oil level VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G Owners Manual

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CONTROLS
AND
EQUIPMENT

WARNING
/ INDICATOR
LIGHTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
your vehicle is equipped
with
several
•nportant indicator and warning devices to
~ionitor the continued reliable operation of .our vehicle. Familiarize yourself
with

:hese
devices so if one should come on .ou know what to do.
-allure to heed applicable warnings and "nportant vehicle information may result in

serious
personal injury or vehicle damage.

WARNING
•
Whenever
stalled
or stopped for
epair,
move
the
vehicle
a
safe
distance
off the road, stop the
engine
and
turn

on the
emergency
flasher
(see
page

46).
• The
engine
compartment
of any

-lotor
vehicle
is a
potentially
hazard­
ous
area.
Before
you check
anything
in

?ie
engine
compartment,
stop the
engine
and let it cool down.
Always

exercise
extreme
caution
when
work­
ing
under
the
engine
hood.
Heed
all of
re
WARNINGS
on
page
97.
page

1 - Brake 43

2
- Safety belt 18

3
- Turn signals 44
4 - Alternator 44
5
- For additional light
6 - For additional light 7 - Oil pressure 43
8 - High beam 45
9 - Coolant temperature/level . . . 45
10 - For additional switch 9 10
B25-5t?

1-Brake
« ->

The
light comes on while the engine is
cranking.
It goes out after the engine is started and the parking brake is
fully
released.
This is your assurance
that
the
brake warning light is functioning properly.
If the brake warning light does not light JC
while cranking the engine or setting :ne parking brake, there may be a malfunction in the electrical system. In this
case
c;~-
tact your Volkswagen dealer.
'where applicable
Always
heed
WARNINGS
on next page


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I CONTROLSAND EQUIPMENT
WARNING If the brake warning
light
does not go
out
with
the engine running and the parking brake released or lights up
while driving, the fluid level
in
the brake
fluid reservoir may
be
too low.
This might be
due
to
a
leak in one of the two independently functioning brake circuits.
If the brake pedal travel has increased,
one of the brake circuits may have

failed.
Avoid driving the vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Volkswa­
gen dealer or qualified workshop for re­ pair.
If brake pedal travel has not increased

and
braking performance remains un­
impaired,
proceed carefully to
your

nearest Volkswagen dealer or qualified
workshop to have the braking system inspected and corrected.

For detailed information see
"Brakes" on

page 29. 2-
Safety belt
|
A
FASTEN
BELTS

Refer
to
"Safety belts"
on
page
14 for

details.

3
-
Turn
signals E^

Refer
to
"Turn
signal/headlight dimmer
switch lever" on page 49 for details.
4
- Alternator

This
light comes
on
when
the
ignition
is
turned on and goes out after the engine
is
started.
If the
light does
not go out
after

starting
and
revving-up
the
engine
momentarily
or
lights
up
while driving,
there may be a malfunction
in
the electrical system
or
the V-belt
to
the alternator may be loose
or
broken.

In
this
case,
turn
the engine off and

contact
your
Volkswagen dealer.

5
- For additional
light

6
- For additional
light
7
- Engine Oil pressure

When
the
ignition
is
turned
on, the oil
pressure warning light comes on for a bulb

check.
It
should
go out
after
the
engine
has
started.

If the
warning light does
not go out or

flashes
while driving
(above
2000
engine rpm a buzzer
will
sound simultaneously),
it

indicates,
that the oil pressure is too low.

Stop the engine immediately, check the
engine
oil
level
and add
oil, if necessary.
If engine oil level is normal, but the
light

continues to flash, do not continue to
operate the vehicle. This could damage
the engine.

Turn
the engine off and contact the nearest Volkswagen dealer for assistance.

The oil pressure warning
light
is not an indicator for low engine oil level. To

check
the oil level, always use dipstick
(see page 99).

Make
it a habit to have the engine oil
level checked
with
every
fuel filling.


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VEHICLE OPERATION

OPERATE
YOUR VEHICLE SAFELY

A
lot has gone
into
the manufacture of your Volkswagen, including advanced engineering techniques, rigid quality
control and demanding inspections.

These
engineering and safety features will be enhanced by you, the safe driver,
• who knows the vehicle and all controls
• who maintains the vehicle properly
• who uses driving skills wisely.

For
your own safety as well as
that
of
those around you - be a responsible
driver. If you
drink,
do not
drive.
The use
of alcohol, drugs and certain medications
will seriously impair perception, reactions and driving ability, substantially increasing
the risk of an accident and personal
injury.
Do not
drive
if you are
tired,
ill or
under

emotional
stress.
The
following
points
are also
important
for
your
safety,
please
observe
them

all.
First
things
first...

