Gearbox drain plug

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 24 Mar 2008, 19:20

I've been changing the gearbox oil today and when I took the drain plug out it looked like a veritable Xmas tree with fragments of metal stuck to it:

So I'm wondering if this is normal, or does it indicate a problem inside the gearbox?

Tony

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 24 Mar 2008, 19:32

That's 'just' filings on the magnet, at least there's nowt recognizeable as rollers or shims

When was the oil last changed ? Is it 'smoother' sir ?

I'm sure Aidan will reply if he feels it's to the contrary

Ian.

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 24 Mar 2008, 19:33

This is normal but there seems to be quite a bit there.
Depends really on when the oil was last changed. If its been quite a while then you could have a fair build up on the magnet but if only recently then there could be a problem.
Since adding Molyslip (No, not an ad!) to gearboxes I dont seem to get anywhere near as much wear and they run as smooth as a egg on teflon!

I need to get out more!

Post by **manxman** » 24 Mar 2008, 19:38

looks similar to mine

[IMG:640:480]http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/554/dscf2152nb9.jpg[/img]

Post by **Aidan** » 24 Mar 2008, 21:12

that's fine, obviously had an oil change in the past and the dtrb isn't kerfuffed.
If it's the size of your little finger then it's rebuild time.

Post by **pouch** » 25 Mar 2008, 08:54

I read an "american" suggestion that it was worth moving to a Synthetic gearbox oil when changing.

Anyone done this, it is supposed to reduce the "stirring porridge on a cold morning feeling"

Post by **Syncro G** » 25 Mar 2008, 13:01

This is when you have to worrie...

[IMG:800:600]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/ ... C03981.jpg[/img]

The oil was like metalic paint, well, thats the stuff that wasn't sludge.

Original gearbox with original oil? The van now has neather

!

Post by **Aidan** » 25 Mar 2008, 18:29

Synthetic oil does seem to warm up quicker and help with the first second change when cold. GSF sell Fuchs synthetic GL4 for under £20, also there's Millers racing about £50 and Redline about £75.
I'd recomend any GL4 and change it every three years which is the shelf life of the quantum stuff VW now supply. Of course it is possible to go for 20 years and a quarter of a million miles without an oil change and no problems, and most of our vans haven't ever had an oil change as it wasn't in the schedule upto 150k km end of vehicle life.

PS I'd advise sticking 4 ltr in a petrol same as a diesel even though VW went 3.5 litre for an easier gear change.

Glen I've your bits of scrap for you to see next time we meet

Post by **HarryMann** » 25 Mar 2008, 18:37

Think this worth Wikiing!

Help put peeps munds at rest (or not

sometimes)

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 25 Mar 2008, 19:37

Thanks for putting my mind at rest!

I don't know when the oil was last changed, it hasn't been done since we got the van in Oct. 2006. Going by the paperwork that was passed onto us back then, a gearbox was fitted in Sept. 2002 so that could've been the last change. I've added it to my servicing list now though with a 3 year interval, which was going to be my next question . . . thanks Aidan!

"Is it smoother?" . . . dunno yet, went for a short test drive afterwards and didn't really notice much difference but I'm hoping that when I need to change out of 2nd or 4th after driving at speed on motorway for an hour or more, that I'll notice the difference then (i.e. coming out of those gears without sticking). There's more work still to be done in this area though - clutch master and slave to replace and gearshift linkage to check / adjust, so maybe I'll notice a bigger difference then.

"Worth adding to the Wiki?" I think that'd be a good idea for other novices like meself . . . I had no idea that there'd be anything like this when I took the drain plug out, I thought it was going to be just like the engine oil sump plug! I can't log into Wiki though but if my photo is any use just copy the code, or pm me an email address and I'll send the photo.

Thanks again for the help and info.

Tony

Post by **toomanytoys** » 25 Mar 2008, 20:54

my caravelle 5 speed sticks in 5th after a long drive in it.. Aidan reckons its down to the syncro rings being worn creating a surface tension on the 2 faces.. (wet 2 flat bits of glass and put them together and see if you can pull then apart!!)
Mine has done a lot of KM and has synth oil etc.. but hasnt been apart... next on the list for Aidans touch...

Post by **andysimpson** » 25 Mar 2008, 20:58

toomanytoys wrote:my caravelle 5 speed sticks in 5th after a long drive in it.. Aidan reckons its down to the syncro rings being worn creating a surface tension on the 2 faces.. (wet 2 flat bits of glass and put them together and see if you can pull then apart!!)
Mine has done a lot of KM and has synth oil etc.. but hasnt been apart... next on the list for Aidans touch...

Every rear engined vw ever made does this, they did it new and get worse with mileage. Its a heat problem.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 25 Mar 2008, 21:20

My syncro didnt do it on its original box (150k km) and it doesnt do it on the ropey second hand one (unknown km) currently in.. and that has been up and down the autoroutes for hours.. at 4000 rpm too... The velle didnt do it to start with... just more often as the km climbed... the box has well over 300k km on it... neither of the beetles Ive owned did it either... must have been lucky then!!!
IIRC Aidan said that 4th/5th sysncro rings dont have a moly coating, so maybe thats part of it too...