Gearbox oil condition

[maximillion]

Checked my gear box oil today, level was good, but the oil was very beige/brown in colour and a little foamy, is this normal or indicating a problem?

Appreciate any thoughts
Thanks

[jamesandtheopenroad]

When I've replaced mine, it's always been brown beige - it's pretty near that when it goes in. Dunno about the foaminess though.

What was the consistency like though? And the Christmas tree on the drain plug?

[CovKid]

Certainly with engine oil, this can be caused by short journeys and condensation (emulsifying) which creates a creamy.beige scum. I presume gearbox oil can be similarly affected. If you haven't changed it then do but get the box warm with a good run first, that way you'll find it drains easier.

[California Dreamin]

As with modern trend Volkswagen 'filled these for life' meaning maintenance free (apart from topping up) but they didn't envisage that owners would still be running around in them 22-32 years later.
My advise would be if you have no record of whether the oil has ever been changed then CHANGE IT! imediately and then add gear oil changes to the service regime (every 3 years or 30,000 miles)
Apart from this I don't like the idea of excessive emulsifying...if it really looks that contaminated then that is also a reason to get it changed although as others have said a certain amount of condensation from short journey driving will cause this and would normally evaporate with a hot gearbox on a long trip.
I use a semi synthetic 75W90 that says GL4/GL5..helps cold gear changing.

Martin

[maximillion]

Thanks all, i think i'll change to to be on the safe side.