Swepco Questions

[n8marx]

First off, let me state that I have searched the archives but still have a couple of questions.

I have an '86 Carrera that I bought in July of this year. It has covered 96,XXX miles since new. Records indicate that it has had Mobil 1 tranny lube in it since the first gear oil change at 1,000 miles. It had tranny work performed at 78,000 miles which I know included synchros. That was the last time it got new fluid. Currently it shifts perfectly 80 per cent of the time. The other 20 per cent of the time I'll get a balky shift going into 2nd from 1st. As a result I'm planning to change tranny fluid and give the Swepco a shot. It appears that the shifter rod bushings etc. have been recently replaced according to records.

It seems as if some of you don't think GL-5 should be run in the 915 but some of you swear by Swepco which is a GL-5. What is the lowdown?

Should I flush with some sort of intermediate fluid when switching from a synthetic to dino lube or doesn't it matter?

Is there something else possibly going on to give me shifting issues only a fraction of the time?

[jester911]

Let me first say that I am no expert but what you have seems to be pretty common with this tranny. I have an 86 as well that is experiencing basically the same thing.
I just ordered new shift bushing,coupler etc.(from our host) to see if this helps.
I don't really think changing the gear lube will make much difference but the swepco 201 is what is most commonly used and I ordered this as well.
Buy yourself Waynes book 101 projects for your porsche,sold here if you don't already have it. It has a section detailing what to replace and how. And you can buy all the parts you need right here. (Wayne if your listening, I am trying to make sure your site is supportted here )
Anyway if you are interested I will let you know how the new parts go. I am hoping they will arrive by the weekend so I can get it done.

[Early_S_Man]

GL-5 gear oil was specified for the 915 transaxle as early as 31 March 1981 in a factory publication called a 'spec book' ...

There are some myths around about gear oil, and GL-5 gear oil being 'bad' for 'xxx' transaxles is one of them! You can fill in the 'xxx' with whatever numbers and letters applicable to your car!

18,000+ miles is too long for gear oil in a 915, IMHO! My recommendation is to change gear oil annually. Porsche-patented synchronizers are very sensitive to particulate contamination in the gear oil!

Be sure to drain the transaxle when at full operating temperature. Whether you need to do a 'cheap flush' first is probably dependent on what condition the gear oil you drain out looks like ... pour some of the drained oil into a clean, pint-sized glass jar, and hold it up to sunlight to look for wear particles in suspension. If you see wear particles, then I suggest doing the flush.

While you have the oil drained, be sure to drop cover #5 in the diagram below, and check the three M6 nuts for tightness. If you have a 1/4" drive torque wrench, you can remove, clean and reinstall the nuts with some blue Loctite to 7 lb-ft or 84 in-lb. You will need a new gasket, unless you use some Loctite 518 or similar 'gasket-maker' compound.

[n8marx]

Thanks for remindeing me of my other question.

What number Swepco is everyone using? I have seen 201, 210 and now 215 all mentioned somewhere. I thought 201 was the "correct" one. Which is it?

[Early_S_Man]

I believe 215 was a typo.

In your milder climate, Swepco 201 is probably OK. My preference is for Swepco 212 down here where we see several 100°F+ days a year.

[BGCarrera32]

If you decide not to use it, I'll buy the gallon back that is sitting on your desk for $5.

[targa911man]

The guy at Autothority who rebuilty my 915 said the 1st to 2nd stickiness is standard after a rebuild but improves with time. That has proven true with mine.

[pbs911]

While you have the oil drained, be sure to drop cover #5 in the diagram below, and check the three M6 nuts for tightness.

Warren, why is this? I have never done this and I have noticed that a few precious drops of the blue stuff is leaking from my trans at this point. Is there a coincidence?

[Early_S_Man]

Dan ... I think he meant a 'normal' break-in of 1000-1500 miles, not 18K+ ...

Initial stiffness after a rebuild is normal, but most users of rebuilt transaxles report smoother operation by 2000 miles. If it hasn't happened by then, something is wrong!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

pbs911,

Those three nuts tend to loosen. A symptom of this is a floppy gear lever even when engaged in gear even though all bushings are fresh. The guide fork (#6) loosens and "guides" poorly. See Warren's explanation here:

Which oil for 915 tranny is the best?

[Early_S_Man]

Paul,

The really neat thing about this board, from the perspective of regular visitors who aren't currently having a problem is that we get a 'world view' of all kinds of problems people are having with their 14 ... 38-year old cars, and with varying mileages! From experiences of others, we can adapt our maintenance routines to try to prevent or circumvent 'known' problems from occuring out on the road!

Several Pelicanheads have reported shifting problems that have been traced to that guide fork #5 coming loose. It seems prudent to me to check on it during gear oil changes, so that is why I recommend it. I am quite sure most shops won't do it during gear oil changes, because time is money, and a loose guide fork down the road is money, too ... if you get my drift!

The 'dongle' #2 is a simple machine ... a lever, and the guide fork is the 'pivot' point for the lever. When the guide fork is loose, the end of the lever can't travel in the required precise path needed if shifting is to be accomplished ... and some gears may not be reachable at all!