Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys,

Gonna do my first gearbox oil and coolant change. I have been reading the WIKI and forums and just wanted to double check the gearbox oil and coolant I am thinking about getting is satisfactory for the job.

I think the specs are correct according from what I have read on the WIKI/forum but I'm a bit nervous as I am a complete novice. Don't want to make a mistake.

Gearbox oil: Carlube EP75w90 Semi Synthetic Gear oil (http://www.carlube.co.uk/index.cfm?prod ... 0Synthetic).

** E D I T - Corrected link!! I had put a link to their semi synthetic oil which is only G5. Now linked to fully synthetic which is G4/G5 **

Specifications:API GL-4/GL-5. My local GSF supplier (Reading) stocks it. 4.5 ltrs for £19.20 inv VAT.


Water coolant:
Autostar 5lt £16.20 @ my local GSF supplier. Says it is G12+ on the label. Its pink in colour. I can't find a link to this brand anywhere. Maybe I noted the brand down incorrectly?


Got a 17mm hex key, funnel and hose ready Will read the WIKI and forum yet again to make sure I have the procedure down pat. Did my first oil change last week with no dramas. I hope the same goes for the gearbox oil and water coolant change.

Thanks,
Tim.

I bet someone will be a long soon to shout at you for not saying what engine you have in your van (not me though )

Just a note re the anti-freeze, yep G12+ is the stuff - note that you will need 2 x cans though as you need 8 Ltrs of the stuff in our vans to get the recommended 50 / 50 mix !

If you have a flat four engine, I would never bother taking out the engine block coolant drain screw (the one by the delicate pushrod tubes) however you do need to get as much of the old stuff out as possible. I undo the lower hoses in the engine bay AND the lower hose on the radiator. If the old stuff comes out clean looking there is probably no need to flush the system (in my humble opinion of course).

I know you have read the wiki, so will know that correct bleeding procedure is essential.

ghost123uk wrote:I bet someone will be a long soon to shout at you for not saying what engine you have in your van (not me though )

Doh!! Petrol 2.1 DJ 1991.

ghost123uk wrote: I know you have read the wiki, so will know that correct bleeding procedure is essential.

Yes I have read it and will read it again before I carry out the procedure. I need some time to let it sink in

Cheers,
Tim.

I recently changed my gearbox oil and thought I remembered that GL5 was not recommended.....

Found the post here https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 1#p7620828

I specifically asked for GL4 at my local motor factors and they had it in stock..

Most dual rated GL4/5 is ok to use.. some GL5 are ok to use.. personally I have used Comma SX75w90 and Fuchs titan syngear..

Coolant.. unless you get G12 or whatever for a good price, I would just use a good branded normal coolant.. (thats what I use) as at some point in the next 3 -4 years its highly likely that you will have a leak, change a part etc etc... and then you can refresh the coolant..
Personally I go with a slightly better than 50/50 in an empty system, by adding 9L of non diluted coolant into the system and then top up with water.. if you want to go of properly, then use demin water.. if you live in a soft water area then you can use that... but not hard water.. or "softened" water....

Gearbox oil change.
Make sure you can remove FILLER plug, near gear shaft if a 5 speed, BEFORE draining GB oil. These can be very tight/difficult to undo.
Oil grade probably safer if its rated GL4/GL5. Apparently there may be ingredients in GL5 only which can cause internal corrosion of some important parts.
I have a 5 speed gearbox and have changed to 75W-90 GL4/GL5, this gives slightly better gear changes than 80-90.
Interestingly, I also used Carlube but it claimed to be GL4/GL5 in the 75W-90 grade??
Also a tip for refilling - an old (clean) sealant cartridge, eg silicone, cut a nozzle short to leave a little of the taper. Push on about 700mm 1/2 inch hosepipe.
This will go down in front of engine and turn into gearbox fill. Costs nothing and works well if a little slow - but do you have anything better to do ??

croc wrote:Gearbox oil change. Make sure you can remove FILLER plug, near gear shaft if a 5 speed, BEFORE draining GB oil. These can be very tight/difficult to undo.

Croc, I had trouble locating the filler plug. I've found the drainer plug (not removed it yet until I've checked filler plug). Where in relation to the drain plug is the filler plug if you are behind the gearbox (engine bay end) looking towards the front of the van? I thought it was just a bit further along on the right-hand side but if it is I couldn't find it

croc wrote: Oil grade probably safer if its rated GL4/GL5.

Croc, I have corrected the link for the gearbox oil. I had already found their GL4/GL5 oil but had linked to their GL5 oil by mistake. I read all about the GL4/GL5 issues in the WIKI/folrum. Thanks for pointing that out though, as I could easily make the same mistake when ordering! I'll be more careful next time.

I'm beginning to realise that nothing is straight forward on these old girls Before reading this forum I would have thought, gearbox oil is, antifreeze is antifreeze... what a fool

On my 5 speed gearbox, the filler is just ahead of the gearshift shaft and about the same height, bit lower, on the right hand side when at the rear facing the front of the van.
Its the 17mm hex socket type and is a bit hard to locate. You need to be under the van to see it. I cant quite remember in relation to drain plug though.
This is for a 5 speed, I dont know if 4 speed differ in location. Others may help here.

I used that same Carlube oil from GSF, early days but seems OK.
Don't forget to mention your membership of this club to get 10% if buying from GSF.
I also used their blue Carlube antifreeze but they now seem to have added a pink one ??
I have NO knowledge of suitability of this so you need to research.
I feel comments made by some others here to be logical, "or use a 'lesser' antifreeze and change often", and as mentioned, you will probably need to drain for other reasons anyway!!
I think I drained and refilled about 4 times in early days!
Did you read suggestion about using a 'bong' to refill??
Seal a piece of large rubber hose to the expansion tank and fill and bleed through that. If top of this fill hose is above radiator bleeder then bleeding is accomplished much easier.
Have a look here:- http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ?t=234192|
Report how you get on.
jon

Hi Guys,

Finally got round to changing the gearbox oil today. I tried last weekend but the 17mm hex key I got from Halfords was too long to be able to get at the drain plug. It worked fine for the filler plug but the exhaust system obstructed access to the drain plug. I searched for a shorter hex key everywhere to no avail. Fortunately douwes' tip - an M10 bolt of about 2 cm with two nuts turned against each other - worked a treat!! The garden hose/funnel trick worked well too.

One question, I filled the gearbox till it was trickling from the filler hole, but the Hayne's manual said to fill about 1 inch below the filler hole. I'm sure I read somewhere on the forum that filling it level with the drain hole was fine. Should that be ok?

Next up, coolant change.

Cheers,
Tim.

Hi Tim
Did mine to dribble from fill hole - all seems quite ok after some 000's miles.
Think they are just being a bit precious about this, if you look at the height the filler hole its still only about 1/3 rd full!
The coolant change is much more fun!!
Full marks though, both these are well worth the trouble of doing.
On another matter - consider installing a new accelerator cable. They are only about £15 from GSF. A broken cable if very efficient at stopping you going anywhere - I have had this on another vehicle and you never seem to be able to find some wire to get you going.
Tip:- MIG welding wire may do in an emergency.
Best
jon