Pulling the oil pan on a 1988 Van Wagon USA gas - need help

[IdahoDoug]

So my second post is going to be a plea for help. I need to know what tools I need to pull the oil pan. It is a ways from home and I only glanced at it. So is there a cross member blocking access, or is it as easy as a dozen or so bolts? I will be doing this in a muddy field and up here we are in the 30s every day. So, hoping to get input or if someone has a technical drawing or a photo of the challenge that would be great. This way I hope to arrive there with the tools I need, and if there is a surprise like a cross member or skid plate it would be good to know.

Thanks in advance,

Doug

[IdahoDoug]

Anybody? My biggest concern is the trans dipstick. Some are attached to the oil pan and mean I have to work up in the engine area as well as under the van, etc. And of course there are lots of other potential things in the way - nothing is as easy as you'd think.

So 25 people have read this and not even a peep? Please?? Heh...

[konadog]

Sorry I can't advise you on the project, but if you search through some old threads you may find the info you need. Good luck.

[IdahoDoug]

And, incredibly I did not specify that this is the TRANSMISSION oil pan. Sorry.

I've been through a lot of threads in the last few days but not seeing what I need to know. I can always drive out to the vehicle with a larger number of tools and likely handle it, but was hoping for some guidance...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Hiya Doug,
There's a transmission manual in the L300 Dedicated Category Reference Forum. This manual covers a few trannies, see if one of them is yours.

Although the Vanwagon is an L300 body type, there are some considerable differences between the Vanwagon and the Starwagon. I'm going to move this thread to "Mitsubishi Vanwagon", also in Delica Canada Technical.

Falco.

[Big-Bird]

So when I punched 'Mitsubishi vanwagon transmission pan' into google I got these pics of a Mass. Registered VanWagon. He was nice enough to have a decent list of repairs and pics of his progress. The vanwagon's auto tranny is supported near the tailshaft with a tranny support which is well away from the tranny pan. No need to pull the mounts for your pan/gasket work. Can't guarantee if you have skid plates in the way or not but you should have a full set of wrenches and sockets for this job regardless. Bring a good scraper to clean the gasket surfaces and a scotch brite pad to clear-off any sticky bits. Why are you having to putter with this in the mud? Did something fail?

From what I can gather in the attached pic; you appear to require a 10mm socket to pull the pan bolts and a 13 or 14mm socket or wrench to pull the drain plug..that is if you have one like this guy does.

If you want bigger originals click here http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?m=201305

mv75-mid.jpg (68.84 KiB) Viewed 7549 times

mv74-mid.jpg (72.76 KiB) Viewed 7549 times

[IdahoDoug]

Big Bird,

Thanks - appreciate the reply. The pan has a leak as it appears to have scraped a curb or road debris. Yesterday I drove over and lay in the mud on some plastic sheeting. It appears the leak is slow enough I could refill it and get home. Takes a drop about a minute to form. That means I will then pull the pan and lose several fresh quarts. So, I guess that will be my baseline fresh on the tranny I would have done anyhow. The dealer says it requires a special Mitsubishi tranny fluid - true? The tag on the driver's side says "03-721" in the Model NO square. If this is false and I can use Dex II or somthing, it would be nice to know as I paid $11/qt for that stuff and have gallons of Dex II around my garage.

So that eliminates pulling the pan away from home. Laying there, the dipstick tube is on the driver's side away from the pictures and it angles up and forward into the engine bay. So I was unsure if I could have gotten the pan out of there with the Van on the ground. At home I can get it up on jackstands for better clearance.

On the comedic side, I inadvertently rolled in some cat excrement in the process. The van is a secret, so when I got home I had to swap shirts in the laundry room and then run back outside to hose off my shoes before saying hello. Barely got away with it, with my wife noting I had hosed my shoes off.

I'm looking forward to this project, as everything under there looks surprisingly strong and stout. I also found records the tranny had been serviced 5k ago and several other items had been handled. Was hoping to find a timing belt service performed, but no such luck...

[Big-Bird]

Cold tranny fluid is quite thick and will create a gummy film until it heats up....then it can flow faster especially if pressure builds up in the pan which will only serve to spray fluid in a thin stream. Your leak could get worse as the heat increases.

Cheap insurance:
You will need.
1) gas tank repair kit which can around 15.00 comes with a fiberglass patch and the 2 part epoxy in a sealed bag that allows it to be blended in the bag when its needed. Working time is under 5 mins so you gotta work fast!
2) Brake Cleaner Spray to degrease the pan where the patch will be applied.
3) A scotch brite pad to scuff the damaged area and to get to clean metal.

I have repaired a few gas tanks with this stuff. Works great!

[IdahoDoug]

That's a great idea - will check out those kits. The vehicle is outside in the weather and its in the 40s. Any idea if these can handle that kind of curing challenge?

[Big-Bird]

Should be okay but read the package for application temp's of the epoxy just to be sure.

[IdahoDoug]

So, I got it home and would like to install new filters while the trans pan is at the welders. Anyone have a link to a diagram or other instructions on how to do this. Thanks in advance.

DougM