Successfully changed to Swepco transmission oil - another project off the list
 

I did the dreaded transmission oil change this morning, and after having read all the problems that some people have had I was preparing for a fight. But as it turned out, it all went smoothly (and partially thanks to the po having replaced both the fill and drain plugs with normal socket type plugs - as on the engine oil drain plug). I investigated the oil that came out and the drain plug, and apart from the expected there was no big lumps of metal. The only pain in the complete process was pumping the new Swepco (man that is one blue oil :) ) into the transmission - took me close to 1 hour, no need to go to the gym today :D
I did do the job with the help of a car lift, which I am sure made it a lot easier that it would have been if only using a jack...
I am not sure what I was expecting after I was completed, but when I took the car for a drive the transmission did not feel any different than before? At least I know that I have the best oil I can have in the for now. And will make sure that it is replaced at a regular bases. What is the recommended frequency? Should I look at replacing the transmission oil every year, or is that overkill???

What is wrong with your 915? Most folks only use Sweco 201 to mask shifting issues. If you don't have any problems you don't need Swepco. It costs twice the amount of Mobile 1 syntheic lube. I've used many types of gear lube over the years and see no advantage to Sweco unless you need an "edge" with a bad shifting tranny.

As for frequency of change, it depends a bit on your driving habits. Track cars and turbos need more frequent changes than a street car. Weekend warriors can go years between changes.

Interesting - I was under the impression (after lots of reading here) that the best oil to use in the 915 was 201, as it prolongs life and makes it smother etc.... But if I can get just as good results from Mobile 1, then I will use that in future :)

On the subject of what is wrong with my 915? The normal stuff :) The syncro on 1st gear has gone, so I can only change to first when the car is stationary and idling, or I get some nasty crunching. I also have the usual intermittent problems changing into 2nd. No crunching or grinding syncro noise, just a bit stiff. Sometimes it slides in like a hot knife in butter, and other times I have to double-clutch it. I have recently (two weeks back) replaced all the bushings and fitted the factory short shift.

So, based on this, I would say my 915 is not 100% perfect, but in good condition. As I said, not sure what to expect from the 201, but was under the impression that as someone who loved my 911 there was no other oil I should use in my transmission :D

That is only my opinion. Some folks on this board swear by Swepco.
The tranny I put Sweco in had no shifting issues. It was a little balky as some are, the Swepco had no affect. For me it is not worth the money. It is also the nastiest gooey crap I've ever worked with lube-wise. Mobile 1 is good stuff at less than half the price that's all.

Thank you. I will consider the Mobile 1 on the next change. And yes, the 201 is some nasty gooey stuff to work with. By the time I was done, there was so much of the blue stuff on the floor I was slipping all over the shop!!

Congrats Pål !

According to service manual (Bentley) the interval is 60k miles. Seems a bit steep perhaps. With the general low mileage we put on our cars I think every 30k is reasonable. Still several years between changes.

I did not notice much difference neither. But the more nasty lube, the better effect.. :D

Thank you Markus. Hmmm, I was thinking about changing it every year - but you might be correct! Maybe once a year is way to often??
At least I now know when the oil was changed - next is the break fluid. It is nice to know that all the fluids are fresh and the brand you prefer - reminds me a bit of making sure I only give my kid the food I think is correct and best for her :D

Yes, brake fluid is on my list. As well as the shift coupler and bushings. And this summer its time for the valve adjust (which I still hesitate to take on myself). And of course an oil and filter change. Oh, and air filter.

Darn, thats a long list!

You don´t wanna know what I stuff my kids with! Mostly pasta, pancakes and pizza. Its good for them.

Trust me - I´m a kids doctor ! :D

When my Lucy was only 17 months old, we had a stage where for about 2 months the only thing she would eat was my Chili Con Carny - and I make it hot!!! Now, she will not touch the stuff - go figure :rolleyes:

Re: Successfully changed to Swepco transmission oil - another project off the list
 

Same results for me. I think the mistake I made was in thinking Swepco would make a properly functioning 915 shift as well as other transmissions. In fact, there was no improvement on my 77's 915 at all. My 72's transmission, however, is not as good. I'm wondering if Swepco will improve it.

