Club 80-90 Forums

Hi. I've only had the van a couple of weeks and the planned trip in the van to Italy from Germany didn't happen. It started out fine but after a couple of hours my wife (travelling in the second car behind us) noticed smoke coming from the offiside wheel arch while at a traffic light. I pulled into a car park took a look underneath and saw that oil was dripping from or off the heat exchangers. It was over 30 °C outside anyway so I decided it best to get recovered back home and continue the holiday in the estate.

Anyway we're back now so I've taken a look at everything and as the heat exchangers and rocker covers were covered in oil from before the holiday so I got some engine cleaner on it all and jet sprayed it all clean, result being no oil at all dripping from the right side and a couple of drops over a 2 hour period from the left. Oil level is also okay so I actually think the oil leak is minor and the old oil which was caked onto the heat exchangers had become very viscous after the longish journey and was dripping off. The juries still out but I think I might have that problem sorted. Should have cleaned it up beforehand

I still think there are several other issues and I could do with some advice if possible. I'm really struggling with my ATF fluid level. I think I read somewhere that when the engine is cold the ATF fliud should just be visable at the tip of the dipstick and when the engine is warm the reading should be between the min and max marks as usual for all oils. I've checked this several times and while It was just visible when cold once I wiped the dipstick down and reinserted it would come out dry. When the engine is running as per Haynes manual it either comes out dry or with a clearish fluid which I think is a very small amount of ATF which is just lining the dipstick tube.

Well it looked low to me so I topped it up yesterday (0.5 litre) with the engine running and still nothing showing on the dipstick so I left it overnight but when I came back this morning the pink fluid was visible up to the may mark on the dipstick. Is this now overfilled and what happens if I drive like this? Is there anyway to siphon it off with removing the oil pan or contaminating the ATF, maybe by removing the dipstick tube at the pan end? I suspect I have an ATF leak at the pan but it isn't dripping afaik. If I need to replace these ATF pan gaskets does anyone know where I can get them, I've looked at justkampers but can't find anything.

I also think I have an airleak (please see vid)but haven't heard any difference in idle after spraying with WD40, can anyone advise what the hose is I've taped up? It's cracked and I need to replace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIABoAlpb-0

Although this looks the same as the one in the Haynes manual the CU isn't listed. Does anyone know if this is the right one or any other place I can get one;

http://www.autoteileplus.de/Oelsieb-Dic ... 27962.html

Sourced the oil leak which is the pushrod seals. Still can't figure out the ATF level. I ran the engine a few minutes in N, checked the ATF an the dipstick was dry. I stopped the engine and the dipstick immediately was at the full mark. I restarted again and ran for another few minutes and the dipstick was dry again, even after turning the engine off

I still think I have too little in there but I'm a worried about overfilling. I need to change the oil pan gasket and filter on the box but still can't source the parts

Hiya pal

I have an Aircooled automatic too

Parts for auto fluid change here

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?p ... t&Itemid=6

I had same trouble with checking the level accurately. You have to take it for a 5-6 mile drive from cold to get the fluid up to right temp. 1-2 miles just doesnt seem to cut it. Then check level with engine running and gearbox in N. And top up from there if needed.

Good luck

Ben

Thanks Ben, I just took it on a 10 mile drive, gearchange is smooth and it seems to change more or less when it should (38 to 45 mph from 2nd into 3rd depending on how I'm driving) and there was no problems at all, that is until I saw the dipstick was still dry. I topped up another 300 ml in several stages but at best I can see a tiny sliver of clear fluid barely along one side. I've now filled in 900ml over the last couple of days without using the van!! There was some ATF dripping from the pan and also from this part of the gearbox but surely not 900ml or more.

I'm using Castrol TQ-D transmission fluid as I found a small bottle in the van from the previous owner. Is this the wrong stuff or is another brand maybe more visible on the dipstick?