Manual Transmission Drain Plug - metal on plug

[dhaavers]

Indeed.
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[shagginwagon83]

How's my plug?

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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[dhaavers]

Cute!

How many miles since last drain...???

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[shagginwagon83]

[Syncro Jael]

[shagginwagon83]

[Steve M.]

[Sodo]

[shagginwagon83]

[Sodo]

I’d do the quick flush (200, 500 mi?). If it comes out clean after the flush then go 5000 and look again. Ya gotta get to a clean baseline condition or the magnet can’t tell you anything. Of course it can tell you if yer fooked but what you want is to know is.... if you’re GOOD.

I think you need Swepco for big engines. What yours?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[shagginwagon83]

[Paulbeard]

[shagginwagon83]

[Paulbeard]

[metropoj]

I figure this is probably the best place for posting some pics of my drain plug ...


Any thoughts on this ? I think it looks OK, not like some of the xmas trees I've seen in the pics !

Unknown condition and mileage used late model tranny installed 28,000 kms ago, filled with Mobil 1 75W90 synthetic. This is about 3-4 years of driving

The plug when I pulled it 'cold' was very 'goopy' at the tip.

I ended up taking the magnet and dipping it into varsol to try and clean off the goop but keep the metal particles in tact .... didn't work that great. I then used my finger to smush away the goopy oil and then let the magnet pkc up all of the metal bits from my finger, as shown in the last pic ...

I am wondering to fill it again with this same oil, or something similar in Synthetics (or dino) I haven't decided ..

I'm thinking it's got some life left, it likes a little grind into 2nd when cold.

I want to check out my hyd clutch system next, everything else in the clutch system was brand new 28,000 kms ago ...
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John.
86 TiiCo powered Westy.

[mellowslow]

Approx 20K with Swepco 201 in the box

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'87 WBWE FAS Gen V

[Sodo]

You have “some” clean space on your magnet. Thats a really good sign. And no big parts.

Id fill it with FLAPS gear oil ($16) and drive it a few hundred miles, then drain it hot & fast, with the front wheels about 10-12” higher than the rear. Then put in your next batch of Swepco. Then NEXT time you’ll know your magnet is showing “new” trash only. Ir gives you a better idea what’s currently happening in the trans. And you’re not pre-polluting your new specialty oil at mile-one with old metal trash.

Old transmissions (and rebuilts, which include many hi-miles used parts) require more frequent maintenance than the original trans, which was 100% new and built in a clean-room of super-clean parts. An OEM built trans is a different unit than a rebuilt, it can go 90,000 miles on its oil cuz there is no pre-trash, no “older parts” are putting metal trash into your lubricant. You are wise to check at 20,000 miles.

Think if some fellow defied the mfrs recommendations that the oil doesn’t need changing. And replaced the lubricant every 30k miles. That would be a nicely preserved trans, with gears in perfect condition. But its too late now, the trannies all gave their 90k miles of “trouble-free lifetime” and owners were satisfied. Perhaps not with their head gaskets though.

Seeing how much metal is circulating in your lubricant at 20k, don’t you kinda wish you checked 5,000 miles ago? Luckily you can do this maintenance yourself -lots of Van Owners can’t.

What engine do you have?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[mellowslow]

[Sodo]

So you’re running about 135HP?
And drive “mellowslow”?
Sounds like a good plan.

You could probably “settle” that nice clear Swepco for a few months then decant the purified oil off the top & run it again.

My oil was perfect green & clear until I did a 3,000 mile trip at 80mph then it turned dark (15,000mi). I have a 173 HP Subaru. I have an elaborate trans cooling system and my trans never gets hotter than 143*F. I suppose the cooling raises the HP capacity of the trans some, but not enough to stand 80mph continuous.

I won’t be doing that again. My new speed is 70.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Paulbeard]