VS Advice for a pensioner please

[terry0400-40]

Hi, I have just recently bought a VS auto v6 and i checked the transmission fluid level because i noticed some fluid on the ground which corresponds with my extension housing rear seal so i think.

Anyway the tranny fluid came up to about 6 inches on the stick which is far abouve the correct mark, and also the fluid is not red but is a milky like consistency, the tranny seems to be working ok and changing without any probs, also the radiator looks kinda like it could be new or in any case not so old looking.
So im not sure if i have to go for a new radiator as i am a pensioner and will have to do it myself.
Also i suppose i will have to drain the Tranny sump and also the convertor that is if it has a drain plug ?
Maby i will have to take it to a transmission workshop to get the old fluid drained that is after i figure out how to replace the radiator with a new unit if that is what is required.

So therefore i could certainly use some advice or opinions as to what i have written, ie is it a huge job to pull the radiator out and replace a new unit ?

I have done it on more simple vehicles like XA and XB V8's and my last 25 year old Corona, which i have just saved up and updated to this VS, but the VS just seems to have so much more um er stuff to contend with in the radiator area. thanks if can advise....

I am living in Brisbane

[Zuicider]

your best bet would be to get a repair manual. might be an idea to flush the trans with a flush . there is no drain plug u have to take the whole pan off. radiator is easy to remove just take not of what trans line goes where . did u check the trans level when hot? and the trans fluid might be milky from the trans cooler in the radiator leaking water.

trans service kit is pretty easy to swap over no need to pay the big boys big dollars to do it when u can do it quite simply yourself.

[terry0400-40]

your best bet would be to get a repair manual. might be an idea to flush the trans with a flush . there is no drain plug u have to take the whole pan off. radiator is easy to remove just take not of what trans line goes where . did u check the trans level when hot? and the trans fluid might be milky from the trans cooler in the radiator leaking water.

trans service kit is pretty easy to swap over no need to pay the big boys big dollars to do it when u can do it quite simply yourself.

Thanks Zuicider, Yes i will certainly be looking at what repair manual would be best for my VS, and i can remove the trans pan and drain what fluid is in there, and if theres no converter drain plug then i'l just whack the pan back on with a new gasket and top up the ATF, a flush sounds like a good adea as you have suggested.

Oh yes i did check it several times when hot and running on idle in park,
and each time it showed about 6" on the dip stick, except several hours later when i checked it cold and not running and it then only showed at the normal mark, but still sorta a little opaque milky look to the fluid.

Like i have had the car for nearly a month and at the time of inspection the owner said that the VS had a new radiator fitted, and it certainly looks like its a true fact.

[Cheap6]

Apart from coolant in the auto. fluid, which sounds like a distinct possibility given the new radiator, an overfilled auto. can cause air to become entrained in the fluid which will also look "milky".

An overfill can cause oil leakage.

A fix for either pretty soon would be sensible as either overfill or coolant in the fluid will kill the trans.

You can drain most of the fluid through the cooler hoses without dropping the pan and it makes dropping the pan cleaner/easier if you want to do that too. Disconnect both hoses at the radiator end and direct into a container (at least 5L), start the car and switch off as soon as the fluid stops flowing freely - any longer will also damage the auto.

It's a two person job; one to direct the hoses, one to start/stop the car. Alternatively, you can start the car with a jumper wire across the starter relay terminals, ignition key on reds. As it bypasses the P-N only start interlock you need to be very sure the car is in P first. Pull the EFI relay to stop the engine - it's sensible to check it works before the car is running with no fluid in the trans .

[hako]

The advice given in the above posts looks pretty spot-on to me. The only thing I can add is that if you are a bit apprehensive about running the engine with the trans line disconnected you can just disconnect the trans line at the lowest point and it will slowly drain out with no dramas. This way you will only need a bottle that's a litre or so with a funnel. I'd sit the bottle with the milky fluid in to one side and leave it for a few hours to see if the milkiness disappears or water settles out and the oil floats on top. You will not need to raise the car for this procedure.
Hopefully the milkiness is due to foaming and air entrapment as Cheap6 suggests, however if it is contaminated with coolant you will need the transmission fully flushed to remove all contaminated fluid. Failure to flush will lead to premature failure of the transmission as coolant/water will corrode the allow internals/valve body/etc plus if the oil heats above 100C the water component in the fluid will boil out and this can end up like a pressure cooker.
The fact that the radiator has been replaced could point to coolant entering the transmission via a leaky trans fluid oil cooler but that argument can also be said for overfilling with fluid.

So in my opinion (FWIW), the first thing you need to ascertain is whether the milkiness is caused by coolant or entrapped air.

As a fellow pensioner I'll keep my fingers crossed that the fix is simply an overfilled transmission.
Good Luck.

