GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Ali-Mk2 on 19 May 2006, 01:45
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I'm about to fill my new gearbox with 150ml of STP Oil Treatment For Gearboxes, and 2L of Halfords 75W/90 GL5 Part Synthetic Gear Oil. Good stuff? I'm not aquainted with either of these products.
I'm pleased to see that there are reassuringly few fragments of metal in the old oil, especially considering it's been in there for about 15 years. The old one died from an oil leak, starting with the 5th gear popout. :angry:
I'll be filling it tomorrow so if I'm about to balls it up would someone please let me know?
Many thanks!
Ali
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STP oil treatment is fine.
Personally i would go for 80/90 hypoid gear oil for the box though.
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im no mechanic, but im sure i heard somewhere that u should use mineral stuff, as the part synthetic stuff rots the gearbox's seals. i could be wrong though
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STP oil treatment is fine.
Personally i would go for 80/90 hypoid gear oil for the box though.
Can you tell me a little about that oil? The Halfords stuff is unopened so I can probably blag a refund.
Also, is there such a thing as overfilling the box? I was just gonna have it "clutch end down" and fill it up by the hole at the green end until it was completely full.
I've had a look through the past posts and those are the only 2 questions I have.
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It's basically just a slightly more viscous oil for the box. Coats the gears, and synchros better, and provides a slightly smoother gear change.
From what i remember the box takes about 2.3 litres of oil, there are two plugs on the side of the gearbox, one is fill hole, and one is the drain plug, easiest way to fill it it is to take the top fill plug out and then fill up from the speedo cable hole. once oil comes out of the fill hole you know it is full.
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I want to change my gearbox oil too! I had a look behind the front passenger wheel and saw one huge allen key looking thing which i think must be the gearbox oil plug. I could not find another one?? Mine is a 1991 16v GTI.
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easiest way to fill the gearbox is thru the speedo cable hole.
1. drain the box completly, and refit drain plug obviously!
2. remove the top allen key nut on the side of the gearbox (behind passenger side wheel)
3. remove speedo cable
4. Fill box through speedo hole until oil starts to seep out the allen key hole on side
(note: if your car is pre88 you need to slightly raise the gearbox by jacking underneath it, only a few cms or an inch)
5. once its full. refit the fill bolt & speedo cable
to fill the box you need 2 quarts of gearbox oil
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I wouldn't advise removing the speedo cable except as a last resort, so many have ended up loosing the speedo drive into the box, a real pain. You have to take the filler plug out of the end of the gearbox to check the level either way, so why not use it to fill the box. The drain plug by the way is a big allen bolt at the lowest point on the gearbox/diff casing. Also, don't drain the box before you can be sure of getting the filler plug out, they're f......... tight sometimes. 2 quarts = 2 litres NAMND. :wink:
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you'll only lose the speedo drive if you yank the cable out. remove it carefully. just for those who dont have a wee bottle/applicator for getting it into the side hole.
1 imperial quart = 1.13652297litres - so u need slighlty over 2 litres
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so rounded up to 2.3 then :wink: :grin:
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Hmm...... I've done changes on three later 020 boxes & never got quite as much as 2 litres in, I think there's always a bit left in there. The two quarts bit gets me though, I've never seen anything other than 2 litres quoted in any manuals, and I can't believe fritz did any measurements in quarts!? You sure this isn't some hashed conversion thats come over from the US? I'm happy to be corrected...... :undecided:
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Thanks for the info people! :smiley:
Well, I'll go for the Hypoid oil, as I want the best for my baby :rolleyes: But... Uhhh... Where can I find it for a decent price? The Halfords stuff was a tenner a litre. I'm in West Bromwich, but can mail-order from a site if it's quick enough.
As I mentioned the gearbox is currently in my bath, and I'm gonna fill from the small end, with the clutch/starter end downwards. I'm sure it can't be hurt by too much oil... Can it?
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Just to clear this thread up the manufacturers recommend that you fill the box with approximately 2.0 liters of oil grade 75W/90 synthetic going by Autodata, if you find the halfords treatment helps the gear change let us know, would do the same with mines
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1 imperial quart = 1.13652297litres - so u need slighlty over 2 litres
Just checked this one out and for the 020 box its actually 2 litres or 2.1 US quarts. (1 US quart = 0.946 litres).....So 2 litres it is, and yes you can hurt the box if you over fill it, the oil gets hot and has to expand somewhere, it only needs 2 litres, why risk putting more in? I used the GSF semi-synthetic in my boxes and it was fine, tried Redline MTL in one and it leaked past the output flange seals..... :rolleyes:
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Thankyou jezza16v, I never considered expansion! Very stupid of me.
The GSF is about 4 or 5 quid (cant remember if inc or ex VAT) and Halfords Part Synthetic is £9.49.
I'll keep the box level and follow instructions to the letter. :smiley:
Wish me luck! My first ever mechanics project (not counting the K+N)... And my baptism of fire into the 'Dub modding scene! :laugh: OK now I'm off to get (more) drunk.
Ali
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Beware, GSF semi synth stuff is priced about £4.10 inc vat but for half litre bottles so you need four, so may not be much cheaper than Halfords if the £9.49 is for 1 litre, don't forget GSF postage is £7.00 as well. :smiley:
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Thanks for pointing that out! I would have gone and picked it up myself, only to find that it was the half litre bottles.
OK in goes the Halford's stuff... Case closed. :smiley: