MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Technical Workshop => Topic started by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 09:56:36 am

Title: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 09:56:36 am
Hi guys, just wondering if anybody who's done it before could tell me, do I need to replace any nuts/plugs/seals or filters or is it just a case of bleed and refill? 2005 manual GTI. Cheers  :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Dan_FR on September 22, 2014, 10:19:12 am
Nothing at all to replace, just make sure you can remove the filler plug before draining the oil. :grin:
Car has to be level to get the correct amount of oil in the box, and make sure you don't overtighten the plugs when refitting to avoid cracking the gearbox casing  :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 10:33:28 am
Nothing at all to replace, just make sure you can remove the filler plug before draining the oil. :grin:
Car has to be level to get the correct amount of oil in the box, and make sure you don't overtighten the plugs when refitting to avoid cracking the gearbox casing  :happy2:
Cheers  :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 22, 2014, 11:53:26 am
I was always led to believe that there's no reason to change gearbox oil unless you really need to? Or is it advisable to change it every X miles?
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 12:12:46 pm
Supposedly VW say it never needs doing but a few people suggest like the DSG's a gearbox oil change every 40k can prolong the life of your gearbox, especially if you're running more power and like to drive it. So since mines done 97k now I think upgrading to millers gearbox oil would be good for it, and today I heard what sounded like a grinding noise at 1400rpm so an oil change might stop that hopefully.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 22, 2014, 12:26:58 pm
In your case, grinding noise is worth the effort of a change, but I'll probably leave mine alone until I too get a noise. Then again, VW don't officially list the fuel filter as a serviceable part these days...
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Dan_FR on September 22, 2014, 12:52:26 pm
I personally don't believe that any oil will last the lifetime of the car. Worth doing at least once in my opinion, will probably not need doing again during your ownership, depending how long you plan to keep the car.

Very easy to change too, more so than the engine oil as there is no filter to change  :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 01:55:28 pm
In your case, grinding noise is worth the effort of a change, but I'll probably leave mine alone until I too get a noise. Then again, VW don't officially list the fuel filter as a serviceable part these days...
I wanted to get it done anyway but like you said the noise decided it for me. Can't believe the fuel filter isn't a servicable part? Makes you wonder sometimes.



Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 22, 2014, 01:59:57 pm
I personally don't believe that any oil will last the lifetime of the car. Worth doing at least once in my opinion, will probably not need doing again during your ownership, depending how long you plan to keep the car.

Very easy to change too, more so than the enine oil as there is no filter to change  :happy2:
Yeh for the time it takes its definitely worth it, with 97k that gearbox oil must have seen so many thousands of gear changes and heat cycles it's hard to believe its anywhere near as good as when new. Also with the way I drive it I like to keep everything tip top.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 22, 2014, 04:15:17 pm
I've been thinking about this and now I'm paranoid about mine. May invest in some new gear box oil after Christmas (car's going no-where pretty much till then!).
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Stevepd on September 23, 2014, 09:11:36 am
Is there a how to?
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Alzak on September 23, 2014, 10:54:53 am
Is there a how to?
There should be two bolts on manual gearbox on on bottom part and second bolt on the side of the gearbox.

Unscrew side one and follow by unscrewing the bottom one so old oil can drip out.

Refit bottom bolt and fill gearbox with new oil using side hole.

Job done.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 23, 2014, 11:12:08 am
I've been thinking about this and now I'm paranoid about mine. May invest in some new gear box oil after Christmas (car's going no-where pretty much till then!).
I think considering how easy it is its worth the peace of mind for £50 of oil.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 23, 2014, 11:59:39 am
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: alexharvey on September 23, 2014, 12:44:22 pm
i changed mine a while ago to millers nano drive gear box oiL ,i can tell its better and much better smoother gear changes my car had done 85,000 at that time
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Black9 on September 23, 2014, 02:07:10 pm
How much oil does the gearbox take and what brand is recommended
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 23, 2014, 02:11:10 pm
2.4l and I'm going to use the millers stuff as it's supposed to be the best (for engine and gearbox)
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 23, 2014, 02:13:49 pm
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Will do :happy2: probably going to do it Friday
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Markweir12 on September 23, 2014, 03:21:22 pm
What grade oil is best - might try this to see if it cures my wollowy feel
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 23, 2014, 04:06:45 pm
What grade oil is best - might try this to see if it cures my wollowy feel

By this, do you mean that trying to get it into gear is tricky? Might be better off replacing gear linkage bushings if that's the case.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on September 23, 2014, 04:15:02 pm
75w90 is the recommended spec
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Markweir12 on September 23, 2014, 04:19:23 pm
Basically its quite clunky going into 3rd from second AND 4th.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 23, 2014, 04:23:00 pm
That could be linkage more than anything I would guess (no expert!). Is there play when in gear or once it's in, it's firmly in? Have a look (as best you can) at the gear linkage and bushes and see if they look perished. Could be a good excuse to refresh them and fit a quick shifter... :wink:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Markweir12 on September 23, 2014, 04:34:55 pm
Wouldn't know where to start with buying that stuff? aha.

Will have my mate Warby check it over
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: pudding on September 23, 2014, 04:49:01 pm
Redline MT-90.   Used it in all my VWs since 1990 and it's top stuff.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 23, 2014, 05:04:42 pm
Wouldn't know where to start with buying that stuff? aha.

