Gearbox Oil Change

[richard.c]

Hi,

In a recent thread AceTip said, without further reply -

View Postacetip, on 18 October 2010 - 10:46 AM, said:

if your gearbox oil level is ok there is no need to change it,it should last for 100000 plus but if you feel happier doing it, then go for it.

Well don't know where he gets the 100k from for the gearbox oil change ...?

Both the Haynes manual and the Toyota service book for my 2006 1.6 3ZZ FE state it should be changed at 40k, or am I missing some point ?

thanks.

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

HI Richard.C

coincidence you posted this thread...i rang my Toyota Stealers earlier on today to ask the £ for my service parts...just spark plugs, air filter, pollen filter etc...and asked for gearbox oil and they said that they dont sell gearbox oil to the public...they said the gearbox oil that they keep they use for their own servicing...he went on to say that my car was still new with fairly low miles so i dont need to change it regardless of what the manuals say!!! So im in two minds of whether i should...i suppose theres no harm at all in doing it...if anything gear changes may be a little smoother i suppose...let me know if you do replace yours...and let me know what brand of oil you use too since you cant buy genuine toyota oil!

sammy

[leepulsar]

due to be checked and changed at 40 k if required and can buy from main dealer can even give you part number for it tomorrow comes in 1 ltr tubs

[msprince]

I know every manufacture is different but on the transit gearbox, the oil is a "life" fluid and is only changed if a gearbox is being stripped.

Just a view from another side of the pond.

[rallyfan1986]

it probably doesnt need changing.

changed mine at 60,000 miles, never been done before, but did it as its a relatively cheap and easy job to do, and its not going to harm it changing the oil.

There were no bits of metal stuck to the plug, and the oil looked new (unlike engine oil when you change it!)

[Clawliger]

Change mine quet often due to hard driving. And tbh some abuse now and then. Its preference really. If your manual says 60k. Then change it at 60k.if you dont change it, then at least check it.

[eddieinvader]

Did mine about six months back at 60k and it wasn't that bad.

The gearbox hasn't felt any different at all since changing it.

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

due to be checked and changed at 40 k if required and can buy from main dealer can even give you part number for it tomorrow comes in 1 ltr tubs

Hi Leepulsar

Yeah please do let us know the part number for these 1L bottles of genuine Toyota gearbox oil...like i said i asked my dealer twice now so at least i can go back to them with the part number...why is there always 1 Toyota dealer per town...mine are useless at times!

[richard.c]

Hi Sam,

coincidence you posted this thread...i rang my Toyota Stealers earlier on today to ask the £ for my service parts...just spark plugs, air filter, pollen filter etc...and asked for gearbox oil and they said that they dont sell gearbox oil to the public...they said the gearbox oil that they keep they use for their own servicing...he went on to say that my car was still new with fairly low miles so i dont need to change it regardless of what the manuals say!!! So im in two minds of whether i should...i suppose theres no harm at all in doing it...if anything gear changes may be a little smoother i suppose...let me know if you do replace yours...and let me know what brand of oil you use too since you cant buy genuine toyota oil!

sammy

Well I used to change my Avensis gearbox regularly as specifed - used Comma Gear Oil 75W 90 I think, but look in you toyota handbook for your gearbox oil spec. Basically any good name oil should do, am sure Toyotas is just someone elses repackaged for them.

As for how often, 20k sounds low -sure thats not a level check ?

At 4 years old think its worth changing irespective of mileage - it may still look clean but does that mean its still got all its beneficial properties ...?

Same with the brake fluid, it looks clean but still worth changing every 2 years - I take no chances with brakes - only had the brakes fail once on me, old Truimph Herald - horrible feeling when the pedal goes flat to the floor ... you soon learn what the hand brake is for !!

As for your other spares, key things like the Timing Belt I always got from Mr T , but so many other things like filters, oils, brake stuff can be bought with just as good quality from good Motor Factors - eg the Pollen Filter I got - £10, think Mr T wanted £25 - when I opened up the £10 one it had the full instructions from Freudenberg who are a massive international company.

Have a look at Andrew Pages in your area, they do good quality stuff and also the BluePrint range of Toyota spares - not cheap but still cheaper than Mr. T.

[leepulsar]

back at work tomorrow so ill get number and price

[leepulsar]

part no =t08885-81001 and its 10.32 +vat a ltr

[leepulsar]

part no =t08885-81001 and its 10.32 +vat a ltr

[acetip]

part no =t08885-81001 and its 10.32 +vat a ltr

hi

is this g/box oil synthetic,as some are.

