Can engine oil get into torque convertor?

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Just curious, is it possible for a bad seal or some other failure in a WBX engine to cause motor oil to get into the transmission WITHOUT having any other detectible leaks?

I'm wondering if my excessive oil consumption is somehow related to some autotrans issues I'm having.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[mikemtnbike]

I'm fairly certain the short answer is no. It bolts to the flex plate and slides onto the AT, click-click-click. No path for engine oil migration.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[kourt]

The only way this could happen would be if you had the original ATF cooler installed, and there was an engine oil leak into the coolant, and then contaminated coolant intermixing via a leak in the ATF cooler--and even then you would have "milkshake" (coolant and ATF mixed) and not engine oil. Otherwise, there is no direct connection between ATF circuits and engine oil circuits.

Intermixed ATF and coolant looks like strawberry milkshake.

Tell us about your transmission issues.

kourt

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[bobbyblack]

There is, of course one other way either of the fluids can get into the wrong places.... But you'd all thought of the obvious way, right?

Whoops!!!
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[Energy Concepts]

[MarkWard]

I don't believe you will see a quart in a 1000 miles as smoke out the tailpipe. That is actually considered acceptable oil consumption. I imagine though the sparkplugs would probably have some soot on them if it is passing oil.
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[Terry Kay]

Just for the heck of it , and because I didn't see it mentioned, have you serviced the trans since last October?

No engine oil should be in the converter.
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T.K.

[Energy Concepts]

[quote="Energy Concepts"]

[kourt]

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[avernon82]

Seems like overkill to get a completely rebuilt trains for this one issue. Sounds like a sticky valve in your valve body to me

[Terry Kay]

So, in light of this iddue, you did not drop the pan, change the filter, and fill the trans with type F fluid ?

Why?

You'll wait till it's time to use it this spring, and then start wailing?

Crazy.
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T.K.

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[jberger]

If you have a sudden oil consumption issue with a non stock engine, perform a leak down test first. Valve guides can also create this issue. Check your intake runners with an infrared temp gun. Also check your breather tower. Do you see excess oil sitting in your intake track?

[Terry Kay]

"Because" is a great reply, it took a bunch of thought.

I didn't ask why you didn't do the filter & oil change in January, I asked you why you didn't when you were posting about the problem in October.

That's 4 months of a gap there fella.

Yea, OK, no stress.

Above all else don't get excited , not until the day prior to you wanting to go somewhere.
No--wait about 15 minutes prior to turning the key.

That'd be good.
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T.K.

[davideric9]

Do you hear any change in sound when you are moving and take your foot off the gas pedal, coasting in gear? I had bad knocking noise that was suspected by local Vanagon shop to be CV joints, but it turned out to be AT fluid in the differential. Drained all fluids in both cases and refilled and noise is gone. I still need to fix this seal, but this fluid refresh confirmed the problem.
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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)

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