<<Hey whatsup fellas!
   Quick question...How do you change the manual transmision fluid on
our piece of crap transmissions?  I looked in the manual and in the
gti-vr6 archives and found nothing on this subject. I'm just curious-do
you think putting something like Red Line transmission fluid will make
these less prone to breaking down? I want to change my fluid...I only
have 6,600 miles on my car.  When do you guys recommend I change to the
synthetic stuff and how?

Thanks guys!
   Jose Alicea GTI-VR6 in civic racer land-Mira Mesa, CA!!>>

Jose,

The factory VR6 box come with VW synthetics already!  Those suckers are
nearly $30 per quart.  While switching to Redline MT90 will improve your
smoothness in shifting, it proably won't extend your life of your gear box.

I tried quite a number of tranny fluids while my box was grinding, the
factory stuff is quite good.  I had my box rebuilt about 2000 miles ago and
still running the factory fluids.  It's a little stiff when the fluids are
cold but nice and smooth when warmed up.  I have 2 quarts of MT90 in the
wings...

You'll need a 17mm hex socket to drain the tranny and a funnel/hose to fill
the fluid back into the tranny.  The fill plug is on the side of the tranny
so you'll have to run a hose from the top (easier then these pumps stores
are selling), and stick a funnel to keep it clean.  The 17mm hex socket is
not that common.  A Snap on or Mac truck will have it or call Imparts,
(they advertise in Autoweek).  I forget how much it was (near $20?) but
pays for itself after 1-2 uses.  If you don't want to go through all this
trouble, Jiffy Lube will do it for about $18~ when you provide your own
fluids.  I had my local Jiffy Lube do it on my previous Ford Probe GT's.

Jim

Jim:

I just replace my tranny fluid with Redline MTL, and I can't say as though
it was worth it.  Some say you should use the 90-weight oil instead of the
MTL, but I coulnd't find any 90.   BTW, my car has 18k miles on it.

If you still choose to change yours, you first have to drain the tranny
fluid just like you drain your oil... remove both bolts from the tranny
(obviously.)   The tricky part is getting the new fluid in:  My father (a
mechanic) had this big 'syringe' looking-thing that he filled with Redline
and forced into the tranny.   Without that syringe thingy, it would have
been next to impossible to get the fluid in.

Hope that helps,
Todd Taylor
Venom Motorsports

[...]

I got just a plain old 17mm hex key at Sears and it worked fine on my old
GTI.  I think it cost me $7-8.  For as infrequently as you'll use it, the
plain old hex key should work just fine.

It's also easier if you remove the battery.  Gives you a little more room to
get a funnel, etc down into the fill hole.

Jeff
97 DE

[...]

On the topic of manual tranny fluid...those of you who can't find a
17mm allen anywhere (they can be tough to locate) or are in a jam can
use one of the lug nuts. I've got an old lug nut that I picked up at
the dealer for $0.00...use with vice grips and presto..17mm allen. The
bolts really aren;t torqued on all that tight, so you don;t need much
leverage at all to get it loose.

Nick Markou

[...] 21 lines deleted

> When you refilled the
> transmission case this fluid wasn't replaced.   When you drive,
> transmission fluid is flung around within the case by the gear sets and the
> differential/ring gear, recoating the gears and refilling the nooks and
> crevices.  Since you haven't driven the car yet, this will make you short
> on the initial fill up to 1/2 a quart of transmission fluid. That is why
> people have not been able to get all of the 2.1 quarts in the case before
> the fill hole starts to leak out the new fluid.  By driving around the
> block and then immediately rechecking and topping off the transmission, you
> will fill the case to capacity.

> Although it is nearly impossible to overfill a transmission case, it can be
> done.  When the transmission fluid starts to flow out of the fill hole,
> stop filling and replace the fill plug.   Also remember to fill your
> transmission (or oil for that matter) on a level surface.

Most people who've filled a VW tranny more than a few times have come to the
conclusion that it's easier to refill through the speedo cable access (in our
case it's a sensor, not a cable) and just dump the correct amount in.

You can then double-check the level at the fill hole later.  But beware, some
older trannies *had* to be overfilled, the fill hole was too low!  (This is
pretty well documented and in fact, VWoA's bulletins on it suggested the above
procedure).  If you didn't "overfill" these, 5th gear would eventually become
quite unhappy about it.

-Uwe-

>    * Subject: [gti-vr6] 02A transmission capacity/gear noise
>    * From: Uwe Ross <Uwe.Rosspobox>
>    * Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 14:29:34 -0500
>
> Most people who've filled a VW tranny more than a few times have come to the
> conclusion that it's easier to refill through the speedo cable access (in our
> case it's a sensor, not a cable) and just dump the correct amount in.

