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DirtReynolds
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2011
Posts: 37
Location: B-Ham, WA
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 Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:58 pm Post subject: Syncro transaxle gear oil capacity? |
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| Getting different amounts using online resources....so, I want to drain and refill transaxle in my '86 syncro with 2.2 conversion. What is gear oil capacity? And, any recommendations for synthetic gear oils? Thanks! |
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zeohsix
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Joined: August 31, 2012
Posts: 501
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Around 5quarts. Swepco 201 can be had on Ebay for a decent price. |
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T3 Pilot
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Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Ref. Bentley 34.1a
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1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
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Syncro Jael
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Joined: December 19, 2013
Posts: 2204
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Totally empty is 4.5 quarts. But there is .5 quarts that will not drain out the plug.
I just changed mine and it will take 4 quarts to see it ooze out the filler plug.
Oh, this is a Syncro.
Last edited by Syncro Jael on Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Franklinstower
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Joined: September 21, 2006
Posts: 1896
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:51 am Post subject: |
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I filled mine this past weekend. My 2wd took nine pints after rebuild -swepco 210 with a splash of swepco 714 to ease cold weather shifting.
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16508
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Franklinstower
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Joined: September 21, 2006
Posts: 1896
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Franklinstower wrote: |
| I filled mine this past weekend. My 2wd took nine pints after rebuild -swepco 210 with a splash of swepco 714 to ease cold weather shifting. |
How did you find out about adding 714 to the 210? (Apologies to the OP). |
I am working with a Porsche shop (vintage Porsche's through 80's mainly) and I was discussing with the owner the GL4 debate with the Vanagon Transaxles. That is when he said he switched to Swepco 210 a long time ago and it has proven to be the best gear oil to use in the Porsche transaxles. I then asked about the problems with cold weather shifting (using straight 210) and he said they add 714 into every trans they rebuild or service at a 8:1 ratio. So I mixed 8 pints 210 with 1 pint 714. This info actually came from the Swepco rep. You can also find it well documented on many Porsche forums.
The Swepco Cocktail is now making it into the Vanagon world!
Oil Debates are not my thing -however many builders (except Go-Westy)have jumped off the Redline wagon and now use the 210. To each his own.
Paul
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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gl98115
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Joined: April 22, 2011
Posts: 263
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Franklinstower wrote: |
| So I mixed 8 pints 210 with 1 pint 714. This info actually came from the Swepco rep. |
10W, 20W, or 30W 714?
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Franklinstower
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Joined: September 21, 2006
Posts: 1896
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| gl98115 wrote: |
| Franklinstower wrote: |
| So I mixed 8 pints 210 with 1 pint 714. This info actually came from the Swepco rep. |
10W, 20W, or 30W 714? |
I'll ask. I brought the shop a jug and he pumped it in. I didn't catch the weight.
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'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug |
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syncromike
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Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Boise, ID
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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I had a AA rebuild last year and Daryl recommended I replace the oil after 500 miles or so with Red Line MT-90. I pumped out the old oil and managed to get almost all of it from the top drain plug with a fluid pump from HF. It took a bit over 4.5 QT, pretty close to the 4.7 QT spec.
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16508
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| syncromike wrote: |
| I had a AA rebuild last year and Daryl recommended I replace the oil after 500 miles or so with Red Line MT-90. I pumped out the old oil and managed to get almost all of it from the top drain plug with a fluid pump from HF. It took a bit over 4.5 QT, pretty close to the 4.7 QT spec. |
Interesting. Daryl recommended Swepco 210 for mine. I am running an EJ25 with a Peloquin TBD and taller third and fourth gears so maybe that makes the difference. He specifically said that he'd not want me to use Redline MT-90. 
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'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
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Syncro Jael
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Joined: December 19, 2013
Posts: 2204
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I was running Swepco 201 in my transaxle with a Subaru EJ22. Daryl told me to get that out and just use a good brand name Full Synthetic 75/90. He said the Swepco was too thick for my application and second gear could become an issue.
I purchased Mobil 1 75/90, called him for the pat on the head, and installed. But this was after I already had a main bearing issue. Shifting was so much better in all gears.
When the new tranny gets here I will be asking AA Transaxle what they recommend I run. I still have 2 gallons of Swepco 201 in the garage. The front diff is still running Swepco. |
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PaulGinAZ
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Joined: September 19, 2005
Posts: 87
Location: Chandler, Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Here is the quote from the AA Transaxle website:
http://www.aatransaxle.com/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.htm
We suggest a name brand 75/90 Synthetic for stock Vanagons with stock 2.1L motors such as Valvoline, Royal Purple, Amsoil or Penzoil.
Use MTL for the Jetta style units for "normal" usage.
For higher power applications over 150 HP, a thicker weight racing type oil is highly recommended. Swepco 210 (80/140 wt) is the recommended choice (the Porsche boys love it.) 210 is better in colder applications than 201, but both will shift a bit stiffer when cold..
The high power SVX and TDi conversions will eat up your ring/pinions if your not careful...beware...We recommend Swepco 210 for the higher HP/Torque and heavy rigs and to change every 2 yrs max.
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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PaulGinAZ
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Joined: September 19, 2005
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Location: Chandler, Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Of course! The challenge for me is to figure out if I should use Swepco 201 or 210... and if I am starting the truck with a fresh transaxle rebuild should I use something else and then change to Swepco? So many variables. 
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-1989 Syncro Tristar TDi on Air Ride
-1980 Scirocco "S" with 16v Oettenger
-1996 VW Cabrio VR6 turbo
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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syncromike
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Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Boise, ID
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: |
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I was wrong in my earlier post, Daryl mentioned Royal Purple to me, not Red Line. I knew it had a color in the name... I have stock 2.1 and stock transaxle.
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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop |
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DirtReynolds
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Joined: April 25, 2011
Posts: 37
Location: B-Ham, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| AATransaxle recommended redline for the initial 500 mile break in....then swap to a name brand synthetic. I went with the Royal Purple...as it was one of the brands they recommended. The rebuild now has about 2000 miles on it, and running great. I highly recommend AA, Daryl and Matt are great! |
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cawvin
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Joined: August 29, 2013
Posts: 63
Location: Whatcom County
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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I got into this job yesterday, I had reached 500 miles on my rebuilt trans.
I had a 1 gallon jug of swepco 201 with the clever little hand pump that someone on here suggested. Very helpful.
Pulled the fill plug out first, then the drain plug:
I had the bow of the ship up on ramps to aid the draining. I used regular old Valvoline 80/90 for my break-in.
Let it drain until it wouldn't. Then I rolled it off the ramps, plugged the drain, and began filling with the swepco, wondering how I would stop at 9/16" below the fill port as the technical bulletin describes. At first I thought it would've been clever to score a mark on the inside of the case while I had it apart. But i couldn't quite monkey my hand mirror/flashlight rig in there anyhow, so that might not have done much. Then I came up with this:
Which I feel pretty good about. In the end it took almost the whole gallon (syncro) to reach the mark. Topped it off with 2oz. of vermont grade B maple syrup, for luck.  Shifting smoothly down the road. |
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