[leepulsar]

part no =t08885-81001 and its 10.32 +vat a ltr

hi

is this g/box oil synthetic,as some are.

erm i'll get back to about that lol

[rallyfan1986]

try here:

cpc gbox oil

bit cheaper

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

Hi

Finally got down to my Euro-Carparts today...bought a 4.5 litre gearbox oil by Carlube ep75w90 semi-synthetic...also bought 4 NGK sparkplugs cozz i think i might have a slight misfire...well thats what Kwik-fit reconed when i took it down for a free exhaust check today cozz i thought i might have a slight blow but they said the exhaust was absolutely fine! Also bought a new Hengst pollen filter which is suuposed to be top quality...and a Mikayo Jap parts air filter...cost me £45 for the lot so not bad...My mate at euro-carparts recons their all top quality products and i kinda trust him...So that all will keep me busy at the weekend! Im known for throwing away £££ but i was wondering if i should change the drive belt too for the hell sakes of it...its not slipping just looks a bit old lol! what do you guys think?

Sammy

[richard.c]

Hi

Finally got down to my Euro-Carparts today...bought a 4.5 litre gearbox oil by Carlube ep75w90 semi-synthetic...also bought 4 NGK sparkplugs cozz i think i might have a slight misfire...well thats what Kwik-fit reconed when i took it down for a free exhaust check today cozz i thought i might have a slight blow but they said the exhaust was absolutely fine! Also bought a new Hengst pollen filter which is suuposed to be top quality...and a Mikayo Jap parts air filter...cost me £45 for the lot so not bad...My mate at euro-carparts recons their all top quality products and i kinda trust him...So that all will keep me busy at the weekend! Im known for throwing away £££ but i was wondering if i should change the drive belt too for the hell sakes of it...its not slipping just looks a bit old lol! what do you guys think?

Sammy

Hi,

Looks like you will be busy !

Give the gearbox level and drain plugs a blast of wd40 or similar before the weekend - they are usually really tight and not in an easy position to get leverage on them, if you don't have a workshop lift.

Don't know if the large bottles of gearbox oil come with a long filler tube like the 1 ltr ones ? better check and get some tube as again its difficult to refill without some; really give the thick new oil some time for any excess to drain out after filling, its easy to over fill when using the tube from above.

ECP seem ok for most stuff, but I got their 'good quality' brake pads for the Avensis last time - squealed from day one - never happened before .

Your drive belt - have done 150k - 200k in a couple of cars and never changed them, just check for bad cracks / obvious wear ( unlikely ), it will squeal if it needs adjusting.

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

Hi Richard

Picked up a new drive belt anyway...Gates for £12.00...according to the manuals it states check/replace at 60,000k but it was cheap anyways! I think after the Avensis experience i've gone a bit...pychotic...over my car...just want everything to run perfect lol! Hope the weather's okay @ the weekend!

sammy

[rallyfan1986]

a length of hosepipe fits perfectly to refill the gearbox

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

HI Richard.C

All done matey...just walked in...went out at 9am...done in 3 hours...replaced new pollen filter...new air filter...new spark plugs...new drive belt...changed the gearbox oil...topped up washer fluids...checked oil...checked cv boots n exhaust...So its all out the way...next stop will be all 4 brake disks n pads which still have life in them so i'll give it a few months and see...then i'll replace them, replace with new brake fluid, and paint the callipers! I just love working on my car...Highly recommend the Corolla as its so easy top work on! The engines running beautiful now...and its funny how the engine oil is still so clean since the dealers changed it when i bought it 2 months back...dont know if i should replace it every 6 months as i do short journeys???

Sorry to bore you all.

Sammy

P/s...Richard you wana see how BLACK...and i mean BLACK the old gearbox oil was...took a pic if you wana see it...highly recommend to change it at 40,000k...and its easy to do without removing the under tray panels!

[richard.c]

HI Richard.C

All done matey...just walked in...went out at 9am...done in 3 hours...replaced new pollen filter...new air filter...new spark plugs...new drive belt...changed the gearbox oil...topped up washer fluids...checked oil...checked cv boots n exhaust...So its all out the way...next stop will be all 4 brake disks n pads which still have life in them so i'll give it a few months and see...then i'll replace them, replace with new brake fluid, and paint the callipers! I just love working on my car...Highly recommend the Corolla as its so easy top work on! The engines running beautiful now...and its funny how the engine oil is still so clean since the dealers changed it when i bought it 2 months back...dont know if i should replace it every 6 months as i do short journeys???

Sorry to bore you all.

Sammy

P/s...Richard you wana see how BLACK...and i mean BLACK the old gearbox oil was...took a pic if you wana see it...highly recommend to change it at 40,000k...and its easy to do without removing the under tray panels!

