I've done some searching and found out a lot of stuff about the merits of using Synchromesh fluid and not needing to change fluid, yadda yadda yadda, but I haven't been ab=le to find anything about actually changing the fluid.
I have an 84 4spd. I understand there's some kind of fill plug on the tranny? Do I still have to take the VSS out in order to check if the fluid level is right? It seems that a lot of people have had trouble breaking their VSSs when they removed them. I don't want to take it out if I don't have to. Someone also mentioned an "oil filler gun." Do I need one of these? How much fluid is it supposed to take?
It's not hard at all. There is a drain plug on the side (can't remember if it's inside or outside without looking) near the bottom of the transmission for draining. Yes you fill through the VSS hole. I have not had any problems getting them out and have not hear of breaking them. You just clean the area off aournd the VSS. (I like to degrease and wash it) remove the bolt and retainer and rotate and wiggle the VSS and slowly work it up. If your really carefull and don't pull up to hard as you wiggle so that it does not pop out all at once. If it does you usually knock the VSS gear off into the transmission. That is not a big problem as long as it drop right below the hole. If it does I use one of those springy claw tools to grap it and pull it out. If you carefull and get the VSS to just come out I can get the gear to stay on if I lift straight up.
It's worth finding a new O-ring to put back on since they usually are swelled and hard to get back in.
[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 09-05-2009).]
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02:52 PM
johnt671 Member
Posts: 2271 From: sugarloaf pa usa Registered: Feb 2001
84 trannys have a fill plug on the side of the trans. If you look around the bolts that hold the case together you will see a bolt all by its self. This is the fill plug. The drain plug is on the bottom of the trans. It would be handy to use a hand oil pump because it is hard to get a funnel on the hole and with a funnel in the hole you can't see as well when it is full. Most times I put to much in because I pour to fast. Fill it until the oil comes out of the fill hole, and put the plug in and your done.
VSS stands for Variable Speed Sensor. It is the thingie that the speedometer cable plugs into on the passenger side of the transmission. You can check the fluid leve by using a little line that is scribed inside the portion that comes out of the transmission. Just be careful and take your time and follow the instructions of the pros that posted above.
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07:49 PM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
Both my 85 and 86 4 speeds have a fill plug on the side. These days I fill through the vss hole until oil comes out of the side hole. That way I know it's filled to the correct level. You can fill it through the side hole but then you have to be careful that any oil dripping does not fool you into thinking it's fill when it's not.
I too would like to update from 5W30 to "syncromesh"... if only I could figure out where to buy it, or under what other names it comes. I'm in Canada so anybody out there that could point me in the right (Northerly) direction I would appreciate it.
