Gearbox Oil Choice? 2.3 T5 5 Speed

[AndyV7o]

Yeah, it wasnt you who said it lasts forever!

[petey]

As an aside, when I drained mine, it came out like hot amber oil; beautiful colour, no sludge, no lumps of fat or gristle. It was only when it was in a clear bottle that it looked slightly darker than the new oil, but for 2l of gloop that had been in there for 160k miles it looked damned good.

[AndyV7o]

If you see anything other than a slight difference in shade, then youve got trouble...
A gearbox is a sealed unit, so there shouldnt be anything to see!
You dont get combustion byproducts in there thus no 'dirt' or sludge.

[petey]

Oh absolutely there’s no combustion by-products, but there is expansion and contraction with temperature which despite the best attempts of a gortex breather will always bring in some moisture. Add to that all the spoil from a billion gearshifts and a few missed ones as well as a hypoid final drive, and there’s plenty to befoul a transmission oil volume. I’ve covered more than enough overall sleeves in icky oil to know how bad it can get.....

[reggit]

This thread is the reason i shouldn’t read everything on the forum. Now thinking I should change my gear oil as there’s no evidence of it ever been done and the change is quite notchy. Another job I’ve invented for myself

[AndyV7o]

Lol @ Reggit 👍

[petey]

160k on mine did nothing to the oil in reality; i'd not worry in the slightest....

[AndyV7o]

This just came out of wifes Octavia today @177k, bleeuuucchh! No wonder it was havin syncro trouble going into second on hot days, even the reverse switch was gunky with heavy brown varnish...