being low would you start to do damage to the tranaxle. Pint, 2 pints etc. I know on most cars there is an add and full line which on the newer VW's represents roughly a quart. Same with the engines in these cars. As long as your within the lines your OK, how about the trans, but how low before damage occurs.

[heimlich]

[neil68]

My procedure is similar to MI-Bug's method, using hose from the wheel well. I sit on a chair, as it takes a few minutes to fill with 2.5 litres of gear oil.

I use hose that fits snuggly into the fill plug opening:

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Neil.

Der Kleiner Rennwagens
68 Beetle 2332 cc, 204 WHP
12.5 seconds @ 107 mph
Dynojet Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B_H3eklAo

[Tim Donahoe]

Safety margin? I just check the fill hole a couple times a year. That's as safe as it gets for me. I do have some leakage. 3 or 4 ounces since I bought the car in 2012.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[Frodge]

I forgot to add that my drain plug has a really slow drip. The case is not cracked. I don't want to overtighten those tapered threads. Anyone else have this?

[Zundfolge1432]