Manual Transmission fluid

[G-olf]

Hi,

So after 13 years and no evidence of a change i'm looking to treat the gti to some fresh gearbox oil.
Reading through various posts on here it seems that you have to be careful what you put in if you want to keep the cold shifting quality.
So OE oil is recommended various places as being the best with a part number G052171A2
Trouble is my dealer tells me this is no longer the specified oil and their system recommends another.
If you've had this changed recently, does anyone know the new part number? Has anyone used the newer spec oil?

Thanks

[FJB]

I used Febi SAE 75W G4, without any issues.

[DBXdarkangel]

Manual gearbox oil shouldn't be changed. Its oil for life.

https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=114718.0

[colesey]

I have owned my car since new (aug 2006) and the original gearbox oil it was supplied with gave a rubbish gearchange. Stiff when cold, always notchy into second. I changed this to Millers NT gear oil several years ago and whilst improved, the change was still a bit notchy. It was only when I changed to the revised genuine oil (02Q - G 052 171 A2) which is thin as piss, that the shifting was properly sorted. It’s not cheap but it works. 

[G-olf]

Yeah I've also been told that its not part of the service schedule, but I keep thinking 13 years old oil with 13 years of missed shifts now and again, all them heat cycles and perhaps condensation? Would it be a bad thing to have some fresh stuff in there?

The other part number was G052527A2 I think, (should have written it down)  possibly now fully syn rather than mineral?? and over £10 a litre more expensive

[Dan_FR]

Oil for life is bollocks.... The life of the car i.e. outside warranty perhaps....

Use genuine oil. Yes its expensive - but do it once, do it properly

[chimp400]

It’s a good idea to change it, I did mine last year.
I used this but can’t remember what I paid for it at the time sorry.
https://www.audipartsdirect.co.uk/product/genuine-audi-gearbox-oil-g052171a2-g052171a2

[Sean_ED30]

Stick with genuine.

https://www.akstuning.co.uk/shop/home/988-genuine-manual-transmissiongearbox-fluid-1l-g052171a2.html

You will need 3 bottles.

[G-olf]

Going for genuine. 

Still not sure on details of the other part number or what the differences are
Does AKS do any forum discount? I've bought a few things from them recently but never thought to ask?

Cheers

[pudding]

Genuine or Redline MTL.

Both feel exactly the same from cold in my MK6 gearbox, but the Redline is better when the gearbox gets hot.

[LC5F]

Could be worse - it seems BMW diffs now only come with a fill plug... they are very determined it is filled for life

[pudding]

Filled for their definition of life i.e. 6 months after the warranty expires, and then it's 1 x new diff, plus labour, plus VAT.

Why even include a fill plug?  Just pour oil into one half of the casing and bolt the other half on top 

Why stop there?  How about making the doors inaccessible until you've booked an appointment with your local service centre for an access code?

I can only surmise big corporations like BMW and Apple have board meetings specifically about how to be as anti-consumer as possible, whilst at the same time fleecing as customers as much as possible.

[G-olf]

Thought I would update this.

Finally got round to changing the manual transmission fluid.
Went with the G052 527 A2 (newer version)

There was no problem with shifting it was purely a maintenance thing

The old fluid looked dirty in comparison but I was pleased there were no nasties, sludge or other stuff which came out. In fact apart from the colour it was pretty good for 13 year old oil.

The drain and fill plugs were taper seat type 10mm hex (so no sealing washer needed)
I got 2.15 litres back in before it started to emerge from the level bung.
Shifting remains good both cold and hot and perhaps overall the gearbox is a little quieter.