Gearbox Oil Question

[Super_Marv]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: bighead
well on my E90 M3 the diff oil will last forever (according to BMW )as it state in the BMW manuel that it does not need changing !!

"Sealed for life", eh?

Apparently there are GM cars in the states that claim a 100,000 miles service interval as well.

Neither sound like a very good idea to me.


Oli.

Maybe the manufacturer doesn't care because the rest of the car would have disintegrated by then []

FWIW, it's fill-for-life for the gearbox oil on my Mk4 Golf. It's done 136k now and the gearbox is fine. I am planning on changing the oil though - I bought a few extra litres when I bought the gearbox oil for my 968 (Millers CRX 75w90 NT)

 

[Copperman05]

I had exactly the same smoother gear change with Royal Purple Max gear oil, like I say its not so much the oil (good quality synth) more the change in oil that makes it 'feel' better. You can get swepco from Berlyn Services.

Edd

 

[Mike_Pollock]

The gear box in my company Renault van a few years ago (53 plate) required a total rebuild at 30K, mind you they should have put SOME oil in it!
Quite impressed it lasted 30K.

 

[chrisjcoe]

How easy is it for an amateur to take on a gear box oil change? Could it be achieved by standing one corner of the car on the spare wheel, then using basic tools and an old roasting tin (I did say amateur, you are free to start ripping the p1ss!).

I'm tempted to try the slick 50 PTFE gearbox treatment as per the technical article with some Swepco to stop a transmission whine, so would like to tackle this quite soon.

 

[zcacogp]

Chris,

It's easy, BUT make sure you go about it in the right way. 2 points to note:

1. Often the 'drain' plug is easy to remove but the 'fill' one is jammed solid. There are a number of known cases where someone has removed the drain plug, drained all the oil out and then found that they can't remove the 'fill' plug to refill it ... so make sure you remove the 'fill' plug before the 'drain' one!

2. Getting the new oil into the 'box is tricky because of the logistics of the fill hole and where it is in the wheelarch. You will need patience and a long bit of plastic tube and a funnel (or some way of attaching this tube to your oil bottle) in order to get it in there. (I am sure that if you have a compressor you could readily rig up a system with a pressurised bottle that would blow the new oil into the 'box, but I suspect you don't have one.)

Other than that, you sound like you are on the right lines! Nowt wrong with an old roasting tin to drain into.


Oli.

 

[chrisjcoe]

I think I read somewhere about some paste you put on the plug before inserting (no S&M jokes please), so looks like a transmission oil change might end up approaching £100 on materials! Getting the oil in the fill plug sounds like the biggest problem.

 

[zcacogp]

Threadloc? I don't use it myself, but I guess some people may.

£100 on materials - no way! If you include tools, you will need a wotsit to turn the plug with (insert hexagon thing, but you can use a thick nut of the right size), a spanner to fit over the insert hexagon, an old baking tray to catch the old oil, some new oil (£20 at the most, and probably nearer £10) and some Threadloc if you want to use it. And a funnel and some plastic tubing (could use old hosepipe if it was very clean inside). Total cost £30, perhaps?

Getting the oil in isn't hard, but is tricky and time-consuming. You'll need to think carefully about the best way of doing it, and wear some old clothes (it goes everywhere!)


Oli.

 

[Super_Marv]

It's worth getting new filling/draining plugs - my filler plug looked a little less like a hex plug after getting it out...had to wait a few days for the new ones to arrive.

I wouldn't bother using thread lock. Porsche don't specifiy that it must be used. Just do the plugs up to the correct torque and you'll be fine.

 

[david924s]

If you get the oil in a squeezy bottle you can connect up a hose and use the bottle to pressurise it into the gearbox, usually worth warming the oil in the bottle by standing in hot water as it becomes less viscous and easier to pour. Like said before it tends to go everywhere so wear old clothes and put something on the floor to catch the mess.

 

[spyro_x]

Sorry top hijack the thread but does anyone know the part number for the plugs? I've had a look at the PET and it looks like its 111 301 127 E (M24 x 1,5)

Thanks!

 

[Super_Marv]

The two I bought recently for my 968 were 900.219.001.30. I presume they're the same for a 944S2?

Nice lightweight Anodised Aluminium, rather than the old steel ones!

 

[david924s]

Always a bit wary of aluminium and steel as I find it tends to react and seize completely.

 

[Super_Marv]

The gearbox casing is aluminium anyway, right?

So fitting an aluminium plug is even better!

 

[Copperman05]

Part of it is but the rear part isn't.

Edd

 

[zcacogp]

Interesting. I always thought the whole casing was a alu-alloy casting.

Every day is a school day ...


Oli.

 

[Super_Marv]

I'm fairly sure the part where the drainage/filling plugs are located, are made from an Aluminium []

 

[Super_Marv]

Here's a picture of a 968 gearbox - quite clear which parts are alloy and which parts are steel!