Right, i want to change the fluid in my gearbox and want to know the answers to the following questions:

1. How do you drain the fluid? Does it have a plug hole like the engine sump does etc?

2. How do i fill it back up again? I think it has a removeable cap on the top but can someone confirm?

3. How much fluid needs to go in? EXACT AMOUNT PLEASE!

4. Exactly which type of fluid do i need to use? Or are they all the same anyway?

Thanks :)

this'd be good as a sticky, if someone can get a correct answer.

I'm not sure where you drain it from,

but I've been told its best to fill it back up with a mix of half what came out and half new.

1. There's a drain plug underneath the passenger side drive flange.

2. There a filler plug above the passenger side drive flange.

3. Fill until it starts to run back out. The filler plug is also a level. Remember to park the car on level ground. The mk2 Golf Haynes book (it was the nearest) says 3.1 litres, but I don't believe this as I put less than 2 in my mk4 Polo box.

4. Use a quality 75W90 Synthetic transmission oil. I use Millers TRX as it was the cheapest I could find locally. If you have a Unipart near you, their own brand oil is actually Fuchs.

Do not put the old oil back in. You wouldn't wash in half dirty water, or put dirty oil back in your engine.

yep my haynes says 3.1 litres of 75w90

on some of the 6n's you fil it just above the reversing light swich..

1. Yes it has a drain plug

2. There is a filler plug too:

On models up to Oct 95 the filler plug is located on the left hand sie of the transmission housing, next to the driveshaft. For easier access turn steering wheel on full left lock.

On models built after Oct 95 the filler plug is on the front of the transmission housing, and can be accessed from above, or below if you have it jacked up on 4 level stands or a lift.

3. Quantity - 3.1 litres on models after Oct '95 and 2.7 litres on models pre Oct '95

4. Use SAE 75W/90 (best place to buy is direct from VW it's cheapest there - £4.39/ltr + vat)

So what you want to do is drain your oil. Then use a 17mm hex adapter on a wrench to open the filler plug (or a very large allen key). The plug will likely to be tight.

Then fill it back up until it begins to run back out of the filler hole (ensure your car is perfectly level for best results).

N.B Its pretty dammed awkward to fill it back up. I use a section of clean garden hose (about 3ft long) and a funnel. I open the filler plug and drop the hose down from above and put it in the filler hole then pour the oil in that way.

Access is easier with the car raised but if you do raise it make sure its level!

Also if your entirely replacing the oil it might be worth refilling it until it's level with the filler plug and begins to trickle out... then take it for short drive to distribute the oil around the transmission components. Let it settle for 10mins when you get back and check the level again.

1= Filler plug 2=Drain Plug (post 'Oct 95 models)

2. How do i fill it back up again? I think it has a removeable cap on the top but can someone confirm?

If you mean the plastic inspection plug at the top of the gearbox (viewable from the engine bay) then don't put any oil in there!

If you mean the plastic inspection plug at the top of the gearbox (viewable from the engine bay) then don't put any oil in there!

Just to warn again!! Don't put oil in plastic inspection plug. It is clutch. It will be very difficult to clean afterwards.

1. Yes it has a drain plug

2. There is a filler plug too:

On models up to Oct 95 the filler plug is located on the left hand sie of the transmission housing, next to the driveshaft. For easier access turn steering wheel on full left lock.

On models built after Oct 95 the filler plug is on the front of the transmission housing, and can be accessed from above, or below if you have it jacked up on 4 level stands or a lift.

3. Quantity - 3.1 litres on models after Oct '95 and 2.7 litres on models pre Oct '95

4. Use SAE 75W/90 (best place to buy is direct from VW it's cheapest there - £4.39/ltr + vat)

So what you want to do is drain your oil. Then use a 17mm hex adapter on a wrench to open the filler plug (or a very large allen key). The plug will likely to be tight.

Then fill it back up until it begins to run back out of the filler hole (ensure your car is perfectly level for best results).

N.B Its pretty dammed awkward to fill it back up. I use a section of clean garden hose (about 3ft long) and a funnel. I open the filler plug and drop the hose down from above and put it in the filler hole then pour the oil in that way.

Access is easier with the car raised but if you do raise it make sure its level!

Also if your entirely replacing the oil it might be worth refilling it until it's level with the filler plug and begins to trickle out... then take it for short drive to distribute the oil around the transmission components. Let it settle for 10mins when you get back and check the level again.