Hi Sam,

Glad to hear it all went well - can I drop my car off next weekend for the same service !

Don't know how choked your pollen filter was but mine looked like it had come out of the compost heap ! - will again check /clean it as soon as all the leaves have fallen as it sem they can easily get into the airways / filter.

Surprised your gearbox oil was so dirty, but sure makes the point about regular changing, though think once a year for your engine oil will be fine.

For your discs, two simple checks to make on them, the clean area the pads contacts should be reasonably flat, not really groovy and if you have the right tools you can measure them for minimum thickness, my 1.6 CC is 23mm front and 8mm rear.

Just been searching this forum for something I remember seeing mentioned in the Avensis forum - when out today I was holding the car on a hill with the footbrake, using a good bit of force when after a little while I could feel the pedal slowly going lower !!!

Was able to reproduce it later when on a flatter surface, but only when using a good bit of pressure.

Will be checking and fluid changing the brakes this week but had just found this in the Avensis forum which hopefully is all it is. - a little disturbing when you experience it, never had it on the Avensis but glad I remembered reading out it !

Posted 17 March 2010 - 11:09 AM

This is a well known and documented feature on all Toyota models with ABS & EBD, I think you will find the brakes are not faulty (Of course this MUST be determined by inspection, dont just take my word for it)

This is from the workshop procedure/service bulletins

If a large braking force is applied when the vehicle is stationary, the lack of feedback

from the brake system will allow the operator/driver to depress the pedal to the floor,

giving the feeling of lack of brake performance. If the same pedal force were to be

applied by the driver when driving, the brake force realised would be extremely high. The

driver would normally sense this, so such a great pedal force would not be applied. This

is a normal and expected condition. This applies to all Toyota vehicles fitted with A.B.S. &

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

Kingo

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

Drop it off any time Richard...sure you'll be happier with my work than going to the Toyota Stealers...and i'll chuck in a free air freshener on top of the free valet + wash n wax lol! I'll be checking my brakes n will let you know shortly...need to buy one of those measuring thingys 1st! Hey we need to put some pics up of our cars!

Sammy

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

Hey Rich

Driving my car to work this morning & on the way back...was expecting my gears to feel a lot smoother after draining all that dirty black oil...but they feel a tad notchy...maybe im imagining it mate...3rd/4th/5th are smoooth and reverse is notchy for everyone i know...but 1st n 2nd...hmmmmmm....do you think maybe it takes time for the new oil to get around??? Let me know your thoughts matey! Thanks

Sammy

[eddieinvader]

Hey Rich

Driving my car to work this morning & on the way back...was expecting my gears to feel a lot smoother after draining all that dirty black oil...but they feel a tad notchy...maybe im imagining it mate...3rd/4th/5th are smoooth and reverse is notchy for everyone i know...but 1st n 2nd...hmmmmmm....do you think maybe it takes time for the new oil to get around??? Let me know your thoughts matey! Thanks

Sammy

As stated previously "Did mine about six months back at 60k and the oil wasn't that bad. The gearbox hasn't felt any different at all since changing it" don't think it takes any time at all for the oil to get around start it up and job done. Just crap Toyota gearboxes.

[richard.c]

Hey Rich

Driving my car to work this morning & on the way back...was expecting my gears to feel a lot smoother after draining all that dirty black oil...but they feel a tad notchy...maybe im imagining it mate...3rd/4th/5th are smoooth and reverse is notchy for everyone i know...but 1st n 2nd...hmmmmmm....do you think maybe it takes time for the new oil to get around??? Let me know your thoughts matey! Thanks

Sammy

Hi Sam,

Well afraid I really have no idea why you have got that problem - have done many gearbox oil changes on Cavaliers and the Avensis without any problems at all.

Couple of things - seems you got the right oil 75W 90 GL4 semi synth - did it take nearly the full 1.9 ltrs to refill ?

Was a bit concerned by your ' black ' oil yesterday - when you took off the drain plug - which usually have a magnetic insert, did you notice a lot of particles stuck to its inner surface ?

Also wondered, as you said the plugs were easy to undo, did it look as it someone had already undone them before ? - possibly they may have used an addative like Molyslip - that used to turn oils darker, not sure about the modern stuff.

You didn't catch anything on the gear lever linkage, not easy to do, but you could have dropped something onto it ?

Never heard of any 'running in ' for the gearbox oil, if it persists I would try the fully synth oil GL5 spec which is also shown in the Toyota handbook, being thinner it might help - but only guessing there.

Haven't changed mine yet, but think I might just open it up and see what colour my oil is, and perhaps see if I can gauge its type, I know how thick semi synth gear oil is.