gearbox oil change - useless dealers!

[mbames]

I need some gearbox oil for a forthcoming change in 2001 TDi Octavia. So I thought I would ring a couple of local dealers - just to confirm what I have already read on here - go for 75/90w syn oil.

Tried VW in Dorchester and they told me it was a 2.1litre capacity, but I would get away with 2 litres, but they could not tell me the spec of the oil I needed.

Then tried Skoda in Yeovil, and they said I need 3 litres, and when I questioned that the chap said the system did not know the capacity of the box (although I had given a full chassis number). When I asked what spec of oil it needed, he said he did not know but if he spent an hour of this time he could go through the workshop manual to find out. I then said don't the mechanics know, or do they just take a guess? He just offered to read the workshop manual again.

mmm, now would I trust them to change the oil when they don't know how much oil I need, or even what type!!

[RobFunnell]

i had the same results with my old car from skoda dealers. i ended up looking through an old autodata book i had to find out.

Edited 23 October, 2008 by DGW
Redundant quote deleted.

[mbames]

GSF list:

98048 FUCHS TITAN GEAR OIL 75W-90 1L GENERAL USE-SYNTHETIC BASE

£5/litre +vat I guess.

Previously both VW in Dorchester and Skoda in Yeovil have been quite helpful. I also have a promised call back from Westover Skoda in Corfe Mullen, but I'll eat my computer if they manage to phone back today!

[Tech1e]

To be fair to the parts people when they look on ETKA and ELSA the oil is given as a part number. It also tells you the quantity required. But no where on either system or the bottle itself does it say what grade the oil is.

[Tom_vRS]

Indeed. But they should be able to find the spec out for you surely?

FWIW I found the genuine VAG (Quantum) oil to be the best for the gearbox. Keeps everything nice and smooth etc.

[cheezemonkhai]

I need some gearbox oil for a forthcoming change in 2001 TDi Octavia. So I thought I would ring a couple of local dealers - just to confirm what I have already read on here - go for 75/90w syn oil.

Tried VW in Dorchester and they told me it was a 2.1litre capacity, but I would get away with 2 litres, but they could not tell me the spec of the oil I needed.

Then tried Skoda in Yeovil, and they said I need 3 litres, and when I questioned that the chap said the system did not know the capacity of the box (although I had given a full chassis number). When I asked what spec of oil it needed, he said he did not know but if he spent an hour of this time he could go through the workshop manual to find out. I then said don't the mechanics know, or do they just take a guess? He just offered to read the workshop manual again.

mmm, now would I trust them to change the oil when they don't know how much oil I need, or even what type!!

It's not hard to DIY matt since you can change shocks etc.

I've got 1L of millers 75w90 Fully Synthetic TRX which worked very nicely in my MKI TDI 110.

Place near in totton sells it for about £8 a L.

No idea in the truth of this, but apparently filtering the used oil, warming it and putting it back in the box before draining it again means that you can get more of the cr*p out with it.

I never had this done mind and the improvement post oil change was huge.

[cheezemonkhai]

GSF list:

98048 FUCHS TITAN GEAR OIL 75W-90 1L GENERAL USE-SYNTHETIC BASE

£5/litre +vat I guess.

Previously both VW in Dorchester and Skoda in Yeovil have been quite helpful. I also have a promised call back from Westover Skoda in Corfe Mullen, but I'll eat my computer if they manage to phone back today!

I think you're fairly safe if they phone back ever!

[Tech1e]

Indeed. But they should be able to find the spec out for you surely?

Where from though?

The only info we have is ETKA and/or Elsa and its not on either.

[mbames]

I think you're fairly safe if they phone back ever!

They never phoned back, but I wasn't expecting them too!

[rwbaldwin]

I'm not surprised. Many dealers don't even stock gearbox oil for retail. They use bulk.

[Tech1e]

Be lucky if we even have that these days. About the only gearbox oil we stock is DSG and the stuff for the 5 speed manuals that is part of a current recall.

[mbames]

the VW dealer mentioned a recall.

[greg123]

The fluid from vw/skoda isn't expensive if you are struggling...

[mbames]

The fluid from vw/skoda isn't expensive if you are struggling...

It appears that none of my local (or not so local) dealers are willing (or capable) to supply the fluid! I think the only way I would get it from any of my local dealers would be to book the car in and let them do the gear box oil change.

[Lex Dysia]

It appears that none of my local (or not so local) dealers are willing (or capable) to supply the fluid! I think the only way I would get it from any of my local dealers would be to book the car in and let them do the gear box oil change.

I rang around when I wanted this done and even my reliable indi sounded unsure as to why I wanted to do this as it is "sealed for life" and I could only get a top up if neccessary.

I decided to do it myself and got 2 litres of Castrol TAF-X and did it yesterday, very easy job and a huge improvement Castrol TAF-X is allegedly rebranded by VW and used as OEM but I couldn't back this up though it does have VW 501 50 stamped on the bottle which I assume is a VAG spec. HTH

[cheezemonkhai]

It appears that none of my local (or not so local) dealers are willing (or capable) to supply the fluid! I think the only way I would get it from any of my local dealers would be to book the car in and let them do the gear box oil change.

Matt, next time you're over you can have my bottle of Millers TRX for a pint and I know of a factors that sells it too.

It worked very well in my MK I TDI

Failing that meadens will do it for you and I know they keep bottles of the stuff as they changed mine a few times and once showed me the oil.

[RobFunnell]

I've delt with Westover Skoda before, infact they sold me my car, the've recently changed managers, staff etc and are as useful as t*ts on a fish. now that i work for vw i just do all the looking myself and enjoy the benifits :-) . its worth ringing Bournemouth TPS in Poole (01202 644480) as they've helped me loads plus there all into there vw etc so they tend to know what there talking about. Although they are trade specialist's they are always willing to help out.

[Tech1e]

TPS centres are good, run by VW.

[mbames]

I've delt with Westover Skoda before, infact they sold me my car, the've recently changed managers, staff etc and are as useful as t*ts on a fish. now that i work for vw i just do all the looking myself and enjoy the benifits :-) . its worth ringing Bournemouth TPS in Poole (01202 644480) as they've helped me loads plus there all into there vw etc so they tend to know what there talking about. Although they are trade specialist's they are always willing to help out.

Westover Skoda keep changing managers, but they are always ****ing useless. I think they must try really hard to find people with no braincells and them employee them.

I keep TPS in mind.

Cheers,

Matt

[greg123]

Bear in mind TPS is trade only, if you appear as an end user you may be directed to the dealers - I have seen that before when I was in there.

Greg.