• Turn the engine off before performing
any checks or repairs on the vehicle.
• Be sure tires are inflated correctly.

Check
for damage and
tire
wear.
• See
that
wheel bolts or nuts are pro­
perly tightened and not loose or missing.
• Check engine oil level, add if neces­

sary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil

checked
with
every fuel filling.
• Check coolant level to assure sufficient
engine cooling.
• Be sure you have a well charged
battery.
• Check brake fluid level. If too low, have
brake system checked.
• Replenish windshield washer fluid.
• Replace worn or cracked wiper blades.
• See
that
all windows are clear and un­
obstructed.
• Check whether all
light
lenses are

clean.
• Be sure all lights are working and head­
lights are aimed correctly.
• Check under vehicle for leaks.
• Make sure the movement of either

brake,
clutch or accelerator pedal is not hampered in any way.
• Be sure all luggage is stored securely.

You'll
find helpful hints on how to perform most of these checks in this manual. If in
doubt, have these checks performed by
your dealer or any other qualified
mechanic.

Emergency
equipment

It is good practice to carry emergency
equipment in your vehicle. Some of the
things you should have are: emergency
light,
first-aid kit, small shovel, and for the
winter
season,
an ice scraper, snow brush,
a
container or bag of sand or salt, etc.
70


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VEHICLE OPERATION

OPERATE
YOUR VEHICLE ECONOMICALLY AND
MINIMIZE
POLLUTION
Your
personal
style
of
driving
determines your operating costs,
exhaust
emissions and noise levels. To obtain the best
possi­

ble fuel economy,
minimize
pollution
and

save
wear and tear on the engine, brakes
and tires, observe the following points:
• Keep a
light
foot
on the accelerator.
• Drive smoothly, avoid abrupt changes
in speed as much as possible.
• Avoid jack rabbit starts and sudden

stops.

• Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn the
engine off.
• "Warm up" idling wastes gas. Start the
engine
just
before you are ready to drive.

Accelerate
slowly and smoothly.
• Do not drive longer than necessary in
the lower gears. By upshifting early you
can
economize on fuel consumption. • Organize your trips to include in several
errands.
• Any additional weight carried in the
vehicle reduces fuel economy. Always keep cargo to a minimum and remove all

unnecessary
items.
• Remove roof and ski racks when not in

use.

• All electrical consumers contribute to

increased
fuel consumption. Therefore,

use
fan, rear window defogger, etc., only
when needed.
• Check your vehicle's fuel consumption
regularly. Keep a
written
tally sheet or use
the
trip
odometer. Fuel consumption will
vary
with
traffic, road and weather condi­
tions.
• Have your vehicle serviced by an

Volkswagen
dealer at the specified inter­
vals
(see page 95 and your Maintenance brochure). • Air cleaner should be inspected to

assure
proper engine "breathing".
• Battery should be fully charged.
• Wheels should be properly aligned.
• Tires should be inflated to correct pres­

sures.
Check
tire
pressures regularly - at least once a month.
• The published ENVIRONMENTAL-
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Trans­

port
Canada
mileage
estimates
may not

agree
with
your
actual
highway
mileage

which
will
vary,
depending
upon
vehicle
load
and speed,
road
and
weather
condi­

tions,
trip
length,
etc.
• Have the engine oil level checked
with

every fuel filling. Engine oil consumption
is
normal but tends to be higher when the
engine is new. The use of quality engine oil
and a correct engine oil level are essential
for vehicle performance and economical operation at all times.
72


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VEHICLE OPERATION
After driving over
difficult
terrain,
espe­
cially through water or mud, the following
is
important:
• Disengage the differential lock*.
• After long drives through deep mud, the
brakes must be checked and cleaned if
they are
dirty.
This will prevent damage to
the brakes and premature wear.
• After driving through deep water, take
out oil dipstick and check to see whether
there are drops of water on the dipstick or if the oil level has risen. In
that
case,
the oil
must be changed immediately.
• If during an off-road drive the vehicle

has
become stuck (dug its way
into
the
ground) or the underside was stuck by
rocks
or similar, check undercarriage,
brake lines and oil pan for damage. • The engine compartment and vehicle
underbody must be cleaned if they are
very
dirty
so
that
the function of all mova­ ble and electrical/electronic parts is main­
tained.
•
Clean
heavy soil from wheels and tires,

check
tires for damage or foreign objects in treads.
•
Clean
turn
signals, lights and license
plate.
• Dry brake system by driving a short dis­
tance
with
brake pedal slightly depressed.