1= Filler plug 2=Drain Plug (post 'Oct 95 models)

2. How do i fill it back up again? I think it has a removeable cap on the top but can someone confirm?

If you mean the plastic inspection plug at the top of the gearbox (viewable from the engine bay) then don't put any oil in there!

Thanks very much for all the help guys! Thats what makes this forum great!

..and in particular thanks to the quotes above, i would've been putting oil in the clutch/inspection hole otherwise.

Thanks :)

Massive thanks to everyone that helped - i've now changed the oil.

Used 'mole grips' to undo the two plugs as i didn't have a hex piece, then used the hose pipe and funnel as someone mentioned and it's worked a treat!

Thanks :)

I changed the oil in mine a while back, it was easy enough to fill it straight from the bottle.. just buy 3 , 1 litre bottles with the extending nozze and you just have to squeese the bottle and keep filling it up with the other 2 to keep the level up. that way you can easily get the 2.7 litres in thats required :-D

If you need a hex piece again, you can always lock together a nut & bolt of the right size then use a spanner on it

hi the data i got from college says to use 75w/90 synthetic oil

in halfords and milehams they only had semi synthetic but the guy said that unless its a brand new car it wouldnt matter.. is this true?

I replaced my gearbox a few weeks ago and needed to top up the oil but couldn't find the right tool,tryed the nut n bolt trick but it didn't work ,the bolt in the gearbox was just too tight and either made the nut snap or both (even 3 in row) bolts move

However I hadn't thought of using a hex adapter so thank you very much for that tip,been all over the net but ofcourse could only find that here

I dont use 75w/90 synth as the 085 boxes which used it from new out the factory have become known for breaking.

Back in the days before the Polo box entered its fragile era,they were being sent out with 80w/90. So I've always used it (the Carlube 80w/90 hypoid sold by GSF),and never had bearing failure,or any failure as a result of the oil.

whats the best way to get the oil in the top filler hole?

and do i just fill it up until the oil starts to drip out of the filler hole?

I've had a look and to get to the top filler bollt it looks very hard!

I've also seen a bolt on the front just next to the reverse light switch, whats this for? this is on my 1998 1.4.

On the older 6n's i'm sure the drain plug is near the front(95-97).

mine was registered in march 1998. if that bolt on the front isnt a filer plug what else could it be?

would the drainage/filler plugs be in the same place on a 6n2? i'm having probs with 3rd / 4th gears going in properly. I'm going to try a top up. if i can find the damn plugs!!!

1. Yes it has a drain plug

2. There is a filler plug too:

On models up to Oct 95 the filler plug is located on the left hand sie of the transmission housing, next to the driveshaft. For easier access turn steering wheel on full left lock.

On models built after Oct 95 the filler plug is on the front of the transmission housing, and can be accessed from above, or below if you have it jacked up on 4 level stands or a lift.

3. Quantity - 3.1 litres on models after Oct '95 and 2.7 litres on models pre Oct '95

4. Use SAE 75W/90 (best place to buy is direct from VW it's cheapest there - £4.39/ltr + vat)

So what you want to do is drain your oil. Then use a 17mm hex adapter on a wrench to open the filler plug (or a very large allen key). The plug will likely to be tight.

Then fill it back up until it begins to run back out of the filler hole (ensure your car is perfectly level for best results).

N.B Its pretty dammed awkward to fill it back up. I use a section of clean garden hose (about 3ft long) and a funnel. I open the filler plug and drop the hose down from above and put it in the filler hole then pour the oil in that way.

Access is easier with the car raised but if you do raise it make sure its level!

Also if your entirely replacing the oil it might be worth refilling it until it's level with the filler plug and begins to trickle out... then take it for short drive to distribute the oil around the transmission components. Let it settle for 10mins when you get back and check the level again.

1= Filler plug 2=Drain Plug (post 'Oct 95 models)

thanks for that really helped and also if any body else cant see the photo like i couldnt just google mk4 polo gearbox fill plug on pictures first one there and i also think a mod should sticky this

another little thing to add if you are using a bolt and nut to undo it make sure you try to undo the filler cap first. i say this because i used the nut and bolt way, undone the drain plug emptied the oil then couldnt get the filler plug undone XD.

Edited 31 July, 201016 yr by 69rush69

ah yes i see, so the fill plug on my 1998 polo will be on the front, brilliant thanks!!