transaxle plug

[tahoward]

Does anyone know what size allen wrench I need to drain the transaxle? Also, is Mobil 1 gear oil as good as Swepco? Thanks again guys!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The drain and fill plugs (remove the fill plug FIRST!!!) are 17mm Allen-head. Your local VW Bug specialty shop will carry the socket or the wrench--the Bugs used the same thing.

Mobil-1 is better in some ways, most likely. But I still reccommend Swepco specifically. The 901 and 915 gearboxes just seem to like it. The synthetic might even be too slippery for the synchros to work properly, which will result in all kinds of nasty grinding noises.

--DD

Maybe I'm showing my ignorance but Dave, why are saying "remove the fill plug first!" Are you joking is is there something I'm missing?
Thanks

[JP Noonan]

It is to make sure that the filler isn't seized. If you remove the drain first, all the fluid comes out. Then if by chance the filler is stripped/ seized you can't refill the tranny unless you remove the trans and tilt it sideways.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Right in one, JP!

Hmm, is that the voice of experience talking?

I just recently went through this on my "other car". Some gorilla (no, not me!) had used air tools on the tranny fill plug. My open-end wrenches kept slipping off the danged plug! So I had to go out and pick up a box-end wrench to actually remove the fill plug. If I had removed the drain plug first, it would have been a loooong walk to the tool store for that new wrench...

--DD

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