Gearbox oil change - thanks for the advice

[jpennington]

This is just a post to say thank you for the advice and guidance on this forum.
I have always tried to adhere faithfully to the service instructions issued by VAG when I bought the van in 1986. As a result, the gearbox oil has never been changed in 25 years and 140,000 miles.

However, when I read Aidan's recent comment:
"VW originally stated no oil change required but they didn't expect the vans to do more than 100k miles/10 years, throw it away and buy a T4 - if they had said change the oil regularly I wouldn't have any work mind "

The fill plug came out easily, but then I had a few minutes panic when I discovered my hex key wouldn't fit in the drain plug because the exhaust pipe was in the way. Fortunately, wiki came to the rescue with the suggestion of a M10 bolt.

This is a pic of the drain plug:

gbox-drain1.JPG

gbox-drain2.JPG

I'm guessing most of the filings were collected in the first 6 months of its life.

2 litres of golden brown oil came out; 3.5 litres of Valvoline 75W90 synthetic went in.
So where did the 1.5 litres of oil go over the last 25 years? Maybe a weep from the drive shaft seals? I'll need to keep an eye on this. Also the synth oil may be a bit more likely to leak?

Thanks again to all the helpful posters.

[Red Westie]

Those magnetic plugs and the collection of metal filings always look a little dramatic. My opinion is that as long as the hairdo is made up of fine particles and not 'big bits' then this is fairly typical especially over that time frame.

Why did you add that you thought this had happened over the last 6 months? is the box noisy, does it crunch badly through the gears?

As for the oil consumption....thats a difficult one, it could be that there has been a weep or that the level has always been low you will never know.
Just keep an eye on it.....
Do you have the van professionally serviced? if so, then why hasn't your mechanic been checking the gear oil? or has he? personally I doubt he ever bothered which isn't good.
Aidan's advice is spot on and I would say look to change the oil regularly from now on..every 30 - 40,000 miles or 4 years as a guide.
Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

Put yer specs on Red Westie-

"I'm guessing most of the filings were collected in the first 6 months of its life."

[jpennington]

Yes, oldie. To clarify, it's my opinion that most of the metal fillings were produced as the box was running in.

RW - I've had no trouble at all with the box. I think that it, the selector mechanism and my right arm have become accustomed to each other over 25 years.

Was the oil level low when it left the factory? Unlikely IMHO.
Has anyone experienced more weeping with synthetic gear oil? It certainly poured much more freely than 80/90 mineral oil. I had a motorbike a few years ago that started leaking from the crankshaft oil seal when I changed to synthetic engine oil.

As for professional servicing ! The van was serviced by VAG main dealers for the first 7 years, but I then had such bad experiences - work not done, or partly done - that I decided to do it myself. Worst was when they drained the engine oil and forgot to refill !!! Fortunately by then I had got cautious so checked before starting the engine. The 'customer service adviser' didn't even apologise. I'm glad to say that particular dealer is no longer in business.

jp

[Red Westie]

Yup you're rite....I need to wear my piggin classes, sorry about that!
I guess the input shaft seal can leak, as can the driveshaft seals but then you would probably see the under bell housing area getting oily and notice some clutch judder as the friction plate becomes contaminated.
There are of course benefits of the lighter oil which include better cold shifting and less damage as a result.

Martin