Wrong gearbox oil

Amraam said:
Recommened on the skoda/VW forums
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Screw the manufacturer, internet knows best?

If a 60k gearbox oil was prudent they'd recommend it, because:

a) They generate further service income
b) They reduce warranty claims

This is evidenced by the fact they DO mandate it for DSG gearboxes as part of the service schedule - which demonstrates that VW are prepared to require a gearbox oil change if its beneficial.

and for peace of mind. I don't need to explain myself.
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The reason this has happened is because you've asked for an incredibly unusual job that very few people ever get done and as a result the dealer, unfamiliar with ever doing it, has screwed it up.

Now it's obviously not your fault - it's all on them as they screwed it up - but sadly it was always likely :(
 
[TW]Fox;28741552 said:
The reason this has happened is because you've asked for an incredibly unusual job that very few people ever get done and as a result the dealer, unfamiliar with ever doing it, has screwed it up.
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Dealer knows exactly how to do it as they need to drain/replace the gearbox oil when they replace the DMFs on all the diesels :D

Also my gearbox oil was a mess at 100k came out like black treacle, gear change was lighter and smoother after changing it.

Manufacturers do get it wrong if you believe them for timing belt/tensioner intervals a lot of cars would have blown up engines.
 
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I've had a similar problem. Had my clutch done and when I drove off the gear box oil was leaking. So I took t back and he put some generic stuff in and now it's stiff putting it into second in the morning. They blamed the gear box
 
[TW]Fox;28741552 said:
The reason this has happened is because you've asked for an incredibly unusual job that very few people ever get done and as a result the dealer, unfamiliar with ever doing it, has screwed it up.
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That's a very odd statement, of course dealers/mechanics are familiar with changing gearbox oil :confused: it's a standard service task, whilst not anywhere near as frequent as engine oil is still almost always mandated in the service schedule of manual cars.

I've always noticed a nice difference on changing it in my cars over the years and i'll continue to change the gearbox oil at reasonable intervals as it's not expensive nor difficult and it makes the gear change feel nicer and could potentially save wear on an expensive bit of the car.
 
A manual gearbox oil change is not part of the service schedule of many cars at all. It is not a standard service task.

Mercedes and VW are fairly unique in having scheduled oil changes for automatics, many manufacturers don't mandate those either.
 
Honda is 80k. It's a £25 job at the dealer. Worth doing around that IMO. It's like cat wee and has a tough life. Additives in it are key for good synchromesh performance and life too. It's omitted on the ground of total cost ownership for fleet buyers.... Usual story really.
 
Dogbreath said:
Stiff gear changes are very commonly caused by clutch problems.
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Indeed. My previous car had its clutch changed under warranty because it was difficult to get in to 1st or reverse when cold.


Also I changed the gearbox oil in my girlfriend's car recently (it's done about 50k) and it made a world of difference. Same story when I changed it on my MX5 soon after buying it - only had about 40k on the clock but the oil was probably the same age as the car!

Whilst old oil in a manual 'box doesn't have quite the same potential to cause problems as old oil in a twin wet-clutch DSG (or similar) auto, it's a fairly prudent thing to do after a while.
 
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[TW]Fox;28743361 said:
A manual gearbox oil change is not part of the service schedule of many cars at all. It is not a standard service task.

Mercedes and VW are fairly unique in having scheduled oil changes for automatics, many manufacturers don't mandate those either.
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So you're saying that because the book doesn't say so, there's obviously no need for it? Maybe I should never clean up or reinstall Windows ever, because Microsoft think that it is unnecessary...

Dogbreath said:
Stiff gear changes are very commonly caused by clutch problems.
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Perhaps, but my clutch is fine. It went in fine, came out with new transmission oil, and all of a sudden, changes are notchy and stiff.
 
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Amraam said:
So you're saying that because the book doesn't say so, there's obviously no need for it?
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Probably not as early in the cars life as 60k, no. Maybe once you hit 100 or 150k it might be prudent. VW have demonstrated that as a manufacturer they are prepared to mandate gearbox oil changes where it is beneficial - they do for the DSG.

Manual gearbox failures are very uncommon and 99.9% of them will never have the oil changed.

Frankly its your car - by all means do whatever you think is best - but when asking for something that isn't the bread and butter of some garages you should always be aware of the risk of a mistake or issue beforehand.

Sadly many people in this trade appear to be incompetent or lazy therefore it's always handy to head off potential issues before they have a chance to ruin everything :(
 
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I've changed gearbox oil in all my cars to know that it's been done and is upto spec. I don't think there's any problem changing oil at 60k, why the heck not? Also, it's not an incredibly hard job for anyone to do actually, so a garage, this should be bread and butter and quite frankly if I garage wasn't sure how to do this on a car, I'd walk away!

However back to oirginal post. Would this damage a gearbox? mmmm, I'm no mechnic, BUT if you THINK it's causing a problem, then I'd drop it and put the stuff you know is right! If the problem is still there, then, clutch could be a problem, although the chance of this being fine and now knackered??? mmmm

EDIT: Agree with Fox above, there's only one garage I use now... as like Fox said, the indurty I reckon is 75% morons who I wouldn't let open a tin of beans, never mind open a gearbox!
 
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pugheaven said:
I've changed gearbox oil in all my cars to know that it's been done and is upto spec. I don't think there's any problem changing oil at 60k, why the heck not? Also, it's not an incredibly hard job for anyone to do actually, so a garage, this should be bread and butter and quite frankly if I garage wasn't sure how to do this on a car, I'd walk away!
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They obviously knew how to do it as they completed it, but what they probably didn't know without erroneously looking it up or guessing - is exactly the right oil to use, because they probably don't do it often enough to remember.

I bet they know what type of engine oil it takes off the top of their head, for example...
 
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