changing engine oil and gearbox oil.

[VR6golfboy]

hey people
just wondering how much oil the VR6 will take with the filter change and also where the automatic gearbox filter and dain plug is and what gearbox oil to use?
thanks
rhys

[Tim]

crank case i think takes about 6L from memory.
Gearbox takes 2L I think?

have a look at any of the major oil brands and they will tell you capacities and which oil to use. The castrol site has a pretty good searchy thingo

[VR6golfboy]

on the castrol site it says 5.5L oil including filter and 3L for the auto trasnmission now where is the drain plug for the trans fluid?
cheers
rhys

[Golf Loon]

Some of the VR6 Autos dont have a drain plug to empty em, you need to remove the pan.
There is a special way of refilling them, involving needing to know how hot the fluid is.
I`d take it to a VW place or Auto specialist for that job..

[xcgumby]

passatworld have a few threads on changing fluid in a ZR auto.

Basically, drop the pan. There's also a filter/screen thingo in it that gets changed as well.

The theory didn't seem too challenging. The process for measuring oil level was based around the car being at operating temp (80 degC?) - wherever the needle normally sits.

[Golf Houso]

Is changing the oil on the VR6 the same as the GL and CL models?

[jaimo]

Auto

1, Drain out what you can with the filler plug the rest by removing the pan (cold/warm).
2, Replace the filter & pan rubber seal.
3, If no dip stick for trans, remove the red coloured plastic cap off the filler tube above the front pan area of the trans.
4, With a small screwdriver prise out the two plastic tangs this will allow the releasement of the black filler plug.
5, Lift the plug up & out of the filler tube. Be careful as the tubes sometimes come out with the plug because of age, the tube tangs just snap off.
(I would replace tube & O ring anyway).
6, Fill up with 3+ liters of VW ATF.
7, Now with VAG-Com etc, the Trans fluid temp needs to be checked.
8, Start the engine & allow it idle. Keep an eye on the trans temp once @ 35 Deg's remove the drain plug & allow the fluid to drain out until it starts to drip. Once done refit the plug. Note: If no fluid comes out, you need to add more.If temp goes over 45/50 Deg's fit plug turn off. Once cooled try again.

[Golf Loon]

^^^^^
This is the correct way. You need a thermostat or vag com to check the oil temp of the transmission or it will not work.
Try it at home with insufficient tools at your peril.
Matt

[Rebuild]

VR6boy,just done mine, auto gearbox on a T5.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23701&PN=1

[jets]

^^^^^
This is the correct way. You need a thermostat or vag com to check the oil temp of the transmission or it will not work.
Try it at home with insufficient tools at your peril.
Matt

I don't believe the level is as critical as VW says. When I drained my T4 it had been over filled by at least 1/2 litre,maybe more[can't remember] & it worked perfectly. I have read on an American site where this guy had some model VW auto from new & he found it had been over filled from new. Maybe the level can be slightly higher but not lower, I don't know. That said I would try & fill as best you can to the correct level. When I changed mine, I ran it & guessed the Temp by feel. On the T4 the temp is 35 - 45 degrees C. This is very close to blood temp eg compare the pan temp with your forehead. I have also read that most VW workshops in the USA don't use VAG COM to check the temp when setting the oil level.

[Rebuild]

same here jets,I was not overly concerned with oil temp, just felt the gearbox sump and said "hmmm...warm enough".Also when i did mine the vehicle was not exactly level, if anything it should be overfull.Still shifts ok, no funny noises, but will recheck the level soon with the bus on a flat surface.

[The_Hawk]

Acording to Bently the VR6 uses 5L of engine oil, which is really handy since the Fuch's I use is in a 5L bottle (as with lots of oils). So it's a drain and pour the lot in affair, checking the level afterwards it almost redundant... although I do it just to be sure anyway

As for filters, I have heard some not so good stories about the Ryco Filters when used in the Mk3 so stick with the OEM ones which are Hengst, or failing that, Mahle.