Gearbox Oil - Change or Not to Change?!!

[JCL]

Engine and gearbox oil changed today after enjoyable reading of many threads on here suggesting that the gearbox oil doesnt need changing. I accept that the haynes doesnt cover changing the box oil and my original owners manual states that its filled for life...... I'll open the can of worms up yet again by showing you the furry drain plug and black filthy oil that i removed from my 15000 miler 2.1 DJ Auto -Sleeper with a full service history. Admittadly accessing and refilling the box was tricky as my first time but a very satisfying job......as was the engine oil which i'll now do every 3k miles.

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JCL

[rainman]

It's next on my to do list although it was apparently (according to receipt) changed when I had a gearbox changed a couple of years ago. What tools did you have for removing the plugs?

[JCL]

I follwed all the advice on numerous old threads on here. i purchased a 17mm hex key. the filler plug on the box is hard to locate if you dont know where to look, i fathomed it by deciphering the haynes manual photo's. it isnt posssible to get a socket wrench on the 17mm hex once in the plug, a spanner slides over it nicely though. re refilling i cut a length of garden hose (flushed it through withnpetrol first) and fed the new oil in through the engine bay via a funnel into the hose pipe. nice job done and i will next do it in 20k miles when my van has a paltry 35k on the clock

Good luck

JCL
ps dont forget to copper ease the plugs prior to refitting........ a more knowledgable mechanic will probably tell me thats not required or correct though

[Red Westie]

Filled for life by VW but then they never expected them to last more than a dozen years.
Gearbox oil is pretty stable stuff, it's doesn't wear out or degrade at the same rate as engine oil, nevertheless given the age, value and fragility of these buses (and that we all love our vans )
'Urgent change' (if you don't know the history then get the oil changed NOW) semi synthetic 75W-90 GL4 THIS IS IMPORTANT*
After this first change when you get the van, then I would say 36,000miles or 3 year intervals. Aidan would say less I'm sure but in my experience you have little to gain from changing it any more frequently that this.

Martin