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Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:27 am

I plan on changing the DGO on my 89' automatic. I changed it once before by dropping the pan but don't remember what kind of oil I replaced it with. After reading a couple of posts I'm a little worried that I used the wrong stuff. The guy that helped me do the job had me re-use the diff. pan gasket with some orange RTV (I think that is what that gasket compound is called). I have noticed little leaks around the RTV but ignored them. My question: Is pulling the pan the best way to drain the DGO? Should I get a new gasket or just apply some new RTV? What is the best DGO to use (I think one of the posts mentioned redline from napa)? Is there also a preference for ATF as I will be changing that as well. I use the same strategy of pulling the pan but I DO always get a new gasket for the ATF pan. Does the same recommendations for DGO also apply for an 82' diesel westy?Any support would be much appreciated!!!

Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:38 pm

Replace the gasket, and before taking it appart get a couple of knives and scrapers to help you remove the old rtv. As far as the correct gear oil consult your owners manual. Most automatic transmisions have a filter that should be replaced everytime you change the oil. Check your owners manual on this as well.

Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:56 pm

Replace the gasket and don't use RTV. I too have an '89 auto. When I changed the diff oil last summer I couldn't find the gasket anywhere but the dealer. As I recall it was pricey (Like $45 bucks!!) but I've done this every few years and I've never had a leak. On both the diff and the trans, be sure to torque the pan down carefully. It's easy to pinch the gasket and probably easy to distort the pan. As for oil, Bentley says through '89 (when my copy was published) 1.3 liters of SAE 90 hypoid MIL-L-2105B. Bentley also says this is the same spec as API/GL-5. In my experierence, SAE 90 is hard to find and the readily available 80w90 is what I have used for years without problem. I've also been using the cheap walmart brand ATF for years. As with all oil products, some will tell you that only synthetic is worth using while others will say it doesn't really matter. I'm in the second camp. IMHO as long as it has the right API markings, even with the cheap store brand, you should be good to go. As for the ATF filter, this is the same on all '80s VW automatics. A new filter is usually packaged with a new gasket.