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Reply to "Procedure to break in rebuilt transaxle"

Over on TheSamba, there's a 62 page long thread regarding GL4 and GL5 oil. Stay away: thar be dragons thar.

Opinions run high among car guys regarding any petroleum product, which is how a thread goes on for 12 years and 62 pages. After the first 4 pages or so, it just becomes a circular argument.

Thankfully, on the very first post is the moderator's (Ray Greenwood, I think) summary: 

"GL4 or GL5-MT1 are fine for all VW transmissions.

The MT1 designation, which almost all current GL5 fluids contain, eliminates any fear of using GL5."

This summary, was not there when I waded through the (then 40 page long) thread 5 or so years ago. I had used the Swepco 201 with the last one, because I had an LSD (which is not presently in the transaxle). I thought there would be something "better" for this transaxle. The 201 is a dino oil, expensive, and hard to get. Honestly, I had forgotten how much difference the right oil made. Duly chastened, I've got a couple of gallons of Swepco 201 on order from Summit Racing, as I need some for the bus transaxle, as well as for the transaxle in the future Project X 5-speed. I'll not struggle with this again.

Regarding transaxle break-in (the original thread topic)-- when I drained the oil the first two times, I was stunned with the quantity of ferrous shavings. Draining the Penn GL4 oil, there were almost none. Next go around, I'm definitely going to drain and refill at about 200 mi. It takes about 2.5 qts for a 4-speed (a bit more for a Berg 5, unless I'm mistaken).

I drove the car about 100 miles on great back roads I'd never been on before last night. The driving was nowhere near what Carlos has out his back door, but was pretty darned technical for a flat-land Corn Monkey. The trans was fantastic-- the "notchy" downshifts were all but completely gone, and getting into first while rolling was much, much better.

A VW transaxle is never going to shift like a Miata or a Cayman. But with a good shifter, new syncros, and the right gear oil-- even a ham-handed ape can drive one with haste and vigor.

 

Last edited by Stan Galat
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