When is it time to change manual tranny fluid?

[Chowder31]

I couldn't find it using search or at VW's website. It all just says check the level of the fluid, but when is it time to change it? I'm assuming 60K miles?

 

[dieseldorf]

they suggest it's a lifetime fluid. i'd suggest changing it around 80k...60k is fine is you are motivated to do it now.

 

[dieselt]

I do mine at TB change...I've devised a "preventitive" maintenance schedule equal to or better then required. Call me AR...too many years of flying something someone else maintained.

 

[PDJetta]

I was going to change mine at 40,000 (when I take the belly pan off for the first time--I use a Pella Oil Extractor) to get rid of any "break-in" wear particles on the new transmission and then not worry about it again (other than fluid checks) unless it needs a clutch. My big question: Is Redline lubricant OK? I'm a big fan of Redline.

Then this leads to another question: Should Redline MTL or Redline MT-90 be used (I live in Virgina where the summers can get up to 95 degrees and the winters down to 10 degrees F.). Here are the sales descriptions:

"Red Line Manual Transmission Lubricant - A 70W80 GL-4 Gear Oil (SAE 5W30/10W30 engine oil viscosity) is designed for use in manual transmissions and transaxles. Provides excellent protection of gears and synchronizers and it's balanced slipperiness provides a perfect coefficient of friction, allowing easier shifting.

OR

"Red Line Synthetic MT-90 Transmission Fluid is a 75w90 GL-4 Gear Oil designed for use in manual transmissions and transaxles. Provides excellent protection of gears and synchronizers and it's balanced slipperiness provides a perfect coefficient of friction, allowing easier shifting."

Or should I stick with the real expensive VW stuff?

--Nate

 

[redmondjp]

If you search the archives you will find much discussion on this topic. Based upon everything I've read, if you use the Redline MT-90 "straight" you may find the shifting a bit sluggish at really low temperatures. Some (including myself) have used a cocktail of 1/2 MTL and MT-90 which seems to work well. Others have continued using the stock gear lube with equal success.

Whatever you do, stay with a synthetic fluid, as they don't suffer from the cold-weather molasses syndrome the way the the dino-based gear oils do.

I'm curious--to those of you changing your gear oils every TB change, do you see any indication that the oil you are draining out "needs" to be changed? Do you notice a difference in shift effort after changing your fluid?

I recently worked on a '86 Civic with 180K miles on it--decided to drain the (factory-filled motor) oil out of the transaxle and it looked like brand-new oil--shifted fine too. Replaced with Redline cocktail as described above--couldn't tell the difference in how it drove or shifted.

 

[DeafBug]

In my owners manual, it says to change it in 80K miles. I don't know why the new ones don't. I changed my tranny fluid at 84K. Still running good today.

 

[ChiTDI]

I changed mine @ 60k after driving across the desert in 110 degree temps. It stunk. 50/50 Redline has worked well for the last 15k including a Chicago winter. The original trans fluid had very little glitter in it, but it was cooked! FWIW
Fluid change was easy!

 

[LagoonBlueTDI]

I changed mine at 100k miles, using Redline MTL.

I live in MN, and the MTL is said to work better in the cooler climates.

If global warming ever kicks in, I'll switch to Redline MT-90...

 

[LagoonBlueTDI]

I changed mine at 100k miles, using Redline MTL.

And at 130k my transmission started to whine, so I drained out the Redline MTL and went back to the VW fluid.

I can't say if the MTL caused anything or not, or even if my transmission is indeed "going bad" or not. All I can say for sure is that it sounds way different.

But I can tell you that after 30k miles, the Redline MTL looked like chocolate milk when I drained it.

Just one guy's experience...

 

[DLV]

I changed mine at 100k miles. Used Redline MTL.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

when you change your clutch...it's a good time to do it.

With the tranny out as you change the clutch, it should be easier to drain and refill the tranny with gear oil.

 

[dieseldorf]

But I can tell you that after 30k miles, the Redline MTL looked like chocolate milk when I drained it.

 

[PDJetta]

In my '85 Jetta I used Redline MT-90 and changed it about every 30,000 - 40,000 and at worst there was just a small amount of silvering from metal wear particles. I'd imagine the chocolate milk coloring was from water getting in the tranny vent, or perhaps from not getting all the old VW oil out, but the two should mix without any ill problems.

--Nate

 

[tiredone2]

Or should I stick with the real expensive VW stuff?

Stay with the VW stuff. Shortly after I bought my Jetta I made the mistake of putting Redline MTL in the tranny. It made shifting when cold a nightmare. It was so bad that sometimes I could not get the tranny in 2nd gear when it was cold. It shifted "ok" when it was warm. After 10,000 miles of that mess I went back to VW G50 and shifting is great in cold weather, no problems at all. That is just my experience with it.