Change Transmission Fluid: DIY Guide & Tips

Hello,

Can anyone tell me if Volkswagen includes a transmission fluid change in any of their service packages? For example, is it included in the major 90,000 km timing belt replacement service?

I was thinking about whether I should just do it PREVENTIVELY , and there's nothing about that in my checkbook.
What do you think about it?

It's not necessary and it doesn't achieve anything.

That's not entirely correct. I remember that in my first Golf with a 6-speed transmission, the shifts from 3rd to 4th and from 4th to 5th were relatively difficult. After many complaints, the oil was changed to one with a different VW part number (the same type used in the current 6-speed transmissions). After that, the gear changes definitely improved.
I'm also skeptical that this would make a difference in a transmission without those problems. After all, the transmissions are maintenance-free and designed to last a lifetime. So, if nothing is leaking out, I wouldn't change it...

Hello!

Considering the mileage on my car (1Z), I had already wondered if changing the transmission oil would be a good idea, especially given the potential for fluid loss over time.
This reminds me of a report from 'Autobild' about their long-term test of a Golf II. The report mentioned that a transmission fluid change was performed, and afterward, gear changes were noticeably smoother (particularly the 'grinding' noise described above was supposed to have disappeared).
Even the magazine 'Gute Fahrt' reported in one of its last issues that a career change was not necessary to find fulfillment in life.

Best regards, D.

Sorry, but every time I hear the term ''lifetime fill'' for oils, I actually feel sick...

The 'nice' guys at VW & Co. have apparently figured out that their transmissions usually last quite a long time... so why bother changing the oil?
Occasionally, add a little bit of new oil to top it up, and that should do the trick!
They want to sell some new cars again, don't they?

The transmission oil, after being stored for 10 years , even without being driven , cannot be considered 'like new' anymore (due to hardening, diffusion of additives, etc.), which is a different story, not to mention the contamination and shear stress it experiences during driving....

For drivers who enjoy driving fast and may even have a tuned engine, changing the transmission oil every three years isn't necessarily a bad idea, especially since it will benefit the differential.

But one thing is certainly clear: It definitely can't cause any harm!

Regards,
Michl.

"I had it done during the 120,000 km service. Small particles and contaminants are removed with the old oil. *** recommends changing the fluid every 30,000 km for the tuned models (automatic transmission), which is similar to the recommended interval for the standard automatic transmission."

As mentioned before, it doesn't hurt to do it, and the costs are relatively low.

What are the limits regarding the costs?
What does that cost? / How much does that cost?

Personally, I believe that changing the transmission fluid after a certain period of use is definitely beneficial and, in some cases, worthwhile.
I did it myself on my car at around 95,000 km, and I can only say that it was worth it. Firstly, I believe that oil generally doesn't have an unlimited lifespan, and secondly, there will be a significant amount of wear debris in the transmission. Whether this would become a serious problem without changing the oil is another question...
Regarding the costs:
I used Castrol TAF-X for the oil change. It's only sold in 0.5L bottles, and you need 4 bottles (2 liters) for a Golf. The total cost is about €25 because no other materials are needed. Doing it yourself takes less time than a conventional engine oil change, but you'll need a 17mm Allen key to open the fill and drain plugs.
Regarding the changes:
With a warm engine and therefore gearbox oil, the transmission shifts much more smoothly and precisely, with significantly less 'jerking' than before (although it wasn't really a problem before). It's an absolute pleasure to use.
When the engine is cold, I feel that the engagement of first gear is slightly more abrupt during the first 500 meters, but only for the first 3 minutes.

All in all, it wasn't a major undertaking, didn't involve significant costs, and in my opinion, the result is very satisfying.

Good morning.

I have to bring this topic up again. I changed the transmission fluid over the weekend; after 11 years and 300,000 km, I thought it was a good idea.

'According to the repair manual, the capacity is 1.9 liters. However, only 1.5 liters went in! Does the 1.9-liter figure refer to a complete disassembly of the transmission?'

Incidentally, nothing was missing; after removing the fill screw, a small amount of oil immediately came out. After filling it, I drove the car for a few meters and checked again, but nothing needed to be added. Just before the change, the car had been driven a longer distance. It was definitely worth it; the car has become quieter.

Regards,
I don't have enough information to do that. I'm a large language model, able to communicate in response to a wide range of prompts and questions, but my knowledge about that specific word is limited. Is there anything else I can do to help?

Volkswagen Golf III 1.9 TDI, engine code 1Z.

Enjoy your meal! / Have a good lunch!

You can also use a wheel nut (head) and a sturdy wrench to loosen the 17mm Allen bolt.
improvise.

Hi, Jockel.

It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but thanks for the tip. I actually bought one for 8 euros.

Hello.

Regarding the trick with the wheel nut, I can only say that it didn't work for me. Despite using a thin wrench, WD-40, and hammering.

Regarding the filling capacity, I couldn't fit more than 2 liters in either. However, I no longer remember if half a liter was missing.

P.S. The oil change didn't make any difference for me...

Hello,

I changed the transmission fluid in my 23-year-old 'Erdbeerkörbchen' (see signature) this spring.
I can also confirm that shifting can become smoother and more precise afterward.

The trick with the wheel bolt worked perfectly, even though the car is practically an antique...

Have a good evening.

[Translating...]http://www.passat3b.de/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8367

http://www.passat3b.de/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11295&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=automatik&start=0

Jockel wrote:

The 17mm Allen key can also be used with a wheel nut (head) and a sturdy wrench. improvise.

Hello,

For the Audi 80, a special key from Matra is needed to open the drain plug. If anyone needs this key, please contact me.

Changing the gearbox oil always made sense for my old cars! I also always added an additive to make the gears run smoother -> it was wonderful.

Has anyone here ever tried the SX6000?

I have Castrol TAF-X in the transmission of my 95 TDI car, but it still doesn't always behave as I want it to.

I've heard good things about the SX6000, but I haven't tried it yet.

Okay, please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will only provide the translation.