Gearbox oil

[Jamesmills182]

How often dose the gearbox oil get changed cause I can’t see in the paperwork I got with car has it done?

 

[Darren S]

@NorthloopCup - would know the recommendations of frequency and oil type.

 

[JamesBryan]

I don't think there is a service interval for it.

Probably only gets done with a clutch change.

I did mine every year as i could do it myself and it's no more expensive than engine oil.

Worth doing if you don't know the history and then it'll be fine for the rest of your ownership.

Elf NFX is the oem stuff to use.

 

[182Trev]

Most gearbox oil is life of vehicle, not sure I agree with that myself to be honest (considering engine oil gets changed every year) and its pretty easy on these gearboxes, hardest bit is getting a long tub to the filler port, best to buy a Draper Oil funnel with tube or equivalent one from eBay beforehand (I used an empty oil bottle and some tubing). Recommended amount is 3.1 litres of oil.

I picked up a new gearbox sump plug and washer from my local Renault dealers for £4.61 (and could have picked up the plastic one for the filler port for about £3 too I think, but mine was perfectly good already).

Must admit my tubes inner diameter was a bit small so took over an hour to drain into the gearbox ...

 

[182Trev]

Some photos of the filler port plug, not an easy thing to photograph...

From underneath..

From above...

 

[Louis]

For future ref this funnel https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-equipment/garage-essentials/laser-funnel-145mm-red-100701.html

Works perfectly into the filler on the gearbox.

 

[JamesBryan]

I use a pump for mine and takes about 10 mins to drain and refill.

Much more expensive though, but it does 4-5 cars per year.

 

[Jamie]

I assume this is a 182, but I did my 200 recently. Fill plug is a wing nut on the side of the box. Jacked car up, wriggled around and was able to access. Made sure I could undo before draining.

Drained on slightly warm engine. I measured the drain, just under 2 litres. I got some GL4 75/80 elf stuff off eBay for about £30.

I trimmed a garden hose as unadjusted it didn’t quit fit. I pushed the end of the hose in and gravity fed via hose and funnel 2 litres.

The fill plug is supposed to be the over fill point, but none was particularly dripping out when I did mine, and I didn’t want to open litre 3.

I assume the 182 is the same.

 

[182Trev]

I assume this is a 182, but I did my 200 recently. Fill plug is a wing nut on the side of the box. Jacked car up, wriggled around and was able to access. Made sure I could undo before draining.

Drained on slightly warm engine. I measured the drain, just under 2 litres. I got some GL4 75/80 elf stuff off eBay for about £30.

I trimmed a garden hose as unadjusted it didn’t quit fit. I pushed the end of the hose in and gravity fed via hose and funnel 2 litres.

The fill plug is supposed to be the over fill point, but none was particularly dripping out when I did mine, and I didn’t want to open litre 3.

I assume the 182 is the same.

I believe the 200 has a 6-speed box, the 182 is a 5 speed, so probably not the same box (or casing). I drained 3 litres and put 3.1 back in but it never poured out the filling hole, but happy to go with the recommended amount.

 

[JamesBryan]

I believe the 200 has a 6-speed box, the 182 is a 5 speed, so probably not the same box (or casing). I drained 3 litres and put 3.1 back in but it never poured out the filling hole, but happy to go with the recommended amount.

TL4 box on the 200 holds 2.4L and the JC5 from the 182 holds 3.1L.

That's from dry.

 

[Darren S]

Handy info in this thread.

Can the gearbox oil level be checked via access through the filler port? Surprised that there's not a common dipstick feature on most gearboxes - would be something easy enough to implement - even if it was screwed into the outer housing of the gearbox itself.

 

[JamesBryan]

Handy info in this thread.

Can the gearbox oil level be checked via access through the filler port?

Yeah but you'd do well to see it by eye.

Best way to tell is if you open the filler and fluid trickles out.

Could use a bore scope if you had one.

 

[Darren S]

Yeah but you'd do well to see it by eye.

Best way to tell is if you open the filler and fluid trickles out.

Could use a bore scope if you had one.

I’ve got an endoscope camera - could use that.

So it should weep/trickle out like you say when the filler screw is slackened off?

 

[JamesBryan]

I’ve got an endoscope camera - could use that.

So it should weep/trickle out like you say when the filler screw is slackened off?

If it's bang on the level yeah.

Mostly likely be just under which isn't an issue.

 

[Matt Cup]

When I changed my box oil I waited for it to drip out to confirm it was full.