Re: Checking transmission fluid

Posted by Mike On 2011/9/15 14:48:53

When Packard designed it, i'm sure they didn't consider that so many would continue to drive them with leaks, old seals, etc so many years later.

Let's say you paid 5,000 for a Packard worth the 5,000 you paid.

The rear seal is leaking and the front seal is leaking and there's some dripping from the cooler lines but all in all, the car uses a quart per driving season. You have considered selling it now and again.

Solutions:

A) Put 2500 into rebuilding the tranny, and sell the car at a 2500 loss.

B) Take less than 5,000 for the car after you explain how to add fluid to the tranny and what a PITA it is. Everyone beats you up on the price because you're an honest seller and tell them it uses a quart a year and they need to check it.

C) Put a 100 dipstick fix on that lets you check and add fluid as needed like almost every automatic transmission on the road build from the 40's up until the 90s. Get your 5k back when you sell because it's not a big deal.

D) Keep the car and keep crawling under like the PITA it is

E) Keep the car, put the 100 dipstick fix on and keep driving it with minimal fuss.

F) Keep the car, and put a 2500 dollar rebuild into a 5000 car, fill it once and be done forever.



Of course we'd all love to do F), but in most situations, fixing small leaks from major sources isn't worth the effort, time, and money, and if you're considering selling the car, usually not worth it at all.


Adding the dipstick is the perfect solution to almost all cars that have any kind of leak that aren't cars worth $10,000+ or aren't driven that often.