Hi,

I am planning to do a gearbox oil change by myself on my 2015 model Skoda Octavia MK3. I would like to know what does Skoda/VW recommend on the following .

 

1. Which grade gear oil to use? 75W80 or 75W90, APL4 or APL4+ or APL5, Castrol/redline?

2. How much oil is needed for service fill? 

3. Does the OEM drain port has magnet on it?

4. what tool is needed for loosening the drain port? 

 

 

Thanks Guys.

I have never changed any of my cars gearbox oils. I currently have a run about MK1 Octavia with 167k on the clock. It's never had an oil change.  The box is bone dry, nothing has come out of it, changes are silky smooth. My opinion, it doesn't need one but go ahead it won't do it any harm.

I assume it's a manual box.

Edited 30 October, 20196 yr by benterrier

Ran my Octavia 1 up to 325000 on the original oil, all synchros and gearchanges were fine.

 

At one time in its life it was regularly towing a massive van trailer, far too large for the vehicle and seriously overloaded, on mountainous uphill sections with lots of switchbacks I could start to hear some transmission noise when the oil was overheated but no ill effects, each time I said I would drain & refill the oil ASAP but the next day it was always as if nothing had happened.

Won’t do any harm to at least check the level.

why?

Some time ago I bought a new Seat Altea tdi140.6 speed .About 4 years and 40k miles later the gearbox started rumbling away.

On inspection the box was clean and dry with no sign of leaks but the oil level was about 1 litre down.Topping up didn’t stop the rumbling.

Conclusion? 
The gearbox had not been filled correctly at the factory and eventually the bearings were ruined....althoughI never saw the end of the story because I chopped it in for an Octavia 2.

When I last looked at a VAG gearbox (TT mk1) the level/ drain plugs used a special multi splined socket,but an Octavia 3,not sure.

I've changed the gearbox oil on a few vehicles (but not this Octy, yet).

 

I've always been quite surprised how dirty the oil is when it's out, and I've had a sense of satisfaction putting nice clean oil in.  If you love cars and have mechanical sympathy, then go ahead and do it, if you're not really arsed then based on some of the above, don't bother......😉

 

As for grade and quantity, try one of the oil checker sites like Castrol oil checker, or Opie oils or even Euro Car Parts.  I assume you don't have access to the handbook, or it's not in there...?

 

 

Edit - just tried my details in those sites, I thought last time I tried them they recommended gearbox oils as well, but they don't seem to now sorry.  

 

.

Edited 30 October, 20196 yr by Phil245

My workmates father a few years ago made the mistake of checking the gearbox oil in his Polo. Unfortunately he undid a bolt and on removing it felt something drop off inside the box. An embarrassing phone call to the VW agent and a recovery vehicle to take it away for repair was the butt of jokes by his sons for a long time.

Edited 30 October, 20196 yr by benterrier

That's a pretty poor design then.

Changed the oil on my Honda at the recommended interval of 72k/8 years which is way less regularly than engine oil.  From memory it was only on about 50k at 8 years too.

 

I would suspect any gearbox would benefit from similar treatment.  Given the negative comments I've read all over this forum about the poor clarity of skoda service intervals and their priority of selling cars than long term reliability I'd personally change it even if it's not dictated to.

 

Incidentally, anyone who never had it changed, I would imagine it was changed when you had your clutch changed (and those miles would suggest you got through a few clutches).  I know mine was done again....  It's pretty poor practise to drop a box and not at least inspect it. 

Incidentally, anyone who never had it changed, I would imagine it was changed when you had your clutch changed (and those miles would suggest you got through a few clutches).  I know mine was done again....  It's pretty poor practise to drop a box and not at least inspect it. 

 

The thing is Alex-w, I'm on my original clutch in the Mk1, 167k 

Edited 30 October, 20196 yr by benterrier

Christ, that's bloody good going then!