Several people have asked me now where this thing is located.  It looks like
this:

http://www.wso.net/ross/Uwe/VR6/Service/Speedo_Sensor.gif

It's #9 and #10 in that picture.  The whole "assembly" comes out (but I don't
remember exactly how).  I can't find a picture of it installed on the tranny
anywhere, but I went and double-checked on my car and it's located at at very
back of the transaxle, on the passenger side of the differential housing.  It
has a 3-pin connector.  Find your exhaust downpipes and look abut six inches
towards the driver's side and you'll find it.

-Uwe-

Rodney wrote,


> Thanks Myron,

My pleasure ;~)

> Is the drain/fill easy to get to? Maybe I should just do it myself
instead of
> having the dealer do it. Maybe I should buy a Bentley manual and a lift!


It's easy to do if you have the right tools.  You need to have a 17 mm
Allen socket or wrench.  It costs about 5 to 9 dollars at the local auto
parts store, though they may need to order it.  You should also have a hand
pump which costs about 10 dollars.  These tools, a torque wrench & socket
wrench,  a jack and four stands (if you can afford to buy a lift just to
change your trans fluid,  then just have your personal mechanic change the
trans fluid for you or just drive one your other 5 sports cars :~)), and a
oil catch pan and your in business.  It's not difficult, just time
consuming.  If you know your way around cars, then go for it, if not take
it to a trusted mechanic.

Myron Ybarra
MidKnight Motorsport
http://members.tripod.com/~MIDKNIGHT_MOTORSPORT

I installed the MT90 today.  It took about 30 phone calls to find a store
that had it, including race shops etc.

Anyway, I drove my vehicle onto my homemade ramps, about 3".  Removed the
front plug.  No oil came out.  My pinky detected the level just below the
plug.  I removed rear plug and drained the contents.  Came out like apple
cider.  I measured the contents and sure enough, 2 qt..  I used a big
funnel with a 2' clear tube attached.  At the end I attached a 90deg elbow
reducing the dia to 3/8ths.  It fit snug.  It was simple to dump the two
quarts in.  A very small amount poured out.  Reinstall the plug, done.
Easy job.
Results?  I noticed the difference almost immediately.  A couple times
around the block shows a marked improvement in all gears.  More driving may
yield further improvements.  It does not remove the notchy feel, but
smoothes the overall feel.  A good mod.  Worth the effort.  Cost about $16.

I also bought a set of PIAA's.  Supposed to be white.  They're 50 or 60
watts and claim to perform as 100watt bulbs.  I'm gonna install in the
lows.  I'll report back.

I found a new(another) GTI owner.  He owns the store I bought the oil from.
 He has a '98 Ginster DE.  He's done cams, chip, cone filter with air bath,
rims/tires, suspension, euro switch, dual rounds and he's talking about a
blower.  He claims 250hp?  He blew one tranny last month and VW didn't
blink, FIXED.  He says his M & P also bought a couple of Audi's at the
dealer.  I'm gonna send him the List info.
TomV

I just did the switch yesterday. I had the front of my car lifted maybe 6
inches. I drained the old stuff saving about a cup in a clean disposable cup
(just in case) and filled through the front level-ckecking-hole-thingy. It
took both of my bottles of Redline MT-90 and maybe half of the cup of the
old stuff to get a very minor dribble out of said hole. I plugged it back up
and away I went.
The Redline does seem to be a little improvement over stock but definitely
not the cure all for those gear problems we all face from time to time.

L8R
Brendon

>Anyone know the official spec for how much fluid the O2A takes?

1 quart and 1 litre are almost exactly the same so 2 litres is more or less
2 quarts.  I just changed the tranny oil in my O2A and it took 2 bottles of
Redline MT-90.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel T. Bell [mailto:joel.bellduke]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 8:55 PM
To: GTI List; GLX LIST
Subject: [gti-vr6] O2A trannie fluid


Anyone know the official spec for how much fluid the O2A takes?  I had the
parts guy look it up on his computer a couple weeks ago when I picked up my
Redline and he said 4.3 quarts...I've recently been informed it's more like
2 liters...haven't done the switch yet so I don't know myself.


********************************************
Joel T. Bell
Duke University
Nicholas School of the Environment
Coastal Environmental Program
********************************************

I would also recommend that you make sure that you can remove the upper
(fill) plug before you remove the lower (drain) plug.  It shouldn't be a
problem (it wasn't, even on my older car) but in case it is, you wouldn't
want to be stuck with an empty tranny and no way to fill it.

Cheers,
- Bob T.