Changing gearbox oil?
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Discussion

Toaster Pilot

Original Poster:

14,867 posts

188 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
How often would gearbox oil normally be changed on manual transmission? I'm going to need to check and top up the oil on my Felicia because it has a leak that I am going to rectify by changing a leaky seal. Is it worth dropping the oil and putting clean stuff in or should I just fill it up?

It's done plenty of miles (164000) and I have no service history for it at all.

G600

1,479 posts

217 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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With no history and that many miles I'd change it personally, it's not a big or expensive job.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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On that milage yep.

leafspring

7,032 posts

167 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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Hand book for my Nissan snotter says to change it every 30k

DanielJames

7,543 posts

198 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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My mate had to change it at the weekend after removing the wrong sump plug. Oh how I laughed.


steveo3002

11,228 posts

204 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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yeah worth doing for what it costs

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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Just don't get it on yourself... Somewhat whiffy!

thatdude

2,660 posts

157 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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My honda civic (manuel) handbook states 27,000 miles if I live in hot (temps regularly higher than 35 deg.C) places or tow alot. It doesnt state anything else. Anyway, it's 8 years old and have 53,000 miles on it (8k of which are mine) and I'll be chanigng the gearbox oil come next engine oil change.

As for autos, I asked BMW themselves for technical recommendation on the gearbox fitted to my wife's 120D (2005). They are adamant its a "for life" fill and never needs to be changed. They do conceed some owners may change at 100,000 miles but it is not a factory recommendation.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
thatdude said:
As for autos, I asked BMW themselves for technical recommendation on the gearbox fitted to my wife's 120D (2005). They are adamant its a "for life" fill and never needs to be changed. They do conceed some owners may change at 100,000 miles but it is not a factory recommendation.
Ignore them, most of the manufacturers of "Sealed for Life" gearboxes specify regular oil changes in other markets. Follow the change schedule recommended in the US.

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

228 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Just don't get it on yourself... Somewhat whiffy!
Yeah, gearbox oil is god-awful stuff.

Spare tyre

12,621 posts

160 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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when i was a youngen i would try to do all car repairs my self

jacked my car up, dropped the oil out and replaced, chucked all gubbins in my parents garage and went of doing whatever nonsense you do when you are 18

come back the following morning, dad looking very cross, man from british gas was im told, very cross

Id changed it on the driveway on a windy day, didnt notice the smell of the oil, a bit gassy!

leaving the tub open in the garage simulated a nice gas leak

I was banned from using the driveway for repairs for a while!

thatdude

2,660 posts

157 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Ignore them, most of the manufacturers of "Sealed for Life" gearboxes specify regular oil changes in other markets. Follow the change schedule recommended in the US.
Thanks, I figured that it was bks. Being educated in the field of Chemistry, I worry about the degredation of the oil with time and with mechanical stress (and heat as well). What are the drain intervals in the US?

Can anyone recommend a good (really good) automatic specialist in the north london / essex / hertfordshire area?

beko1987

1,720 posts

164 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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I chucked the garage that changed the clutch on my puma a bottle of gear oil and asked them to change it at 109k, it made a big difference.

When I got the XM a regular change on the auto box is a job that needs doing regularly. Drained out what looked like bovril, refilled with ATF and it immediatly changed up better. Will do it again in 4k, so it will have had a 10k flush.

I advocate regular changes!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

228 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Ignore them, most of the manufacturers of "Sealed for Life" gearboxes specify regular oil changes in other markets. Follow the change schedule recommended in the US.
Thing is if you have the drivetrain warranty and full BMW s/h and it fails then you get a new box. Its not your problem really is it if they keep telling you sealed for life and you even get written confirmation from them. I'd wager if you ask then to sign an official document stating that it is sealed for life and doesn't need oil changes they might think again

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Monday 28th October 2013
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
Krikkit said:
Ignore them, most of the manufacturers of "Sealed for Life" gearboxes specify regular oil changes in other markets. Follow the change schedule recommended in the US.
Thing is if you have the drivetrain warranty and full BMW s/h and it fails then you get a new box. Its not your problem really is it if they keep telling you sealed for life and you even get written confirmation from them. I'd wager if you ask then to sign an official document stating that it is sealed for life and doesn't need oil changes they might think again
Quite possibly, but who pays for the BMW drivetrain warranty on a 120? M5 yes, diesel hatch, probably not.

Rovinghawk

13,300 posts

188 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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Filled for life. Refilled for longer life.

mcford

819 posts

204 months

Monday 28th October 2013
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The specified gearbox oil change interval for the Felicia is every 40,000 miles, so it's quite likely overdue. Be very careful when removing the speedometer drive to refill it as it's not unknown for part of it to drop off in the gearbox.