Hi all,

I've got to check the level of the oil in my gearbox at some point, and I was wondering if I needed any special tools (beyond the standard torque wrench) to get the plug out and check the oil level? I seem to remember reading something about a tamper-resistant plug somewhere, but I'm not sure if it was to do with something else?

I'm assuming the Haynes manual is correct on this - get the car raised (for ease of access) & level, let the engine go a bit cold to make sure all the oil in the gearbox has settled, remove the plug & check the oil is up to the bottom of the plug hole..?

Thanks

Im not 100% sure.. but the manual gearboxes dont need a top up unless the gearbox is leaking? in this case it will only leak again, because the box should not be loosing any oil as its contained/sealed. I have read up on previous posts it will never need changing as its for life, many owners on here are doing them on higher mileage cars just to be on the safe side.

It would be better if your oil was drained and toped up with fresh oil rather than a top up. If its crunching or difficult to change gears from a cold start it may be worth getting the oil changed.

Others will have their views.. but it would be worth changing on a car thats had more than 70-80k because oil does degrade over time.

I would change it as well if the car is 7yrs. old+ or 75000miles+.

Im not 100% sure.. but the manual gearboxes dont need a top up unless the gearbox is leaking? in this case it will only leak again, because the box should not be loosing any oil as its contained/sealed.

It's more of a curiosity thing, than anything else - it's a new (to me) car, and I just wanted to have a quick check to see what it's like. It's down on the service schedule to be checked yearly, and if I have a quick look, I can definitely say it's been done (I don't have overly much faith in those who serviced it for the previous owner, as it really didn't look like the PAS fluid had ever been checked by the amount of gunk around the cap). It doesn't look like it's been leaking, but might as well check...

I have read up on previous posts it will never need changing as its for life, many owners on here are doing them on higher mileage cars just to be on the safe side.

Yeah, for the cost of £15-20's worth of oil, it's probably worth it, should it get to that point (mine's 5yrs/50k).

Special 12 point torx needed, the level plug has an anti tamper type bolt. :wonder:

Information below relates to MK1 FABIA VRS 2005

Cost about £7 or £8 to purchase from motor factor shop.

Sealey SX 107 (12spline) or Draper 63476 HDPK 1 (12 spline) both are 1/2" drive socket type.

Oil required 75W 90 Fully Synthetic GL -4/5 Gear Oil

Gear-box holds about 2.3 Litres has drain and level/fill plugs with same fitting as above.

Thumb-nail problem sorted by kind Administrator, thank you for the quick response.

Edited 25 June, 201016 yr by giandougl

Thank you both

Edited 17 June, 201016 yr by martinch

This one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Security-XZN-Spline-Key-Drive-SX107/dp/B000ROBGCK

http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?catref=SX107&gclid=CNHKlJ7VpqICFRBk4wod-2_ASg

also after reading through an old thread, this one is the same........

http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?catref=63476&gclid=CP2D08rUpqICFVMB4wod5E3URA

Edited 17 June, 201016 yr by alexandjen

I've used pvr direct in the past and they have been easy to deal with, just try to buy lots of tools so that the P&P costs do not bump the "unit" price up too much. I think that its wrong to say that gearboxes do not or should not leak, they will leak slightly and its good practise to check the fluid level once a year. One thing not to do, is what I did on a Ford Escort FWD once and only once - I removed the fill/level plug and stuck my girlie sized little finger in and through 90 degrees so that I could reach the top of the oil - then panic set in! It only took about 15 minutes to get my finger back out - so, I made up a level checking tool using a large nail with a 90 degree bend and a filled groove to act as a minium level mark - this nail was securely tied to an old gear oil bottle lid so that it could never end up inside the casing. I've still got that tool about 28 years later and it has been used on quite a few of other people's cars!

. I think that its wrong to say that gearboxes do not or should not leak, they will leak slightly and its good practise to check the fluid level once a year.

None of the cars I have ever owned have had a gearbox leak, saying that they were jap cars so much better built than the european cars. You may Agree/disagree

Any half decent mechanic would tell you the gearbox should not leak, and if it does thats the reason your topping it up as loss of oil would eventually causing the box to seize/whine.You should not need to top up gearboxes because they should be sealed.

I agree with an oil change to extend the life of it but if my box had a leak I would be worried.

Edited 17 June, 201016 yr by REDFABVRS

Thanks guys.

I ended up getting the part from a local supplier - Elliotts Tool Warehouse - for £4.70 delivered (my house is on the route between them and the Draper distributor, so they just popped it through the door on the way).