Club 80-90 Forums

How often do you guys change your gear box oil?

receipts showing mine was last changed 15k miles ago in 2012.

Cheers

lots probably never changed.
gearboxes are expensive oil cheap.
do mine every few years now but I'd say 5 years is probably fine.
oil degrades with time so mileage is not a good yardstick.

What spec and quantity oil is it for a manual box?

asterix_the_gaul wrote:What spec and quantity oil is it for a manual box?

According to Bentley a 4 speed 091/1 is 3 litres for petrol and 4 litres for diesel
094 5 speed 4 litres

Spec is 80W90 GL4 although 75W90 is slightly better for cold gear changes I have read

I have read GL4/GL5 is OK but don't use GL5 only oil it will damage the gearbox.

Good reminder, Daisy is probably due, must be 5 years coming up.

Our last MX5 did 160,000 miles and never had a change or top up

Moto Gucci Le Mans II has gear and final drive every few thousand plus it gets a dose of Molykote, because it's worth it

Fiesta

itchyfeet wrote: oil degrades with time so mileage is not a good yardstick.

Oil doesn't degrade it only gets contaminated. Hence gearboxes are normally filled for life.

I change mine Every three years , or 30,000 miles , ep80/90 mineral oil .
Oil is cheap !

bigherb wrote:

itchyfeet wrote: oil degrades with time so mileage is not a good yardstick.

Oil doesn't degrade it only gets contaminated. Hence gearboxes are normally filled for life.

Had a 1.6 Maestro (VW gearbox?) as herb says, it didn't need changing.

Oil does degrade with constant heat cycles, I see the inside of the boxes and the evidence is clear, carbonisation of the oil and reduction of lubrocity and increased wear
When VW said filled for life they meant 100k miles throw it away and buy a T4
If you don't change the oil you won't see the drainplug magnet build up and realise that it's due a rebuild and if you drive it till it breaks then it's a lot more expensive to fix
Most boxes have already had one rebuild/repair by now and some of those were pretty badly done with minimal part replacement and were set up badly when they were put back together and are wearing fast as a result
Many boxes have been driven by less than mechanically sympathetic drivers
the days of disposable gearboxes when you buy a used one for £50 are gone for our vehicle
oil is cheap a rebuild isn't
just mho of course

I just got mine changed as I had no record of when it was last done. Subjectively, it feels easier to change.
My biggest 'gear box oil change experience' was on our Suzuki ST90V (predecessor to the Bedford rascal/suzuki carry) which had gone all of 40,000 miles since 1985 (we got it around 2009). Mostly to the cash and carry and the bookies, judging by the receipts and pens in the door pocket.. anyway, I changed the oil, refilled it with an old turkey baster and the difference was dramatic!
It came out dark brown and thick like treacle and went in golden and easy.
It was like night and day moving off, you could feel it running easier.
So yes, change your gearbox oil, it's fun

E D I T: I guess I'd probably do it every few years now, along the lines of regular/3,000 mile engine oil changes, oil is cheap and I'd rather give the gearbox the easiest life possible

When VW said filled for life they meant 100k miles throw it away and buy a T4

Blimey only 10k to go, I'll change the oil, don't really want a T4

Change mine every 3 years despite mileage and the first time i changed it in 2015, the smell stayed up my nose for about a week - I'm sure it knocked out a few of the (minimal) brain cells that i have left!