Will have my mate Warby check it over

Nor would I, but it looks shiny and cool so must be good! :P
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Degudodger on September 23, 2014, 08:56:26 pm
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Here is mine at 75k isn miles
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi184.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx211%2Fdegudodger%2FKL07PEP%2Fphoto_zps83e63104.jpg&hash=30b856115e2b963f403ed9032436711e3ecf9e08)
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: th3_f15t on September 23, 2014, 09:53:19 pm
I'm hoping that it's that colour new... My gearbox has done 89K miles... :scared:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Degudodger on September 23, 2014, 10:32:26 pm
I'm hoping that it's that colour new... My gearbox has done 89K miles... :scared:

Can't believe how bad the smell was - nothing like burnt oil in the morning!
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Tortaruga on September 24, 2014, 12:04:49 am
I don't think a change of oil is totally straightforward. You need a long tube to reach the filler hole from the engine bay. I can imagine that going wrong (personally anyway as I'm a knob) and oil pissing all over the show.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Stevepd on September 24, 2014, 09:00:31 am
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Will do :happy2: probably going to do it Friday

See if you can take photos as you go and we'll offer it up to be put in as a sticky in the how to for everybody else :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Stevepd on October 04, 2014, 09:08:45 am
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Will do :happy2: probably going to do it Friday

See if you can take photos as you go and we'll offer it up to be put in as a sticky in the how to for everybody else :happy2:

Did you get this done?
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on October 04, 2014, 09:15:05 am
Post a picture of your old oil so we can see how discoloured it is please. :drinking:
Will do :happy2: probably going to do it Friday

See if you can take photos as you go and we'll offer it up to be put in as a sticky in the how to for everybody else :happy2:

Did you get this done?
I will be doing it in a couple of hours hopefully, I had to order a funnel off Amazon and twice they sent me a funnel with no tube  :congrats: so I bought one elsewhere and will do it this afternoon. I'll try to take a few photos and post them when I'm finished.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on October 04, 2014, 03:06:13 pm
Went to do it and found I don't have the tool I need  :sick: , so have now ordered one since I couldn't find anybody selling one locally. Will hopefully be doing it before Christmas  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Scottymon on October 04, 2014, 03:10:34 pm
What size is the bit mate? Some sort of spline I noticed when changing the Engine Oil last week - it's not the same size as for the rear carriers by any chance? :party:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on October 04, 2014, 03:15:38 pm
It's an m16 12 spline (which I have) but it's the tamper proof one with a recess on the middle (which I don't have)  :fighting:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Tortaruga on October 04, 2014, 03:18:11 pm
That's weird. Why would VW bother doing that?
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on October 04, 2014, 03:40:38 pm
Probably so you pay them to do it instead of doing it yourself
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Scottymon on October 04, 2014, 03:44:27 pm
Probably so you pay them to do it instead of doing it yourself

Nail and head right there I think!

Where did you order yours from mate? Any links..? :happy2:
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on October 04, 2014, 04:41:52 pm
121437150494 just copy and paste that into eBay, I went with this one since the refill plug is quite awkward and using a spanner might be easier because there's space above but not much in front to get a socket in (if that makes any sense).
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: Stevepd on December 25, 2014, 09:07:40 pm
Did you manage to get this done?
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on December 25, 2014, 10:17:27 pm
Yes mate, once I had the funnel and the tool it was a piece of piss. What came out was filthy, the changes were a bit firmer when the car was cold but were silky smooth when it was warmed up.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: dansmith180 on December 26, 2014, 11:23:16 am
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FMobile_Uploads%2F2014-10%2F20141011_122023_zpszlohjpt0.jpg&hash=2ae2a1022a28ef3193a896515bd91d9fe0e9fb2b)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FMobile_Uploads%2F2014-10%2F20141011_122035_zpsdjdqlnfc.jpg&hash=07de2743ce00602da4d05383434309655540acf7)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FMobile_Uploads%2F2014-10%2F20141011_123728_zpsfmjouofu.jpg&hash=3e1863f750032958f30a398bda7a569c29e63895)

Not the best pictures but if you look at these and then under your car it should be obvious.

What I found was:
.Undo the fill cap before the drain one because it can be a bit stiff and you don't want an empty gearbox you can't refill.
.Don't lose the washer in the oil you've drained out  :rolleye:
.Stop filling when it starts to dribble out of the fill hole (the top hole)
.It should take about 2.4L
.Tighten them back up to about 23LB/F (I just did it quite tight with a smallish bar) as long as you don't go mental it'll be fine.
.You'll need a long funnel and the tool I mentioned a few posts above.
Title: Re: Gearbox oil change
Post by: omeydz on December 31, 2014, 05:27:19 pm
Good job!  :love:

Am thinking of doing this too.

Looking around on the net VW use semi-synth from the factory? Does it matter if we put fully synth in?

Also anywhere I can look to confirm my gearbox takes 75W90? VW only use gearbox oil partnumbers and doesnt say the oil grade  on it.

Redline and Millers nanodrive is same money at a glance so which is preferred, or just go OEM?

Thanks :happy2:

*EDIT* reading this OEM transmission fluid is best? :
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=48307.0 (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=48307.0)