Gear box oil change

[onlybayinthevillage]

Any ideas how often this should be changed? I was told today that every 50k is enough.
Will i see any great improvement in gear changing?
Hope someone can help
Thanks

 

[Doris]

not my books at hand so can't give you the 'official' stats. I know it doesn't need to be done so much as the engine.I changed it on the Vectra after 80k and noticed a slight difference but never done it on a VW. changing oil is never bad though so go for it! remember you need the 17mm plug socket for the drain & filler holes.

 

[Loxy]

Certainly wont hurt to change it.

Make sure you can undo the filler plug before you drain it

 

[BJ1]

IMO most people leave gearbox oil in for far too long. I change mine at 30K and notice a real difference in noise from the diff. Make absolutely sure you can undo the filler bung BEFORE you drain the oil - I have helped a couple of people who dropped the oil only to find the filler bung seized into the box with rounded hex :lol: I have an old and irreplaceable expanding gripper that sorts them - and before you ask I don't lend it to anyone.

 

[Trikky2]

When your early bay was new, VW recommended changing the gear oil every couple of years along with re packing the front wheel bearings with grease and changing the brake fluid.

By the mid seventies they changed the recommendations, retrospective, to gearbox and front wheel bearings to be treated as sealed for life, because the lubricants had improved so much since the original recommendations were made in the 1950's for beetles and splits.

That said, being a bit fussy about maintenance, I still change the gear oil at around 30 to 50,000 miles but the manufacturer says its not necessary to do any more than check the level.

Changing the brake fluid still has to be done - that applies to modern cars too.