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johnnytod
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2021
Posts: 76
Location: Oakland, CA
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 Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:06 pm Post subject: Transmission oil lost |
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Main question: Do you know how much transmission oil out of the 4.5 liters is lost when pulling out the seals on the transmission behind the CV joints?
Here is the full crazy story. Doing a 3000 miles road trip we had to stop for emergency replacement of the CV joints in Salt Lake City.
The mechanic also undertook to replace the seals behind the CV joints that are between the transmission and the CV joints (there is a smaller cup seal and a larger diameter seal after that). When he pulled those seals part of the transmission oil leak out of the holes - HOW MUCH OIL DID LEAK OUT?
Anyone has a good experience with that? The full oil load is 4.5 L, how much do you think leaks out when you remove the seals? 50% , 60% more, less?
I have a wasserboxer transmission (a 091 or 091/1 ) I was told.
The reason I am trying to determine how much oil leaked is because the mechanic did not collect the oil, nor did he drain all the oil to refill from scratch. So when the time came to put oil back in, he was not able to unscrew the transmission refil bolt.... Bolt seems stuck.. He tried welding bolts onto it but still they kept snapping. He then opened the hole where the reverse gear sensor is and filled from there 2 liters...So now I can't open the transmission refil bolt and I also dont know if I have too little oil or too much oil in the transmission.
I drove like that 1000 miles from Salt Lake City to San Francisco without any noticable changes in shifting performance but I am really worries that this may f*&ck up my transmission.
So if anyone knows about how much oil leaks out when changing the transmission seals that would give me some peace of mind
Also welcome tips on how to unscrew the now stuck transmission fill bolt |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50350
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 3:18 am Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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The amount of oil lost while changing the seal is typically not very large. You can reduce the amount of oil lost to almost nothing by tilting the van away from the seal you are replacing.
To get the plug out, raise the side of the van the filler plug is on so the oil runs to the other side of the box, then heat the filler plug to a cherry red and then let it cool. Once it cools the plug will hopefully unscrew easily. There is a fine line between getting the plug hot enough that it shrinks sufficiently as it cools and applying so much heat the transmission case is damaged. This is all going to be affected by how much damage previous removal efforts caused. |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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probably an ounce or 2...if that
it's not like pulling a plug on a water bed. it just kind of dribbles out
mechanics out west usually have no idea how to deal with rust, anything stuck or snapped off.
worked with a guy from NM once. he lasted about 2 months here. never used a torch in his life. couldn't hang with the big dogs in the salt belt. his last straw was a broken sub frame bolt. after that, he quit 
too bad about the fill plug. if worse came to worse you could drain it out and service it like the assholes at VAG have you service the Haldex unit by filling it thru the drain hole.
it would be a miserable process but doable
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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The amount that came out or went in is not the thing to focus on IMO.
The fill plug hole is the level gauge. Filling into the reverse light is not any sort of long-term solution. Either get the plug removed yourself or take the van to someone who has the skills necessary. Once the fill plug is removed, the level can be checked and adjusted as necessary.
2 liters sounds like about 20 times what would leak out in changing the drive flange seals. |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3048
Location: MD
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| probably an ounce or 2...if that |
Based on 2 weeks ago when I did this I would say 6-8oz. But it would change depending on the angle the van is lifted.
2 liters added is overkill. I would have thought the mechanic would eyeball the amount loss and add new. 2 liters... that's nuts. That needs to be drained off.
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9612
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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Not too complicated to drain it all out and put the correct amount in thru whatever hole you can find.
Ideal to fix the fill hole then implement a Maintenance program proper for an antique drivetrain that could cost thousands.
….for lack of a few $20 batches of clean oil.
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johnnytod
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2021
Posts: 76
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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Thanks guys for your responses.
Based on what I saw a huge amount of oil came out on the floor and then in the waste oil container (I am pretty sure at least 1 liter). But it seems most believe is less... In any case I thought it is better to have too much oil in the transmission than too little so we added 2 liters
Could running with too much transmission oil be damaging?
I will try to remove the stuck transmission oil fill bolt and report back. Although I am really scared that a bigger damage might occur once we try remove it (e.g. If is cross threaded will need to fix threads or if we crack the transmission case by heating or welding there... ) |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50350
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| Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 12:38 am Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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| Overfill the case by enough and the oil will foam out the vent. |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9936
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 5:12 am Post subject: Re: Transmission oil lost |
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With a 2wd van that has the tranny mounted at the diesel mounting position a lot more oil could escape the tranny.
With the tranny nose where the filler hole is tilted up much higher than in other models filling the tranny to the filler hole thus requires a higher level of oil.
Mark |
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