[terry0400-40]

Thank you for the abovementioned advice gentlemen i will drain the system in the way that you have discribed and look at the situation from there.
Possably the reason for the previous owner installing a new radiator is because of coolent entering the ATF ? ? And maby he did not bothered to flush the Tranny out.

Or as you have pointed out the ATF may have just...( touch wood ) been overfilled..

Whatever the outcome i will post back my results and thank you again as your advice is invaluable and um er will save me money that i dont have....

[terry0400-40]

You should have seen the melted pink ice cream that came out of Blueys transmission yes a good six litres with a few rare tinges of rasberry mixed in so as to justify the mixture being called ATF.

Also removed the radiator cap and there was a good 1/4 inch of greasy frothy gunk sittin on top of the water, it should'nt ave been there because i cleaned the cooling system about 3 weeks ago yeah about a week after i bought this navy coloured little girl.

So it seems my guess of the VS possessing a new radiator is somewhat off track, therefore i have also removed it and will be installing a new one tomorrow.

Now for the part i am unsure of, is there any way to flush the tranny cause there probably will be some of the coolent mix residing therein i would imagion ?

Or will i just have to run 5 or 6 litres of new ATF through the tranny and then pump it out and refill again ? ?

I am certainly glad that i just took the initiative and done the work so far it all went smooth as its all sorta straight forward stuff, only problem was i missed out on my afternoon snooze, oh well i can always tell the missus that ive got a headache tonight and catch up on some quality shut eye.

[BONSVR]

You should have seen the melted pink ice cream that came out of Blueys transmission yes a good six litres with a few rare tinges of rasberry mixed in so as to justify the mixture being called ATF.

Also removed the radiator cap and there was a good 1/4 inch of greasy frothy gunk sittin on top of the water, it should'nt ave been there because i cleaned the cooling system about 3 weeks ago yeah about a week after i bought this navy coloured little girl.

So it seems my guess of the VS possessing a new radiator is somewhat off track, therefore i have also removed it and will be installing a new one tomorrow.

Now for the part i am unsure of, is there any way to flush the tranny cause there probably will be some of the coolent mix residing therein i would imagion ?

Or will i just have to run 5 or 6 litres of new ATF through the tranny and then pump it out and refill again ? ?

I am certainly glad that i just took the initiative and done the work so far it all went smooth as its all sorta straight forward stuff, only problem was i missed out on my afternoon snooze, oh well i can always tell the missus that ive got a headache tonight and catch up on some quality shut eye.

Yeah mate, the only way you can truely flush a gearbox without tearing it down is to run new tranny fluid and repeat the draining.

look at getting a drain plug fitted to the pan so it makes life 100% easier if you do, do it.

[CalaisJohn]

.. also if you're cashed up and while have your hands dirty consider buying a dedicated tranny cooler - which the tranny will enjoy - bypass the radiator when you fit it any future episodes of coolant/fluid mixing will be avoided. A little insurance and great piece of mind.

[mynameisearl]

sounds like you've got a stuffed trans cooler mate, i'd just go down to autobarn or some where and buy a new one and fit it yourself

[greenacc]

if you have not already done so, I think what you have found justifies removing the trans pan and giving it a good clean and changing the filter while its open. Kit is under $30 at Repco.

[9C1pack]

Take it to a radiator place and get them to pressure test it. They have a device with a radiator cap fitting and a bike pump looking thingy. They take off your radiator cap fit the pressure tester, pump it up to the correct psi, and you can see if it holds pressure or not.
Most do it for free or a small fee.

[hako]

As greenacc says, drop the pan and change the filter. This will be mandatory as the coolant will block the filter so it will have to be replaced. Shop around for your cheapest ATF - some places have it for over $30 for 5 litres and others $22 - but you will need probably 10 litres so maybe see if you can get. It uses Dexron111. Also I seem to remember seeing a "transmission flush" somewhere - maybe something like that will help get the coolant out 'cause you can bet your bottom dollar it will stick to the transmission internals like **** to a blanket.
You should be able to get a radiator from a wrecker for about $70 and make sure you get the correct one as there are 2 different styles for the VS - late VS has threaded connectors for the trans cooler.
Good Luck.

[terry0400-40]

A really big and heartfelt thanks to all who have assisted me with their words of wisdom and their valuable time and i pronounce a blessing of prosperity upon your heads because i am truily gratefull for the spirit of cooperation and friendship that you possess.

Oh yes i will set off after lunch for my Dextron 111 and a pan gasket filter kit for Bluey and she will soon feel as good as new.

My new radiator comes thisarvo it is being delivered to my door from Oxley near Brisbane they do a good job on new radiators and also repairs and whole cooling system servicing as i have used their services in the past the number is 07-33796654