Question One: I have intermittent engine temp problems. I haven't driven it enough to get the temps too high, just warming it up in the driveway and driving it around the neighborhood. As I was under the car, I noticed a bent gold tube that looks like it SHOULD be going into the radiator (at the bottom). What's this tube for, how can I replace it, and could it be causing my overheating problems?

Pic shows gold post (out of focus) next to lower radiator hose and beneath the radiator fans.
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Question Two: I have a manual transmission and want to drain and fill. I had a fluid leak somewhere and I'm trying to track it down. I drained the oil and it appears to be full (none missing) so my next step is the tranny fluid.

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The drain/fill locations are marked correctly in your pictures. You can also pry one of the axles out of the transmission about half an inch or so just to get the axle away from the seal to drain the fluid also.

 

the drain/fill plugs seem to be the easiest approach.

 

No they are not. The drain is the bottom bolt at the lowest part of the tranny (duh)

Taking out an axle won't drain all of it.

http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtopic=9932

 

(01:29 PM) radu_rd2 - the drain bolt is the big bolt on the bottom, not the one you labeld
(01:30 PM) radu_rd2 - under the axle
(01:30 PM) majikTib - in the bottom right of that pic? Greenish?
(01:31 PM) radu_rd2 - yes
(01:31 PM) radu_rd2 - it like 24mm, probably the biggest bolt on the car lol

 

The gold posts are not used on your car since you are a manual. they are for auto trans cooling. Your radiator must have been replaced with a auto radiator at one point. they wont be a contributing factor to your over heating issue.

 

I used to have an automatic tranny, I swapped to a manual. The radiator is from when I had an auto

thanks for the help. Draining the tranny oil now...

 

Be sure to use a good GL-4 gear oil. Amsoil MTG GL-4 and Redline MT-90 are good ones. Dont' use GL-5(I learned the hard way).

 

My local autozone said they didn't have any GL-4 in stock. Gonna look tomorrow at some other places.

If I used GL-5 for 3,000 miles, what would it do? Not sure what I had in there

 

It turns the synchros into fabulous glitter in the oil. Even engine oil is better than nothing, but use the recommended fluids! Better to get crappy GL-4 than high quality GL-5. Autozone sucks. Don't shop at autozone. MY local autozone had royal purple GL4/GL5 (supposedly ok for both) for DOUBLE the price of O'reilleys down the street. And according to the Redline dealer locator there is a place I could have bought redline nearby. You jus' hafta look around.