Manual Transmission Fluid change 944

[RadioDjKev]

Hey Guys and Girls. (Are there really any Girls in here?)

What is the best oil for my manual trans on a 1983 Porsche 944?

Is there a synthetic out there?

What is the procedure?

Thank you, www.KevinGerard.com

1979 Porsche 928 5 speed
1983 Porsche 944 5 speed

[RadioDjKev]

[SolReaver]

I used Mobil 1 75w/90
Others swear by Redline.

[adrian jaye]

I use what is recomended in the book

never failed me so far

[Eldorado]

mobil 1 80w90 in mine... works great..
redline is another good choice.

[Panzer909]

SWEPCO 201

[ERAU944]

swepco is good - i've used it and it does work wonders for the 1-2 shift

i have mobil 1 80w 90 in my 944 right now, and due to availability will probably put that in the 951 as well.

i can't easily get redline OR swepco, but mobil 1 is easy to get at wal-mart, and it works

[Wipeout]

How difficult is the fluid change? I do lots of stuff to my car (oil change doesn't bug me much), but mucking around with the transmission worries me a little. Plus, how do you get the fluid into the transmission...there's not a pour spout like in the engine for oil!

[ERAU944]

ah, the new fluid is the fun part. it's not too difficult to change, you need a 17mm allen/hex wrench (i believe thats the size), and you DEFINITELY MUST open the top plug first, that way if the bottom plug is stuck, you can at least suck the fluid out and change it, otherwise enjoy removing the transmission and turning it upside down to change the oil. then remove the bottom to drain. after that, reinstall the bottom plug, and fill the transmission with fluid until it's about 1/4" from the top hole, and you're done. double check the quantity in the manual, it's been awhile since i did it. the quantity will also vary a little if you have a transmission gear oil cooler, and you may not be able to drain that completely unless you have the transmission off the car. the installation can be tricky, i used a little bit of hose fitted onto the gear oil cap, and kind of worked the bottle up in the area between the transmission and the body to make it higher than the hole. take your time and be patient, and you'll be able to do it without spilling (much) fluid. also, the old fluid will smell like garbage, because there is sulfur in it... that is normal.

have fun!

[liljon's924S]

Mobil 1 synthetic, Hey isn't mobil 1 Porsche Approved also? Or is that just for motor oil?

[RadioDjKev]

Hey everyone Thanks! Nice to hear all this from Porsche owners!
I did not want to trust a 24 year old manual..
My transmission sounds and shift perfect!
I will go with the Modil 1 Being an x motocross racer we used modil 1 80w90 in my KTM 380sx gear box.
I will check that Walmart tip.

[Razorback1980]

If you have a harbor freight nearby, they used to have a small hand pump that will pump it in. The pump will also suck out the old oil if you can't get the bottom drain plug out. Don't sweat this job too much it's just as easy as changing engine oil if you have that pump.

And yes, we do have a few ladies that stop by occasionally.

Good luck with your lube change.

[RadioDjKev]

Yes I have the pump. Thanks for your help.

Kevin

[nynor]

redline MTF went into my '83. the transaxle was smoother and shifted more fluidly. i recommend it.

[VINMAN]

Castrol 80/90w works just fine for me.

[Wipeout]

Hm...when I think of allen wrench I think of something very different from the wrench I see in the pelican parts catalog...someone want to straighten me out?!

[Eldorado]

what do you see?

[Wipeout]

Part PEL-TOL-P222. Only thing I've found yet that's 17mm

[BoxxerSix]

Originally posted by Wipeout
Part PEL-TOL-P222. Only thing I've found yet that's 17mm

if you don't have a 17mm heax tool and you're in a pinch go to a hardware store and pich up a grade 9.8 or higher 17mm hex head bolt 2.5" long and 3 9.8 grade nuts of the same thread as the bolt. spin all the nuts onto the threads of the bolt until they all bottom out, jamb them together really tight (heck use loctight if you have it) using a couple wrenches.

use the bolt head as the "hex" for the drain/fill plugs and just use a wrench on the nut closest to the bolt head for the wrench. if they're jambed tight enough the tool will work fine. cheap $3 tool if you need it in a hurry.......or if your $22 hex tool suddenly snaps off for no damn reason

[Wipeout]

Thanks guys. I just realized my problem - I have hex KEYS, not hex wrenches. I've got about a week before I'm planning to do the tranny fluid so I probably could make it to the store to get a wrench/socket if I wanted to.