This
will help regaining normal braking ac­
tion
and help prevent the possibility of the
vehicle pulling to one side while braking.
Performance
testing

If the
Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro re­

quires
testing
on a
dynamometer
(en­

gine
output
analysis and
brake
test)
the

transaxle
drive
shaft
must
be discon­ nected.
The
differential
lock
must
not be en­ gaged.
84 "where applicable


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL
Engine oil consumption t 3 normal for your engine to consume oil.

T-Q
rate of oil consumption depends on
re quality and viscosity of
oil,
the speed at
Mich
the engine is operated, the climate,

read
conditions as well as the amount of : ution and oxidation of the lubricant.

Because
of these variables, no standard
•e:e
of oil consumption can be esta-
:
shed,
but drivers should expect an in­
creased
oil consumption at high speeds
s.nd when the engine is new.
• The
engine
in your
vehicle
depends
on oil to
lubricate
and cool all of its
mov­

ing
parts.
Therefore
the
engine
oil
should be checked
regularly
and
kept
at
the
required
level.
•
Make
it a
habit
to
have
the
engine
oil

level
checked
with
every
fuel
filling.

• Lack of
sufficient
engine
oil may
lead

to
severe
engine
damage.

• The oil pressure
warning
light
is not
an oil
level
indicator.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
97.
The
engine oil dipstick and the oil filler

neck
are located behind the license plate

lid.

Checking the
engine
oil
level

The
best time to check the engine oil level
is
when the oil is warm.
• Turn off the engine.
• To get a true reading, the vehicle should

be
on level ground. After turning off the en­

gine,
wait a few minutes for the oil to return
to the crankcase.
• Flip license plate down.
• Pull out dipstick and wipe it clean
with
a

rag.

• Reinsert dipstick; push it in all the way. • Pull dipstick out again. The oil level is
correct if it is between the "max" and "min" marks on the dipstick.
• If oil level is below "min" mark, or not
showing on dipstick, add oil immediately.
• Make sure
that
the dipstick is com­
pletely in.
Adding
engine
oil • Unscrew cap from oil filler neck.
• Pull extension tube out of filler neck as
far as it will go.
• Only add the amount of oil needed. The
difference between the "min" and "max" marks on the dipstick is about
1
U.S. quart
or
1
liter. Always select a quality oil
with
the
correct specification. See "Lubricants" on
page
85.
Do not exceed the MAX
marking.

Otherwise,
the excess oil may be drawn in
through the crankcase breather into the exhaust system. The oil would then burn in
the catalytic converter and cause dam­
age.

•
Push
in the extension tube, replace fil­
ler cap and hand tighten securely.

WARNING

The oil
filler
cap
must
be secure to avoid oil spill causing
fire
hazard.


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VEHICLE CARE
Changing the
engine
oil
Have
your engine oil changed regularly,
but at least twice a year (see Maintenance
booklet).

This
is very important because the lubri­ cating properties of oil diminish gradually
during normal operation of the vehicle.
If you drive mostly short distances, or if
you operate the vehicle in dusty
areas,
or under predominantly stop-and-go traffic
conditions, or when temperatures remain below freezing for extended periods, the
engine oil should be changed more fre­
quently.

Due
to the detergent additives in the oil,
the fresh oil will look dark after the engine
has
been running for a short time. This is
normal and there is no reason to change
the oil more often than recommended by
the manufacturer.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
96
100 and97-
WARNING

•
Drain
the oil
into
a
container
that
is
designed for
this
purpose, one
that
is
large
enough to hold at
least
the oil

filling
of your
engine.

•
Wear
eye
protection.

• To
reduce
the
risk
of burns
from
hot

engine
oil let the
engine
cool
down
to
the touch.
•
When
removing
the oil
drain
plug

with
your fingers,
keep
as far
away
as possible.
Always
keep
your
forearm

parallel
to the ground to
help
prevent
hot oil
from
running
down
your arm.
• Engine oil is poisonous. Keep it
well

out of the
reach
of children. Con­

tinuous
contact
with
used
engine
oil is
harmful
to your skin.
Always
protect

your skin by
washing
thoroughly
with
soap and
water.

•
Always
dispose of used
engine
oil

properly.
Do not
dump
it on
garden
soil,

wooded
areas,
into
open
streams
or

down
sewage
drains.
• Recycle used
engine
oil by
taking
it to
a used
engine
oil collection
facility
in
your
area,
or
contact
a service
station.
• Turn off the engine.
• Remove the oil drain plug (arrow) when
the engine is still warm and allow the oil to
drain.

•
Always
use a new
gasket
when

reinstalling
the plug. Do not
overtighten.

•
Fill
the engine
with
oil. Do not
overfill.

Always
check engine oil level
with
dipstick
as
described on previous page.

Engine
oil capacity is listed under

"Capacities",
page 147.

