I am looking to change the gearbox oil on my fab which is just about to hit 100k miles

I cant seem to find a thread on here about it for the 1.2 engine. 

Where are the drain and fill/level screws and what type of oil do i need to replace it with?

If anyone has information on this please let me know

No need, just top it up if it needs it, you should see a fill plug part way up the gearbox, remove this and top up until it starts to overflow, the car must be level when you do this which is tricky without a four-poster.

17mm Allen key for fill and drain plugs either side of rear of diff, access is awkward for filling, feed a bit of plastic hose onto a funnel and do it from up top.

 

Almost certainly not needed though. My missus's is on 145k on original gear oil and there's no hint of trouble.

 

cheers

the gearbox works ok but thought it might be worth doing to keep it working well

looks tricky to access tho so may not bother

anyone know the corect type of oil?

Phone your local dealership with reg number, pretty sure it's cheap for your box, about £10 per litre and you need a bit under 2 litres.  Don't be tempted by cheaper, non-genuine alternatives, you may make things worse.  My usual parts look up site is hanging my work computer, but can maybe look later. Year of car? Gearbox code (3-letter code on vehicle data sticker)?

Phone your local dealership with reg number, pretty sure it's cheap for your box, about £10 per litre and you need a bit under 2 litres.  Don't be tempted by cheaper, non-genuine alternatives, you may make things worse.  My usual parts look up site is hanging my work computer, but can maybe look later. Year of car? Gearbox code (3-letter code on vehicle data sticker)?

thanks i will try ringing them,

my gearbox code is a JJL and year is 2006

 

cheers

Part number (for a litre bottle) is G 060726A2 then, according to this page (better look-up site that I found just now), item 6A, to suit all the item 6 boxes.

Edited 8 November, 20169 yr by Wino

I have just ordered and am about to change the oil in my gearbox following recent problems shifting into 1st gear.

I couldn't get 1st at all the other day and it wouldn't even go in by moving the shift lever on the top of the gearbox. Eventually i got it to engage and after that it was ok.

really hoping a gearbox oil change will sort this as other gears are a bit notchy as well

I have recently changed the gear linkage ends and bushes

Sounds like there's barely any oil in the gearbox, did you check the level like I suggested?

no i never got round to it as i didnt have the correct tool

hopefully going to be changing the oil tomorrow

Changed the gearbox oil today and the stuff that came out was brown/black looked horrible!

It also had lots of tiny shavings of metal in the bottom of the container i emptied the oil into.

 

Filled up with the new VW oil (it takes 1.6 litres) and i have a spare bottle now as i ordered 3 litres.

 

Took out for a quick test drive and gearbox felt terrible for first few miles and then it settled and was ok. 

I cant say ive noticed any difference changing gear they still seem a bit stiff occasionally but will see how it goes as the new oil settles in a bit. 

Doesn't sound promising tbh. Why'd you buy 3 litres when I told you it needs under 2? Don't you trust me? :angel:

Haha oh yeah didn't see that bit.

I probably did actually see it but have searched over the internet so much and kept getting 2.2 litres from different places for some reason. 

The skoda dealer didn't know and said its probably just over 2 litres so that's what I got

Anyway will see how GB is over next few weeks.

It hasn't been playing up since its 1st gear refusal last week so hopefully wont cause me any more problems.

Changed the gearbox oil today and the stuff that came out was brown/black looked horrible!

It also had lots of tiny shavings of metal in the bottom of the container i emptied the oil into.

 

It's perfectly normal for it to be brown/black in colour, copper sulphide formation makes it black and smelly, it doesn't affect its lubrication properties.

 

However, no amount of fresh oil or exciting sounding additives can put those tiny bits of metal back where they belong.

 

Good luck, I think you should probably just drive it until it becomes unusable.

Have driven maybe 150 miles since the oil change and gears are nice and smooth now, 1st requires a bit of a nudge occasionally when your still moving but i think that's normal for 1st . Reverse is also a little notchy sometimes but not an issue at all

2nd 3rd 4th and 5th are like new so really pleased

 

If anyone wants a litre of gear oil let me know i have one spare!

Edited 19 December, 20169 yr by clarendon462

It's perfectly normal for it to be brown/black in colour, copper sulphide formation makes it black and smelly, it doesn't affect its lubrication properties.

 

However, no amount of fresh oil or exciting sounding additives can put those tiny bits of metal back where they belong.

 

Good luck, I think you should probably just drive it until it becomes unusable.

I thought a small amount of shavings was normal for a gearbox especially if it was on original oil - from when it was new im guessing and running in.

Not sure if the drain plugs are magnetic im assuming not as there was nothing stuck to it.

I thought a small amount of shavings was normal for a gearbox especially if it was on original oil - from when it was new im guessing and running in.

Not sure if the drain plugs are magnetic im assuming not as there was nothing stuck to it.

 

I'd expect to see 'glitter' in the oil on a high mileage gearbox due to synchro ring wear but not filings or shavings, such debris usually indicates bearing cage wear which is irreversible, I strongly suspect your oil level was low which is what caused the premature wear and the notchy gearchange. Level is critical because a gearbox is lubricated by splash and not by a pump, the level has to be high enough for the gear clusters to pick it up and throw it about.

Well it was glitter as opposed to pieces of metal.

The oil level when i changed it was high because when i opened the fill plug it poured out for a while.

Well it was glitter as opposed to pieces of metal.

The oil level when i changed it was high because when i opened the fill plug it poured out for a while.

 

Then all's well that ends well.

Edited 19 December, 20169 yr by sepulchrave

Well it was glitter as opposed to pieces of metal.

The oil level when i changed it was high because when i opened the fill plug it poured out for a while.

Was the car completely level, front to back, and side to side?

The fact that you refilled with only 1.6L makes me suspect not.

Edited 19 December, 20169 yr by Wino

Well i used a spirit level on the door sills and across the slam panel so I thought it was level.

I had it on my drive which slopes slightly but i used wood as ramps to lift it level and give me the access to the drain plug

I will check the level again soon on a 'known' level ground

Good to double check, but it sounds like you did it right.