Hi, i was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I own a Octavia TDI 130 with the 6 speed gearbox, when the vehicle has been started from cold it tends to crunch from 1st to 2nd but only when the engine is stone cold. It is fine once warm and slots into and out of 2nd gear no problem at all. The car is an 03 plate with 57k on the clock. I have replaced the clutch recently with a Sachs Organic kit from Jabba and my local Skoda dealer fitted it for me. The only thing i did'nt replace was the DMF which now im regretting as i should of probably gone for SMF. :yes:

My local dealer is saying that the gearbox is a sealed unit so i cant replace the gear oil. Is this right?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as i want to get to the bottom of this quiet quickly.

Aidy.

You can replace the gear oil.

It drains out no problem, just make sure you can undo the refill hole before you drain it.

Also I recommend you flush it through and fill it up with the Genuine VAG Gear Box Oil

Also worth having the linkage adjusted as that can have this effect.

Edited 2 March, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

TBH I would not worry about it as they all do it when cold.....

But if you've never replaced the gear oil, doing it every 50k miles or so, does help keep the gears moving that much more smoothly.

Also I recommend you flush it through and fill it up with the Genuine VAG brake fluid.

Does brake fluid really make a good substitute for gearbox oil?

Does brake fluid really make a good substitute for gearbox oil?

No and I'm a mucking fuppit for typing that.

Talk about crossed threads. I meant genuine VAG gear box oil :$, corrected the original post.

Agreed; change your (presumed VAG) dealer if they said the box is sealed! They're either incompetent or actually dishonest.

I had this problem on my 110tdi an an oil change done the trick.

As it was done by a BMW dealer(mates of mine!) all the new cars, BMW's anyway have ATF/Power steering fluid instead of the old gear oil as we know it and since they have done thios oil change on my car its been great, so smooth.

And my 130PD with a 6 speed is the same as yours, crunchy from 1st to second, ive been meaning to get that oil changed too!

As has been said "They all do it!" does an oil change make a difference on a PD with a 6 speed box?

Just curious

I had this problem on my 110tdi an an oil change done the trick.

As it was done by a BMW dealer(mates of mine!) all the new cars, BMW's anyway have ATF/Power steering fluid instead of the old gear oil as we know it and since they have done thios oil change on my car its been great, so smooth.

And my 130PD with a 6 speed is the same as yours, crunchy from 1st to second, ive been meaning to get that oil changed too!

As has been said "They all do it!" does an oil change make a difference on a PD with a 6 speed box?

Just curious

It makes it less bad on cold days IMHO

They are all a bit notchy, but not particularly bad.

It's all really a personal call of if you want to spend that £50.

If you do go with the genuine fluid, because there have been other very good fluids that have had a negative effect on the gear change and had to be swapped out again.

FWIW sealed for life means that. The question you have to ask is how long is life and would said life be extended by an oil change.

I'm firmly on the side of for £50 ever 50k miles, I'd rather have the box last 150k rather than 100k as it's cheaper than a new gearbox, but that's just my opinion.

Edited 2 March, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

It makes it less bad on cold days IMHO

They are all a bit notchy, but not particularly bad.

It's all really a personal call of if you want to spend that £50.

If you do go with the genuine fluid, because there have been other very good fluids that have had a negative effect on the gear change and had to be swapped out again.

FWIW sealed for life means that. The question you have to ask is how long is life and would said life be extended by an oil change.

I'm firmly on the side of for £50 ever 50k miles, I'd rather have the box last 150k rather than 100k as it's cheaper than a new gearbox, but that's just my opinion.

I work with oils a lot and a lot of different types and i believe that no oil can do 100.000 miles or what ever without de-grading somewhat or else they would make engine oil that would run for the life of the car!

So in reality it does need changing because there is no way it could go through that time and peasure of being in a gearbox and still do the same job as effectively as the day it was made!!!

Edited 3 March, 201016 yr by dannyboy759

Well, I keep saying this, but here goes - ZF Transmissions recommend changing gearbox oil every 50_000 miles. Who would you trust more; a major transmission manufacturer or someone who knows the script they were taught by an import company?

They don't 'all' do it. 87K and no crunching whatsoever ever! Ner ner ner ner nerrrrrrr.

Well, I keep saying this, but here goes - ZF Transmissions recommend changing gearbox oil every 50_000 miles. Who would you trust more; a major transmission manufacturer or someone who knows the script they were taught by an import company?

Ill go with that!!