Swepco 201 is recommended because it is a great gear oil for our 915 synchros. For some it makes dramatic changes and for others not much of a change, there are too many variables to have the same results for every owner. And from most of the posts I have seen Mobil 1 gear oil is NOT recommended for our 915 synchros but IS recommended for the G50 trannys. I think 10,000 miles between gear oil changes should be fine unless you are doing lots of racing then you would want to change sooner.

10 k miles changes ?? Really ?

Sounds more like my engine oil change interval..

O.K. what do you recommend?

2 years is probably fine... search for counter-comments from Warren or Sherwood...

Swepco is GREAT. Swepco and the 915 go together like peanut butter and jelly, eggs and bacon, and well, you get my drift. The thing is, the change is not instantaneous, but after about 100 miles or so you should begin to notice a difference. And then it only gets better and better. At least that's my experience.

Hey Paul it looks like your avatar is waving the dinner bell for your yunguns! HA!

Couldn't help but chime in here. Granted, I've got the Audi-esque 944 tranny which is on a different page than the 915, but Swepco did in fact make a considerable difference. Quieted a subtle rumble in neutral and shifted much smoother. That was over two years ago in my daily driver........other than checking the fluid level I haven't changed it since.

Is there a thread somewhere that details this process? I need to top mine off and I admit to being clueless.

Now granted, this is a Bimmer-centric article, but almost all of the same steps/concepts apply:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/JF-Tech/BMW_E30_3_Series_differential_oil_change.htm



No rocket science here......

shuie, it is one of the 101 Projects in Wayne's book...

changed trans oil on 73 yesterday, used this transfer pump. It worked fairly well, leaked a couple of drops, but overall better than I had hoped. One hose in the oil jug, one in the fill/overflow plug hole, pump until it starts to drip out. Tried to heat the Swepco up in hot water prior, but it still was hard to suck into the pump, pushing it out to trans was easier. Cleaning the hoses after was the messiest part. Plugs were fairly easy to remove. Bought the car last fall, no records of past servicing. Oil that came out was dirty, lots of sediment around the drain plug with metal attached to the magnet, no chunks though. Ran the trans through the gears tonight, it definitely shifted better, but then considering what came out anything would have made an improvement!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1147752063.jpg

I used an old water fountain pump I had laying around. One hose in the jug and one in the tranny. Put a drip pan underneath, plugged it in, grabbed a beer and let it rip until it dripped.

put swepco in my 84 carrera on sunday. the more i drive it the better it gets, no doubt about it. coming from old ferrari 308's, i was used to the stiff 2nd gear syndrome, but i really dislike the 915 trans as a whole. this super snotty blue gear oil made a discernable difference in the way my 915 trans shifts. my friend and i are going to put it in his 74 lamborghini as soon as we fix all the darn gear oil leaks the thing has. i can say that the swepco 201 has made me happier overall with the car.

Swepco was invented to keep massive compressors cool and is outstanding for heat dissipation. As such, in a transmission, it is an outstanding lubricant that in the long term can prolong the life of internal components. Its not a miracle cure for bad synchros, broken dog teeth or deteriorating seals. Its just the best damn lubricant you can buy for your transmission.

My testimonial: 1985.5 944 owned for twelve years.
Sold at 345,000 miles with never any transmission work!! I attribute that to mature driving and SWEPCO changes every 50K. I am sold on the stuff.

Bob

Kogger - I tried to read this thread, but kept getting sidetracked by that young lady under your name shaking her breasts!

Swepco made a huge difference in the shifting of my 915. A lot of the difference was likely due that the tranny fluid just needed a change from the cheap motor oil in the tranny that had turned to diarrhea water.

Quick tranny question: I have the only 915 tranny that needs to be shifted into 1st gear while moving. It will grind if you are stopped, so to avoid grinding you either need to shift into 1st while moving or start up in 2nd gear. This is opposite of anything I have ever read about the 915. Otherwise the tranny works great. Any suggestions???

shift into 2nd, then into 1st