<VV> BG Services for Corvair powerglide transmissions

[Norman C. Witte]

Is this a situation where the factory is being overly cautious, to the
benefit of its dealers?  (Ok, so that last bit sounded a bit cynical, but
it's also true.)  The reason I say that is that I always understood the
Corvair Powerglide to be a particularly robust unit, and generally I thought
the rule for changing power transmission fluid was to smell it and look at
it on the dip stick.  If it's burnt, it's bad.  Otherwise, long may it wave.
I'm not saying that that is the shop manual approved approach but with so
many PG Vairs on the road I suspect that there is a lot of real world
support for my approach.  Of course, a more cautious approach is warranted
in dune buggies, Ultravans, and trucks that are actually used AS trucks
(don't know how much that happens any more, 'cept maybe tim coulson).

Norm Witte

> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org]On Behalf Of James Davis
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 4:40 PM
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> BG Services for Corvair powerglide transmissions
>
>
> Err, you might want to pick up a copy of the 1965 Corvair shop manual
> and reread page 0-8 on "Transmission - Powerglide".  GM recommends a
> 2 qt fluid change at least every every 12,000 miles.  According to
> Castrol, any time  a conventional transmission oil exceeds 160 F the
> life of the oil is compromised.  Using a synthetic or synthetic blend
> can improve its temperature tolerance.  Just how much Castrol
> wouldn't say.  Then there is the contamination issue.  Remember the
> Corvair Powerglide has no transmission oil filter, only a
> filter screen.
> Jim Davis
>
> At 03:20 PM 2/23/2006, Brent Covey wrote:
> >Hi Randy,
> >
> >Normally the fluid in a Powerglide will not need replacement
> for the life of
> >the car, Corvair Powerglide is a very cool running
> transmission and the
> >fluid doesnt degrade much over time. If you were pushing a
> Corvair hard
> >enough to be hard on the transmission you'd be going thru
> engines fast, the
> >trans is harder to overheat than the engine by quite a long
> shot. In 25
> >years I havent encountered an overheated seal in a Corvair
> Powerglide; on a
> >regular GM car theres often heat damage.
> >
> >Hope thats some help,
> >Brent Covey
> >Vancouver BC
> >
> >  __________
>
>
>
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