Gearbox 16v

[gfc]

Simple question!!

Anybody know how easy\hard it is to change the gearbox oil and where to top up on an '89 16v?

TIA

[tobz.]

Bit awkward but not too dificult.
There's a 17mm allen type bolt in the end of the gearbox behind the nearside front wheel, jack up that side and remove the wheel.
Not many people have a 17mm allen key so I used a wheel nut and a 17mm spanner and gently tapped it undone with a rubber mallet. As far as I know there isn't a drain plug on the gearbox so a large syringe and a piece of pipe is required to remove the old oil. To refill simply get the gearbox level (by adjusting the jack) and squirt in new oil until it starts to run out of the filling hole.

[Blue MK2]

check this....

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35817&PN=1

Blue

[gfc]

Thanks tobz and Blue MK2.

Anyone reco and good gearbox oil....from VAG?

TA

[tobz.]

Ahhh good info blue, I never knew about that drain plug underneath the driveshaft. I always thought it strange that there wasn't a drain plug.
When I checked in my haynes manual it basically said "don't worry your little head about the fluid level in an 020 gearbox it's not something you should need to mess with" Yeah but what about those of us who want to change the oil to help the box last longer.......good old haynes.

[tinman]

if haynes doesn't recommend changing the oil then there is probably very little point in doing it.

the gearbox oil is not put through the same stresses as engine oil. And quite simply, according to stuff i've been reading about engine oil here and on other websites, engine oil doesn't need to be changed as often either.

i'm pretty sure non of my cars, new or second hand have had the gearbox oil changed as part of a fluid service. i will double check at some point though.

[Gambit]

VAG recommend that gearbox oil should never need changed, but you can change it if you want!

[ridgers]

Whats the point in having a filler plug if you didnt have a drain?

If you think about it every gearbox must have both.

And you can buy the 17mm gearbox key in a motor factors to check the gearbox oil. They say you don't need to change it but I found it better to do so and it has improved my gear change no end.

When you check it on a 16V you need to jack the car slightly on the passenger side to make sure the gearbox is horizontal.

If you look at it from the front you will see that the engine and box are lower on the passenger side then the drivers side so if you dont jack it you will get a false reading.

If you change the fluid then you can just put 2 litres in from fresh and its best to do that through the speedo drive hole with a funnel.