Manual Transaxle Oil: top up or replace?

Pootcrum · Post by **Pootcrum** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 3:48 pm

Hi All,

Searched for an answer to this newbie question but couldn't find anything.

Simple question, I have found my gearbox oil is sitting right on the L mark (1991 Brumby). So I want more oil in there, but my question is do I top it up with new oil or drain and replace the lot?

The condition of the oil seems fine to me, still nice colour and quite transparent, but I was wondering if its one of those cases where I don't know the oil that was put in, and so should not mix old with new?

Cheers

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 3:55 pm

My first question would be why do you want more oil in it? You'd end up just pushing the extra oil out seals

Post by **TOONGA** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 3:55 pm

it is more than likely that your transaxle oil has never been changed and at the bottom you will find "glitter" (if you empty it)

I wouldn't just top it up I would replace the oil with a good brand of oil synthetic or fossil

TOONGA

rubisubi · Post by **rubisubi** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:24 pm

RSR 555 wrote:My first question would be why do you want more oil in it? You'd end up just pushing the extra oil out seals

True, i cant top mine up without it leaking out especially if parked on a hill. Its seems happy to be on low, i only top it up if i go 4wd doing steep climbs. Although by the end of the week it leaks out.

Pootcrum · Post by **Pootcrum** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:50 pm

Well I assumed if it said it was low, then there should be more in there, but if that is not the case then I wont worry about it.

Post by **TOONGA** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:16 pm

Pootcrum wrote:Hi All,

Searched for an answer to this newbie question but couldn't find anything.

Simple question, I have found my gearbox oil is sitting right on the L mark (1991 Brumby). So I want more oil in there, but my question is do I top it up with new oil or drain and replace the lot?

The condition of the oil seems fine to me, still nice colour and quite transparent, but I was wondering if its one of those cases where I don't know the oil that was put in, and so should not mix old with new?

Cheers

Pootcrum wrote:Well I assumed if it said it was low, then there should be more in there, but if that is not the case then I wont worry about it.

if it is low on the stick like you said in your first post it needs oil and as I said you might as well change the oil out as more than likely it hasnt been changed you will only cause damage to the box if it is low in oil

TOONGA

Pootcrum · Post by **Pootcrum** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:43 pm

TOONGA wrote:if it is low on the stick ... it needs oil

This is what I would have thought, cheers Toonga. I will keep an eye out for the "glitter" as it drains.

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:03 am

I doubt it's never been changed. It's only due every 2-4 years /50-100,000km depending on your model. If in doubt you can change it, as noted above if there is any debris in there changing will help get it out.
If you do find some debris on the draining, I suggest filtering that old oil to remove the debris and then refilling it with the same oil and doing a few more km, and repeating the process once or twice more. This will help remove all of it so that you can put new oil in and not have abrasive chunks floating about in it.

Pootcrum · Post by **Pootcrum** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:48 pm

Cheers Dazz, thats a good idea, havent got around to checking it out yet as I have had other issues that were more pressing, but I hope to spend a bit more time this weekend.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:22 pm

Oh.. Sorry I miss read your first post

my bad

I thought it was on the normal mark

don't know what I read.. but yeah I'd drain the gearbox oil and refill with new stuff. If your looking to change your gearbox oil earlier than normal, say every 25,000km, then I'd suggest you go with Castrol VMX80 but if your looking to change it every 50,000km, then look towards the Castrol EPX 80W-90

Pootcrum · Post by **Pootcrum** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:47 pm

Cheers Paul, thats alright.

Wasn't sure about what sort of oil to get, but was eyeing off a few Castrol makes, the Multitrax caught my attention due to it saying Subaru on the front, but I will have a look for the two you mentioned aswell. Got the girlfriends birthday tomorrow, I fear that will take a fair chunk of the Brumbys funding away

olddog642 · Post by **olddog642** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:57 pm

Pootcrum wrote:Cheers Paul, thats alright.

Wasn't sure about what sort of oil to get, but was eyeing off a few Castrol makes, the Multitrax caught my attention due to it saying Subaru on the front, but I will have a look for the two you mentioned aswell. Got the girlfriends birthday tomorrow, I fear that will take a fair chunk of the Brumbys funding away

What you do is buy something that you need for the Brumby and give it to the girlfriend and then when its your birthday she can buy you something that she needs ehheheeh.
Hylton:twisted: