Syncro gearbox lifespan

[toomanytoys]

You know I dont like vaseline

[Simon Baxter]

if you had ever seen what is akin to grey milkshake being drained from a gearbox then you would probably be more inclined to change it.

[syncropaddy]

just because some types of gearboxes will do 300k on the same oil doesnt mean others will too... should we do a full design review of Jetta/merc/T25 gearboxes to find out why??

No need to as I dont think the design philosophy is that much different between one VW gearbox and another. I still say that changing gearbox oil regularly is a false economy. I have a Syncro box with 1/4 million up so we will see what it looks like inside when the time comes to split it open. I've just got off the phone from the guy I bought the van from and he confirmed he never changed the oil. Like me, he sees no point. In the 2 million miles I have driven, I never had a gearbox issue from not changing the oil - in fact, never had a gearbox issue. In fact, I would have thought that covering 2 million miles warrants enough experience to arrive at a sound judgement, bearing in mind that two of the manufacturers mentioned either have no laid down guidelines or use the expression 'sealed for life' when it comes to oil changes. Mercedes Benz dont have any guidelines on changing the oils either and surprisingly, use ATF type A suffix A in their manual boxes.

[HarryMann]

Some comments, neither one way or the other:

cars were designed and developed by the manufacturer to pound up and down the Autobahns all day, every day and they did it without issues and 300,000 kms was common then as it is now.

Motorway or autobahn usage is the easiest thing to design for, its a known load, speed and the only problem might rear its head would be temperature, which can be sorted with circulation or coolers.
Delivery driving, tradesmen type use or cross-country very different

===
Yes, the syncro box probably doesn't have a large safety factior, power/volume close to limit line, as it contains the differential as well, and has potentially very high torque multipiers with a weighty vehile at the other end

===
The real danger is the oil level dropping or the oil becoming contaminated over time(e.g. with water)

[eric]

I rang GSF yesterday and asked about gearbox oil and they said .... 75 w/90, £19.00 for 4.5 lt. I forgot to ask what make. They were told it was a syncro btw.
I shall get some.

Upon reading this thread, however, diff-oil has been mentioned, so any recommendations what oil to stick in here? And no, I won't be doing it. Garage in Bridgend will be refurbishing the linkages and other bits and bobs.

Eric.

[Aidan]

how many times do I have to post this
98048A is the part number from GSF
Fuchs Titan GearSyn 75W/90 it comes in 4 litre, part number 98048 is the 1 litre pack
this is a semi synth GL4 and GL5 compatible oil and can be used front and rear
some GL5 spec oils are not compatabile with our gearbox because the moly coated brass synchro rings can be damaged by it, hence GL4 is the spec

[Essex Nige]

how many times do I have to post this
98048A is the part number from GSF
Fuchs Titan GearSyn 75W/90 it comes in 4 litre, part number 98048 is the 1 litre pack
this is a semi synth GL4 and GL5 compatible oil and can be used front and rear
some GL5 spec oils are not compatabile with our gearbox because the moly coated brass synchro rings can be damaged by it, hence GL4 is the spec

I've noticed this too, maybe it would be a good idea to have a syncro FAQ sticky, it's like the wheel and tyre combo and alike... just an idea

[eric]

how many times do I have to post this
98048A is the part number from GSF
Fuchs Titan GearSyn 75W/90 it comes in 4 litre, part number 98048 is the 1 litre pack
this is a semi synth GL4 and GL5 compatible oil and can be used front and rear
some GL5 spec oils are not compatabile with our gearbox because the moly coated brass synchro rings can be damaged by it, hence GL4 is the spec

Yeah, I know how frustrated you must feel Aid ... you have to repeat yourself over and over again before it finally sinks in for some of the members' comprehension on here sometimes.

Eric.

[HarryMann]

Further to the above gbox oil notes:

I once had a Renault 4 or 5(forgot, but the sort that would run away with the handbrake on if you got out and suspension rose, which it did once!)

Sold it to a mate in Scotland, who got it serviced here and drove it back to Scotland

It's g-box seized around Carlisle, the garage hadn't even checked the gear box oil level (Maybe the did it by 'rote' and it wasn't on 'that' service

Moral, most boxes pack up not from old oil from too little IMHO

However, when from new or rebuild I change my after a thousand or so miles and then again every couple of years

AIf nothng else if its done hot and angled correctly it should wash some crud out with it

[syncropaddy]

Further to the above gbox oil notes:

I once had a Renault 4 or 5(forgot, but the sort that would run away with the handbrake on if you got out and suspension rose, which it did once!)

Sold it to a mate in Scotland, who got it serviced here and drove it back to Scotland

It's g-box seized around Carlisle, the garage hadn't even checked the gear box oil level (Maybe the did it by 'rote' and it wasn't on 'that' service

Moral, most boxes pack up not from old oil from too little IMHO

However, when from new or rebuild I change my after a thousand or so miles and then again every couple of years

AIf nothng else if its done hot and angled correctly it should wash some crud out with it

Well after all this I only have one question and a finishing statement ...... How could you sell a Renault to a mate...???...... Im gonna spend the £20 (cost of oil change) on beer!

[Aidan]

Im gonna spend the £20 (cost of oil change) on beer!

beer is not a suitable lubricant as it is not GL4 spec

[axeman]

Im gonna spend the £20 (cost of oil change) on beer!

more fool you, for the sake of £20. it's worth it just to keep my mind at rest. changed mine when i first got the van about 14 months ago, and will be doing it again some time soon. probobly the next time i service her.


neil

[syncropaddy]

Im gonna spend the £20 (cost of oil change) on beer!

beer is not a suitable lubricant as it is not GL4 spec

Guinness is GL8 spec .....

[syncropaddy]

it's worth it just to keep my mind at rest.
neil

Neil, my mind is at rest and Ive got £20 in my pocket! (Haven't been down the pub yet)

[Russel]

Just rebuilt the transfer box on my LT due to lack of servicing.
Russel