Changing Manual Transmission Oil

[Paulbeard]

Heating the oil was a step I could have used (I did my last drain and fill in January last year) and with a new trans going in this week ( ) I'll be doing it more regularly, like 500-1000-then some interval after that, once things are settled. Thanks for the reminder on the extension, too.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Ahwahnee]

For my van -- Trans lube change during the Summer Olympics... coolant change during the Winter Olympics.

Marathon and Nordic Combined are the ideal events: Plenty of time and do not require close attention to follow.

I use the IV method shown - like that big funnel, will try that next time.

[Wildthings]

If you are worried about the swarf just get a seconded magnetic drain plug and swap in a clean plug every few thousand miles. The cost and labor of doing this are both very low and thus you are more apt to do this than changing the oil out repeatedly.

[jimf909]

[dobryan]

[Wildthings]

[jimf909]

^^^ Thanks. Seems simple enough.
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- Jim

[E1]

That is one fine method, WT. 👍🏼

Think I'll get a spare plug, and a rubber cork. Awesome idea.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Steve M.]

Just to add a thought here make sure the fill plug has been loosened and tightened as WildThings suggest if only for the reason that if something does happen where you drain all the oil out the drain plug you know you can get the fill plug opened to refill it.
The Fill Plug has had it's share of cuss words!
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[bobbyblack]

A method I've used when I forgot to put a crush washer in was to CLEAN both drain and fill locations very thoroughly, then rig up a shop vac to the Fill hole, run the vacuum and pull the drain, replace. Works with engine oil too but be aware of the breather leak..
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[dobryan]

[Sodo]

[?Waldo?]

I wonder how much dirt you'd suck into your transmission through the atmospheric bleed opening doing that.

[AndyBees]

[jimf909]

^^^ That becomes the perfect port to apply a controlled vacuum to so you can pull the drain plug and leave it open all afternoon w/out losing a drop.
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- Jim

[Sodo]

Vent is too small for the vacuum necessary. What can a vacuum pull, 5 psi (of 14 total)?

You need the volume of the filler hole (which is same size as the drain hole). Waldo if a little dirt got sucked in that’s nothing compared to the metal thats been circulating (and will be removed under the “new maintenance regime” ).

My foggy memory is suggesting that dirt entering the vent hole is caught in a “cavity” that it doesn’t get into the oil. (On a Syncro) but not sure on 2wd. Can the vent hole area can be brushed off cleaned on the outside?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Zeitgeist 13]

It might come in from all the seals around the axle flanges, shifter, and input shaft. Those seals are designed to keep oil in, but not to prevent negative pressure from drawing in air and crud.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[AndyBees]

Not that I am going to attempt this suggested method of changing magnetic plugs, but considering the comments, size of the drain hole, etc., are there any thoughts on the approximate amount of vacuum required to "hold" the oil without it puking out?
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[Wildthings]

[Sodo]

During that time where you hook up the vacuum and then until you getthe plug out, vacuum is maxed. At least the shift shaft is not moving and drive flanges are not turning, oil is cold, thick.

Maybe to just pull the plug out and shove another magnetic plug in quickly is good enough.

If you do it after the vans been parked for a couple weeks, the oil that departs your trans is “dregs” from the bottom, with the most settled metal. Its like a stool sample. If u see a lot of corn in it.....
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb