TheSamba.com :: View topic - Changing front & rear diff oil...Am I a retard?

Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:49 pm

I just bought 2 gal. of 80w GL-4 gear oil ant the allen socket to change out both front and rear gearbox fluids. Problem is I can't seem to find any diagram in the Bently that shows where the drain and filler plugs are. I'm pretty sure I found the drains front and rear, but don't know where the fill plugs are. For some reason I have no luck actually finding what I need in the manual...seems like the organization/index is not real intuitive...or maybe I'm an idiot.

What I have figured out so far: Looks like I have to drop the rear skid plate to access the drain plug for rear diff. Front drain seems to be out in the open, on the bottom.

Where are the fill plugs? Obviously up higher... Anyone have a page reference to share, or any info on how to locate the fill plugs??

Thanks everyone!

Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:53 pm

The plugs are on the passenger's side, my own experiences may be useful:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=142068

Open the fill plug first, so that you can put more IN before you drain it all OUT. There's a horrible full-scale war over using the Red Line products. I thought my transmission shifted beautifully with Red Line MTL, but some people say it eats the transmission and my 3/4 Synchro Slider Hub went after about a year with it. Then again, it was way overdue to have GONE by then...

:shock:

I don't know.

Best!

Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:59 pm

Thanks ms.. that got me started. Glad to know it wasn't just me that couldn't find a diagram in the manual. :lol:

Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:02 pm

The tranny fill hole is obscured by the linkage, on the pass side. The front diff fill hole is on the driver side, between fins of the case. They are both 17mm allen socket.

Mark

sc-surfer wrote: I just bought 2 gal. of 80w GL-4 gear oil ant the allen socket to change out both front and rear gearbox fluids. Problem is I can't seem to find any diagram in the Bently that shows where the drain and filler plugs are. .............

Where are the fill plugs? Obviously up higher... Anyone have a page reference to share, or any info on how to locate the fill plugs??

Thanks everyone!

Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:43 pm

sc-surfer wrote: Thanks ms.. that got me started. Glad to know it wasn't just me that couldn't find a diagram in the manual. :lol:

yeah... bentley kinda sucks on this. ... i remember them being labeled in the diagrams as "oil drain plug" which is really the fill plug... or something screwy like that.

in any event, the fill plug is on the passenger side, get a good light and you'll spot it in no time.

Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:41 pm

Make sure you open the fill plug first because these can be very stubborn. If you cant fill it, don't drain it. I had a 17mm wrench on the 17mm allen and pushed so hard the wrench broke. Many years ago I took the van to have the diff oil changed, perhaps at the dealer and they charge me over an extra hour because they had trouble getting the fill plug open.

BTW - Some say GL-4 in the rear, GL-5 in the front.

Good luck.

Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:03 pm

Thanks All!!!

I'll remove the fill plug first for sure. I have an impact driver so hopefully that will work the plugs loose without too much drama. I bought a 19mm today because that was all I could think of while at the parts store. I'll be taking it back for a 17mm tomorrow and having a go at it. Hope all goes as planned!! But you know how it is when trying to get things done before a long trip...

Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:38 pm

A good tool to get the fill plugs out is this one:

<<http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=3198&group_ID=363>>

Works on the drain plugs also, but as others have said, only after you've got the fill plugs loosened.

When replacing, make sure not to over tighten.

- Kevin

Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:42 pm

Kevin,

Ya, that's basically what I got, just in the wrong size. And not Snap On. Will exchange for proper size tomorrow and apply force with my impact driver.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:52 am

Van-Cafe sells this tool for $5.00. Let us know how this turns out for you.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:39 am

davideric9 wrote: Van-Cafe sells this tool for $5.00. Let us know how this turns out for you.

Really good deal IMHO.
I have the Snap On version of that socket $50+ and the NLA transmission wrench.
Both have allowed me to free all stubborn plugs with gentle heat first.

dylan

Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:58 am

davideric9 wrote: Van-Cafe sells this tool for $5.00. Let us know how this turns out for you.

Bummer Peter is closed today. Maybe I can hold off 'till tomorrow and get the tool from him. The one I bought (that was the wrong size!!!) was still $30 even though it wasn't MAC or Snap On. I guess for $25 I can wait. Gotta get a couple of other things at Van-Cafe before we leave anyway. Thanks for the tip!!

I will follow up with the results. This should be a simple no-brainer. Drain fluid, add fluid...but it is a Vanagon :roll:

Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:03 am

davideric9 wrote: Van-Cafe sells this tool for $5.00. Let us know how this turns out for you.

Bummer Peter is closed today. Maybe I can hold off 'till tomorrow and get the tool from him. The one I bought (that was the wrong size!!!) was still $30 even though it wasn't MAC or Snap On. I guess for $25 I can wait. Gotta get a couple of other things at Van-Cafe before we leave anyway. Thanks for the tip!!

I will follow up with the results. This should be a simple no-brainer. Drain fluid, add fluid...but it is a Vanagon :roll:

Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:13 am

With the right tools and a little patience anything is possible, reguardless of the vehicle.
prelube the area in advance, use gentle heat to loosen it up, consistant pressure when removing.
It will work out for you.

dylan

Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:33 am

I have a snap-on and VC version if you want to borrow it.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:41 am

syncrodoka wrote: I have a snap-on and VC version if you want to borrow it.

PM sent.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:49 pm

Put the tools on your porch in the box with the tranny fluid.

Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:12 pm

Thanks to Syncrodoka I managed to finish the project. No real drama other than having to drop the syncro rear skid plate to access the drain plug for the transaxle. I swear some day I'll own a lift. I HATE crawling arround on the ground. At least I have concrete in our new place. Beats the gravel drive of out last place.

Plugs came out with a firm tug on my breaker bar. I was able to access the fill plug on the transaxle with an extension without removing the shift linkage. By putting the front wheels up on ramps I got quite a bit of fluid out.

Front diff was a piece of cake.

Observations: only a little 'fur' on the magnetic drain plugs, no big chunks. Seems to go into first gear from a stop much smother. Maybe the fluid level was low, or the new oil has a different viscosity??

On the other hand, there seems to be a little more noise transmitted through the shift lever. Any idea why? The sound is a light whirring sound that almost goes away entirely when I just touch the shift knob. Why do I have this sound and is there a way to quiet it? It has always bothered me and now it is slightly louder.

Glad to have it done for another 30k or so!!

Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:37 am

BTW, it was Van Cafe that told me to use gl-4 in the rear and gl-5 in the front. I guess you used gl-4 all the way around. I have not done the front diffs yet, I trust Van-Cafe and so i may use the GL-5.

Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:18 pm

kevinm wrote: A good tool to get the fill plugs out is this one:

<<http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=3198&group_ID=363>>

Works on the drain plugs also, but as others have said, only after you've got the fill plugs loosened.

When replacing, make sure not to over tighten.

- Kevin

I was able to follow the Vanganauts advice on pulling plugs and draining, filling and replacing plugs just fine. But I can't seem to get the plugs back in so they are flush with the tranny casing as I found them. They are tight but I didn't want to crank on them aggressively. Is it ok if the drain plugs are not flush, but rather three or four threads off the tranny case? :?