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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Matty-MK3 on 16 August 2009, 15:51
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I need to fill up my auto box. It's low on oil, however, I see no dipstick to fill.
Apparently, you start the car up, undo the drain plug with the engine runing and add oil until it pours out. If you turn the engine off, the gearbox oil all goes back down to the pan and proceeds to pour out the drain plug. :undecided:
Does this make sense?
Here's a pic:
(http://www.myturbodiesel.com/images/a4/ATFpan.jpg)
Number 2 is where the oil drains if there is too much when the engines on.
Is this right?
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I believe your gearbox is the same as the BMWs and is sealed for life, if you have a dipstick then it is not.
Also not sure in what your saying as running it like that means you could run the risk of it having no oil.
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The atf temp must be between 35 and 45 degrees C to get an accurate level.
You will need to make sure the temp doesn't go above 45 degrees when you are doing this. The car also needs to be perfectly level.
You will also need to replace the drain plug before you turn the engine off.
How do you know your gearbox is low on oil?
Paul
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The atf temp must be between 35 and 45 degrees C to get an accurate level.
You will need to make sure the temp doesn't go above 45 degrees when you are doing this. The car also needs to be perfectly level.
You will also need to replace the drain plug before you turn the engine off.
How do you know your gearbox is low on oil?
Paul
Thats the same as filling the auto box on the A8.
Do you have to fill the box from underneath like the A8?, which has a recessed filler plug in the sump.
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It has a tube and a cap. you pull the cap off and it's right at the bottom.
It takes some time getting in reverse and forwards sometimes and a mechanic advised it needs more oil
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Would it not be easier to just change the oil completely?
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Would it not be easier to just change the oil completely?
+1 would a good idea, also worth draining it into a clean container and seeing if any metal bits are in it or if it smells burnt.
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Been strongly advised against that as, as it hasn't been changed for so long (if at all) changing the oil could cause the end of it.
Something about the clutches slipping or something? If you have a read on the internet, loads of people advise against it, so I don't really want to go down that route.
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I never heard anyone advise against changing the oil in an auto box.
Not changing the oil is usually the death of the box.
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Something about clutches slipping? (http://www.justanswer.com/questions/ictg-true-replacing-atf-actually) :undecided:
I don't really know but I do not want the gearbox to go.
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I wouldn't take any notice of that.
If the box is going to fail, it will fail if you change the oil or not, if its that far gone.
Plenty of transmissions are apparently 'filled for life', a good example of this is the zf transmissions fitted to the old Audi A8 and BMW 7 series. These boxes were 'prone' to failure around 90-100k miles.
Audi claimed the box was filled for life, but even zf engineers disagreed with them apparently.
Changing the oil should prolong the life of the box, if its not too far gone.
Also as Wayne said, its a good opportunity to check the old oil for metal particles which would indicate the box is on its way out.
Its up to you, its your car :smiley:
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Yeah, maybe I'll take it into a garage to sort, so that if it is going to go, I can blame them. :evil:
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I wouldn't take any notice of that.
If the box is going to fail, it will fail if you change the oil or not, if its that far gone.
Plenty of transmissions are apparently 'filled for life', a good example of this is the zf transmissions fitted to the old Audi A8 and BMW 7 series. These boxes were 'prone' to failure around 90-100k miles.
Audi claimed the box was filled for life, but even zf engineers disagreed with them apparently.
Changing the oil should prolong the life of the box, if its not too far gone.
Also as Wayne said, its a good opportunity to check the old oil for metal particles which would indicate the box is on its way out.
Its up to you, its your car :smiley:
Bmw 5 series has the same ZF box as the 7 series, I had one and the box is filled for life, interesting really as some say to change it others say leave it, I had my oil replaced at 95k and it made a one hell of a difference, changes were much smoother etc plus the oil that came was shocking.
To be honest mixing old and new oil may cause harm, I would run fresh oil, the clutches should cope with it all ok.
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I cant see how replacing the box oil with new of the same type could make the clutch's slip. Changing to a differant type / formula could cause a problem.
All auto box's rely on having clean oil without any foreign matter. It seems that "lifetime" oil may be a bit of a sales ploy that doesn't work in the real world.
Mercedes had lifetime autobox oil, but on a recent company car service with a 3 year old 40k mercedez the main dealer recommended an oil change and said it was part of the service schedule.
Same with cambelts you buy a new car with an 80k cambelt change recommendation but by the time you reach 40 or 60 k you find the dealers now recommend a cambelt change because they have had a few warranty claims.
I would personally change the oil, if you are not 100% confident then get a garage to do it for you. Auto box's are very sensitive bits of equipment and need to have the right ammount of oil and it needs to be clean.
Paul