Recommendations for gearbox oil?

[mk2rolf16v]

Hi, Im looking to change the gearbox oil on my 1990 gti 16valve...

VW specs are TL 726 (G 052 726 A2)
...which basically means I should use SAE-75 oil

could you suggest any particular oil I should use, or alternative grades and reasons why?
Either way Im looking to buy something half decent and don't mind paying the extra.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[Thom89]

In all honesty, I think that any of the branded names that you're comfortable with will be more than sufficient... as long as it meets/exceeds factory specifications. Reccomend a brand, then probably Castrol

Thom

[danny_p]

priitty much any sae 75  gear oil sold now  will at worst mee the specs and most likely exceed them by some way,  cars have got a lot more demanding on thre oils in the last 20 yrs.

i have heard of some issues with certan brands of GL5 in old gearboxes tho

[mk2rolf16v]

Thanks for replying...
the SAE-75 is a single grade oil, what about multi-grade oils like a 75w-90?
As for API-GL5, what issue would there be on older gearboxes?

[Gambit]

If it crunches badly in 2nd gear get redline mtf.

[Pwardy]

OK I'm a newby, or what ever you call new guys on this forum.  MY gearbox failed massively about 15 years ago and I had it rebuilt by a VW dealer.  It works and appears OK but every time I check the GB oil it has metallic fragments in it.  I'm not sure if VW didn't clean the box out properly or if it is going again.
I'd like to take it for a thrash and then drain it and replace the oil.  I have in the garage SX75-90 GL4; its an old semi synthetic, would that be safe to use?

[Thom89]

Particles in the oil is pretty normal, as long as you can't feel the fragments if you roll the oil between your finger and thumb!
I'd take the car for a run, get everything up to correct temp, then drain the gearbox oil overnight, so it empties as much as possible.
The Comma oil? that you have, in my opinion would be fine, but check that you have enough of it to complete the job.

Check the oil again after a thousand or so miles, to see what the fragment situation is....

Welcome to the Forum btw

Thom

[sparkplug]

changed mine last thurs , the stuff that came out was black & thin as piss 
so anything new has gotta be better 

[Pwardy]

Particles in the oil is pretty normal, as long as you can't feel the fragments if you roll the oil between your finger and thumb!
I'd take the car for a run, get everything up to correct temp, then drain the gearbox oil overnight, so it empties as much as possible.
The Comma oil? that you have, in my opinion would be fine, but check that you have enough of it to complete the job.

Check the oil again after a thousand or so miles, to see what the fragment situation is....

Welcome to the Forum btw

Thom

Thanks Thom for the advice and welcome.  I was a little short of oil so I have had to order one more litre.

Check again after a 1000 miles?  That could be a long time coming; I have only clocked up 2000 in the last eight years!  When the time comes is it possible to draw a little out through the speedo cable hole using a sump pump?

[Simeon]

When the time comes is it possible to draw a little out through the speedo cable hole using a sump pump?

No reason why not.