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Tue Jul 13, 2010 4:11 pm

What is the average life of an 88 transmission?

Tue Jul 13, 2010 4:12 pm

150,000-180,000 miles

Tue Jul 13, 2010 4:47 pm

For a Beetle with regular gear oil changes and a stock engine, life is unlimited. Likewise for most Toyota manual truck transmissions. For Vanagons, the 3rd/4th gear drive hub cracks and fails at around 100,000 miles to 200,000 miles for the models built before 1990. Half way through 1990, the hub was redesigned and no longer fails.

My layman's theory is that except for the 3/4 drive hub problem, Vanagon transaxles would have almost unlimited life IF:
1. Gear oil is changed annually with a high quality gear oil (say, Swepco 201 or something in the the VW GL line of oils);
2. Forced downshifting is avoided (you know the kind - - when you can hear the synchro whining to get the trans in the lower gear); and
3. High loading from higher-powered engine transplants or jerking on/off throttle is avoided.

I think changing gear oil is critical since almost all the parts in the system are wear items and contribute metal chips of varying size and hardness which can eventually wear out all the bearings and other wear surfaces if not flushed out. Nothing can prevent the 3/4 drive hub failure, however except replacment of that part with the stronger new design.

If you're asking the question because you're looking at buying a used transaxle, if it's a 1991, then at least you won't have the drive hub problem.

Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:06 pm

IMHO with proper maintenance, some mentionned above, I don't see why a manual transmission can't last forever. Saying that I mean that there are some mechanical things that might be needed BUT if a vehicle is well maintained, well treated, preventative maintenance, top quality parts and fluids, well hasn't it been proven in limited cases of any non Northern American vehicle that they 'can' go forever? :?: :roll: I guess that would particularly apply to a one owner or subsequent knowledgeable and caring owners. A Vanagon or other VW vehicle well as I say before. :wink:

Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:52 pm

Inlet wrote: What is the average life of an 88 transmission?

Aside from the 3rd/4th selector hub failure, these transmissions are durable. My 1988 Vanagon has 246,000 miles on it. The transmission was rebuilt at 98,000 miles because of the selector hub failure, but it has gone nearly 150,000 miles since then. The second gear synchro can be a little slow in cold weather, but aside from that, the tranny is quiet and shifts smoothly. I have no plans of rebuilding it any time soon.

David

Wed Jul 14, 2010 4:15 am

Mostly how it's driven, i personally know they will pass 350K and still quiet and shifts smoothly. Do some serious trans testing IF u lookto buy one with a hitch on it.

Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:40 am

The post was asking about "average" life. If you took a pole, you would find 180,000 to be close to average. This means some will last long after that, and some won't last as long. Hence the use of the term "average". Each van I've owned has had some transmission work because I haven't owned it since new. With multiple owners, you can never be sure of the maintenance. I'm sure some have had transmissions last for 300,000 miles, but that isn't average at all.

Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:34 am

My Syncro trans is scratchy 45K miles after a PO's rebuild. It had redline in it from the start, now changed to dino gl4. Apparently rebuilt by "German transaxles" I think in Oregon, installed by "a prominent Berkeley CA Vanagon shop." Probably on the low end of average...

Wed Jul 14, 2010 5:19 pm

When we bought our Westy 20+ years ago the PO rode in the back seat while my wife and I took turns driving. He was constantly talking throughout the drive.

I thought he was just an inveterate yakker but later suspected that he was trying to distract us from the sound of the gearbox.

It finally gave up and we got a rebuild from Daryl. Lesson learned and it has been a great ehicle despite all that.