Local
zoning ordinances or environmental
regulations will tell you how you can

dispose
of used engine oil. Should the dis­ carding of the old oil present a problem to

you,
we suggest you have the oil changed
at your dealer or a service station.


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL FILTER
: he oil
filter
should be changed at the inter-

,als
listed in your Maintenance booklet.
• Remove old oil
filter
element and dis­

card.

• Use
only
Oil
filter
part
No.:

070115561
as
otherwise
engine
damage

can occur.
• Lightly coat seal of new
filter
element

with
oil. • Screw on
filter
element and hand-
tighten according to manufacturer's instructions on the carton or on the
filter

element.
• Fill engine
with
appropriate amount of
engine oil.
• Run engine at various speeds for three
to five minutes and check for leaks.
• Check dipstick for correct oil level, top
up if necessary.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
96 and 97. 101


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VEHICLE CARE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID / MANUAL TRANSMISSION OIL
Automatic Transmission Fluid
The torque converter and the transmis­
sion are lubricated with Automatic Trans­ mission Fluid (ATF).
The final drive requires hypoid oil SAE 90,
which does not have to be changed.
Checking the ATF level
The ATF has to be checked at frequent intervals, for instance, when the engine
oil is being checked or at least at the intervals specified in your Maintenance
booklet.
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97. A correct ATF level is very important for
transmission operation.
To obtain an accurate reading, the
vehicle must be on level ground, and the
fluid must have reached operating
tem­

perature. Normally, after a cold-start the
fluid will reach operating temperature when the vehicle has been driven for ab­
out 6 miles or 10 km. If the ATF is too cool
or too hot, the fluid level reading will be inaccurate.
WARNING Before checking the ATF, the selector
lever must be securely locked in the Park position and the parking brake ap­
plied firmly.
Checking the ATF level is potentially hazardous because the hot engine has
to be running during the check. Do not
attempt to check the ATF before read­ ing all WARNINGS on page 97.
The ATF filler neck is in the engine com- partement on the left hand side. The dip­
stick is attached to the
plug.
Pull it out
and wipe clean first before inserting it to
take a reading. The Automatic transmission may be da­
maged by even a tiny speck of dirt.
Only use lint free rags to wipe the dip­
stick.
To get a true reading, the ATF must be at operating temperature.
You have enough ATF if the fluid level is between the two marks on the dipstick. I:
should never be above or below these marks. If level is too high or too low do not
just add or drain ATF. Have your dealer check and correct the cause as soon as possible.
For correct ATF specifications, see "Lub­
ricants" on page 85.
Changing the ATF
The ATF has to be changed at the inter­ vals specified in your Maintenance boo­klet.
Do not tow the vehicle or run the engine
without ATF in the transmission.
Manual Transmisson Oil Both transmission and final drive are
combined in one housing. The lubrican: used is hypoid oil which does not have tc
be checked or changed. If you shoulc
suspect a leak, contact your VW dealer.


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VEHICLE
CARE
I

AIR CLEANER
A
dirty
filter
element reduces engine
out­
put and increases fuel consumption and

can
cause premature engine wear.
Normally, it is not required to service the
air cleaner more often than recommended in the Maintenance booklet. If the vehicle

is
driven on very dusty roads, the air

cleaner
must be serviced more frequently,

even
daily. We recommend
that
you have
the air cleaner serviced by your
Volks­

wagen dealer or a qualified workshop.
If
your
air
filter
must
be
changed more
frequently,
we
recommend
that
you have
your
Volkswagen dealer show
you the
procedure
before
you
attempt
doing
it

yourself.

The
paper
filter
element must never
be
cleaned
or
soaked
with
gasoline, clean­

ing
solvents or oil. POWER STEERING*
The
fluid
reservoir is located behind the
licence
plate lid.

The
power steering is filled
with
ATF Dexron®.

A
correct
fluid
level in the reservoir is im­
portant
for the proper functioning of
power steering.
With the engine running, the
fluid
level in the power steering system must be
checked
at regular intervals. The
fluid
level
should always be between the "max"
and "min" markings. If the level should go below the "min" marking, have the power
steering system inspected by your
Volks­

wagen dealer. It is not sufficient to
just
add hydraulic fluid.
WARNING

•
Be
sure
not to
confuse brake fluid

and
hydraulic fluid.
If
the wrong fluid
is
used,
the systems may fail.

•
If the
power steering system should

fail,
or if the
engine
is not
running
(for

example
while
being
towed),
you
will
still
be
able
to
steer
the
vehicle, how­
ever, more
effort
will
be required.
Note

Since
the hydraulic
fluid
also functions as

a
lubricant, serious damage to the pump
and to other components of the system
could result if there is insufficient hydraulic

fluid
in the system.

Always
heed WARNINGS on page
97. "where applicable


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