Syncro gearbox oil leak

Big lumps of metals and spanners. Including servicing and fluids.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
Tinium
Registered user
Posts: 202
Joined: 31 Oct 2012, 14:52
80-90 Mem No: 12269
Location: Exeter, Devon

Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Tinium »

Morning all,

Back from hols, and noticed this on my "what's gone wrong this time in the last 1,000 miles" check:
Image
Looks like a small oil leak from that cover. Can't see it mentioned in the Bentley however? Going to check & topup the oil level if need-be to get me to CamperJam this weekend - if it's low, I guess I'll need to drain/replace seal/re-fill - but what seal do I need, and is this going to be a can-of-worms? :)

Cheers,
Ben.
1987 Syncro EJ25 Leisuredrive Tin-Top Campervan

Tinium
Registered user
Posts: 202
Joined: 31 Oct 2012, 14:52
80-90 Mem No: 12269
Location: Exeter, Devon

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Tinium »

OK, always the way, post question, immediately find out a bit more info - looks like the reverse gear cover (Thanks Brickwerks! https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/t ... yncro.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but can't see mention of a replacement seal for it - do I just need to splash for a new cover, or clean up what I've got and apply some sealant manually (and if so, what's recommended)? Ta :)
1987 Syncro EJ25 Leisuredrive Tin-Top Campervan

User avatar
Oldiebut goodie
Registered user
Posts: 7502
Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
80-90 Mem No: 11135
Location: Eastern Angle

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

Don't know what is there but I would just make a new gasket for it if you can't source a ready made one.
1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶

Tinium
Registered user
Posts: 202
Joined: 31 Oct 2012, 14:52
80-90 Mem No: 12269
Location: Exeter, Devon

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Tinium »

Oldiebut goodie wrote:Don't know what is there but I would just make a new gasket for it if you can't source a ready made one.

Good idea :)

My other thought - anyone know how torqued those bolts should be? Wondering if one's a bit lose.
1987 Syncro EJ25 Leisuredrive Tin-Top Campervan

User avatar
Winchweight
Registered user
Posts: 1511
Joined: 26 Jul 2013, 17:19
80-90 Mem No: 12697
Location: Shrewsbury / Brize Norton

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Winchweight »

Give Aidan a call, he will advise and as he's hoping to be at CJ and could possibly bring you a gasket if required I'm sure.
http://www.thelittleredbus.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VW 2.1 WBX DJ Syncro Doka - SOLD
VW 1.9 TDi AHU Syncro Camper

User avatar
Aidan
Trader
Posts: 7126
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 19:21
80-90 Mem No: 742
Location: Llanfyllin, mid Wales : )
Contact:

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Aidan »

the bolts are M6, so 10Nm or 7ftlb, or tight enough they are tight but not so tight you strip the threads in the case, if case threads are damaged there is enough material in the case to go up to M7 I can supply suitable M7 bolts, also check original bolts are not bent due to scenery interaction
there's no gasket you use a good quality rtf silicon or flange sealant
if it hasn't been damaged from without then there maybe something nasty going on inside, you'll only find out when you remove the cover and see what comes out

Tinium
Registered user
Posts: 202
Joined: 31 Oct 2012, 14:52
80-90 Mem No: 12269
Location: Exeter, Devon

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Tinium »

Thanks Aidan, really appreciate the info.

Will top up for this weekend and then tackle properly next weekend. Box is smooth & changing easily, so fingers crossed it's just a lose bolt/missing sealant. Was 39C driving down through France 2 weeks ago, so hopefully it's just a result of it having got a tad warmer than normal...

Looking forward to meeting you in person at CamperJam if you're there :)
Cheers,
Ben.
1987 Syncro EJ25 Leisuredrive Tin-Top Campervan

Tinium
Registered user
Posts: 202
Joined: 31 Oct 2012, 14:52
80-90 Mem No: 12269
Location: Exeter, Devon

Re: Syncro gearbox oil leak

Post by Tinium »

Finally managed to get the filler plug out and get some oil into the gearbox tonight; Only 1/2 litre before it started overflowing (with the van on a slight side-slope, oil filler hole downhill), so not as bad as I first feared.

Found this helpful page on changing gear box oil for future reference:
https://vwt25.blog/2016/04/15/gearbox-oil-change/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
That Draper oil funnel was an excellent recommendation!

Reverse cover bolts all tightened already; the cover's taken a bash at some point (the lip on the bottom of it has a sizeable dent in it once I'd cleaned it up), so will replace & reseal after CamperJam and hopefully that'll fix it properly.

Now... just to pack & re-load the van for the weekend! :)
1987 Syncro EJ25 Leisuredrive Tin-Top Campervan

Post Reply