A Little Known Cause of Recurring Tranny Oil Leaks

[Vanagon Nut]

Use a length of 3/8" copper on a shop vac to remove crud out the vent hole? Spray crud with WD40 then loosen or remove fill bolt first? But if you use a pic tool to clear that hole, I'd think that if a small amount of road dust got into the tranny, it would be of little consequence if any.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[?Waldo?]

There is a 'pocket' chamber that the crud falls into. It does not fall into the actual lube.

[shagginwagon83]

That's awesome to know cause I just installed redline gear oil less than 3,000 miles ago.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[shagginwagon83]

Okay so maybe mine wasn't as clogged as I thought. I think I am now hitting metal in the back of my vent. I should have took pictures but I had grease all over my hands.

It's very hard to explain, but does it sound right if I stick a drill bit inside 1" and hit metal I'm fine - meaning at some point the 'vent' comes from the bottom of trans 1" inside.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[?Waldo?]

Yes, that sounds right.

[ALstew]

So I replaced my clutch last night and I powerwashed my trans the night before. I was looking for a breather hole because I didn't want to blast it with water, but I never noticed it caked under dirt.

The trans is back in so I guess it is a good idea to now drain the oil? I don't recall blasting that section very long with the pressure washer, but what is the likelihood I got water into the case?

[shagginwagon83]

[ALstew]

[shagginwagon83]

I mean it would be good to inspect that drain plug anyhow. You could maybe assume any water would float to the top and remove the top layer of the oil. I don't know but if I drove without changing it, I would always be thinking about the possibility of water in the trans and it about to blow.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[Mellow Yellow 74]

Does the auto transmission have a vent like this?
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1962 Karmann Ghia
1974 Deluxe Microbus
1985 Caravelle (Vanagon)

[laststarfighter]

tonight is the first time I ran across the term "atmospheric bleed". Please let me know if this item is only on the VW bus type tranny or is it also on the Beetle tranny (particularly 1971 Super Beetle). Thank you.

[?Waldo?]

Virtually every transmission has an atmospheric bleed. You might find it called other things also, like atmospheric vent or breather. I'm sure your super beetle has one but I can't help regarding where it is located.

[laststarfighter]

Thank you. Hopefully I will find it as I clean the tranny.

[Jacebc]

Thanks for the tip! I have a slight leak around the gear selector shaft. Spent spent quite a bit of time looking for the breather vent, to no avail. Does anyone have any photos of it with the transaxle mounted to the vehicle? Thanks so much!

[AndyBees]

With a flexible hose hanging down, the modified vent hole on this DK tranny has been in service since 2012... no mess down below.

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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[jimf909]

I have a new to me '03 Toyota Tundra with 230K miles with a leaky axle seal. A short search for leaky axle seals reveals a similar fix for a Tundra rear differential breather. Sometimes good seals are forced to blow due to a clogged breather.
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- Jim

[Black'n'White]

[davideric9]

I do know the part number is N-021-075-5. The banjo fitting is N-902-788-01.
check Weddle Industries
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1987 Syncro Westfalia, stock (bought 1994)
1986 Syncro Westfalia SVX, 3 knob (bought 2008)
1987 Westfalia (bought 2010)
1988 Wolfsburg GL (bought 2012)

[4Gears4Tires]

A 2000s Honda Accord/Civic brake line and banjo fit perfectly if you have a neighbor with one just laying around after some maintenance. Good length too.

Yes I am totally running this right now. It even zip ties together to make a loop to stop water intrusion.

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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Black'n'White]