Gearbox oil information

[QuantumJohn]

Hi guys,

I have searched high and low for this but really need any anwser.
I understand that there should be approx 3 litres of oil in the gearbox. Can someone confirm this as I have read on the Audiworld site it should be nearer 4.2 litres with the gearbox and rear drive/transfer box?

There are 2 drain plugs, 1 on the fined casing of the actual gearbox and 1 on what I imagine is the transfer box at the back of the gearbox.

Does the one filler fill both these boxes i.e. are they all one? Does the 3 litres account for both of them?
Why have 2 drain plugs?

Thanks,
John

[ChipHazzard]

John

The gearbox holds just short of 3.5l I'll try and sort you the info from elsa later on when I get home, assuming her indoors doesnt want to take a quick spin down the test track to bluewater

Mike

[QuantumJohn]

Mike,

Thanks. I need this info pretty soon as what came out of my gearbox at the weekend explains an awful lot!

Thanks,
John

[MarkB]

Do tell... isn't your engine and box super low miles?

[ChipHazzard]

IIRC the drain bolt on the box is on the underside and the filler is on the side by the driveshaft. I'm not sure if this does both the oil is 45/90, give me a bell later to remind me and i can pop up if you like and bring my laptop with me

[QuantumJohn]

Mark,

Yes it is/was.

I am afraid I can't go in to detail here yet in case it jepodises future matters.

John

[MCB]

There are 2 drain plugs, 1 on the fined casing of the actual gearbox and 1 on what I imagine is the transfer box at the back of the gearbox.

Does the one filler fill both these boxes i.e. are they all one?

Spot on John

Does the 3 litres account for both of them?

From memory (Failing) thought it was 2.5L, anyway I checked the level with a bit of bent wire 7mm down from fill hole, depending on who you speak to our boxes are/not sensitive to this. Also Motul 300 75w-90 was recommended so used that.

Just a thought, I made sure I could undo the fill plug before I drained the oil, sure you will do this.

[JonnyX]

Should be ~3 litres for the correct level (I am sure you can get more in!). The correct level
should be just below the fill hole. Pretty hard to gauge this on jackstands though as the
car has to be level. Asked Doug to check mine last time, when he pulled the plug about 1/2 litre
of oil poured out. To drain, you remove both the plugs on the underside. There is only one fill
hole which is on the NS of the tranmission casing, above the NS driveshaft.

Don't use a GL5 gear oil. I believe these have a high sulphur content which isn't great for brass synchros.
Remove the filler plug before removing the drain plugs. This helps with draining AND enables you to put
oil back in after draining. Apparently it's quite common to drain the transmission then not be able to
remove the filler plug to get oil back in!.
I think a fully synthetic 75w-90 is what is needed. Personally, I would get this from Audi.

[QuantumJohn]

From memory (Failing) thought it was 2.5L, anyway I checked the level with a bit of bent wire 7mm down from fill hole, depending on who you speak to our boxes are/not sensitive to this. Also Motul 300 75w-90 was recommended so used that.

Just a thought, I made sure I could undo the fill plug before I drained the oil, sure you will do this.

Thanks. I've also read that. Some people say 7mm below filler hole and the bently manual mentions up to the filler hole.

I didn't check the fill plug first but then not much point as the gearbox is going to have to come out anyway.

Thanks,
John

[bneaves]

I seem to remember its up to the filler hole for non S or RS boxes, ie no trans oil cooler. For box with cooler ive seen anywhere between 9mm and 7mm below bung level.

Also trying to get gear oil out of Audi is difficult as they rarely stock it in 1l containers, only 205l barrels

[jacko788]

guys stop being so pedantic please ur scaring owners away always fills gearboxes up to the filler hole till it just runs out,its splash fed so not that critical surely as long as u keep an eye on things.

[jacko788]

jonnyx says dont use a gl5 gear oil and MCB says motul 300 was recommended looked on the motul 300 can which my bro has put in his scooby box and it states this is a GL5 gear oil!!! another can of worms has been opened here i think lol

[QuantumJohn]

guys stop being so pedantic please ur scaring owners away always fills gearboxes up to the filler hole till it just runs out,its splash fed so not that critical surely as long as u keep an eye on things.

The gearboxes aren't just splash fed, they have a pump to get the oil up to the cooler and back.

John

[MCB]

Also think the layshaft is submerged...

[BRETTCOLLINS]

Hope you get it sorted soon john...