- Thread starter Smallfry
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Mines only on 80k, (2008 van) but as an ex-Swindon Council van, I'm guessing it's done lots of town work , so lots of gearchanges.
Weirdly online specs say the 100hp should be a 5-speed (esp as mine is poverty specs with no A/C & hand windy windows).... but mine is 6-speed
When I first got it, I did slightly crunch into 4th a couple of times (which made me think perhaps its spent a lot of time in 3rd & 4th gear)... but I ensure I never rush the shift & fully depress the clutch to the floor & the 'box seems smooth & quiet - so maybe this backs up my town driving theory is right, & the clutch has a bit of wear?
Paranoia though says to me "change the gearbox oil soon, dum-dum!"
Brad93
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I want to change the gearbox oil on my transit connect.
Gear change isn't great even after the new clutch went in.
I think the problem is these are car derived gearboxes in a vehicle carrying the equivalent 5 passengers all day everyday.
Gear change isn't great even after the new clutch went in.
I think the problem is these are car derived gearboxes in a vehicle carrying the equivalent 5 passengers all day everyday.
I can't help feeling that as well as cost-cutting, the push to make light-commercials & diesel cars as "refined" and cosy to drive as a petrol car (so any ham-fisted numpty can yank the controls around) is a big contributor to issues.
Instead of being built "tough" (& requiring a little more time & finesse to drive properly) we now have stupid dual mass flywheel clutches & smooth, fast gearchange 'boxes, but the stuff just isn't "beefy" enough as you say.
(I actually like the feel of older vans like early Sprinters, LT35's etc. They feel robust. You can't rush a change, but the feedback is of something up to the job).
The VW's are a bit weak too. On my 100k mile Transporter I had a whine. It took the tin cap off on the end of the box and there was a bearing full of moisture. Pretty grim eh? 
But you can't get the bearing off without splitting the box.
I had just caught it in time because it had been turning on the shaft (but not in the ally case). Luckily it was well within tolerance to bond the new bearing to the shaft. It's been 5 years since and all is well. That bearing (amazingly) is a shielded from the gearbox. It gets it's lubrication from being packed with grease at the factory! There was no moisture whatsoever in the oil so the bearing chamber must have been 'sweating' somehow or moisture creeping in round the cap. Still, if it does another 100k I suppose it will see me out!
But you can't get the bearing off without splitting the box.
I had just caught it in time because it had been turning on the shaft (but not in the ally case). Luckily it was well within tolerance to bond the new bearing to the shaft. It's been 5 years since and all is well. That bearing (amazingly) is a shielded from the gearbox. It gets it's lubrication from being packed with grease at the factory! There was no moisture whatsoever in the oil so the bearing chamber must have been 'sweating' somehow or moisture creeping in round the cap. Still, if it does another 100k I suppose it will see me out!
Smallfry
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Because he's a nob. Was near Leicester apparently when it started, and kept driving it back to Kent.How the hell do you drive a gearbox to that state
Tha noise must have been horrendous.
Didn't have time to wait for recovery, and didn't want to pay for it either. No breakdown insurance as he is too tight.
Smallfry
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The older five speed PK type (internal LH CV joint) seems to last longer than the six. I have learned a lot about these gearboxes, so sorry if I seem a bit of a know all, but I think the reason is that because of the engine torque (flexibility) people change up too soon, or hold on to sixth gear too long. This loads the bearings up more, so makes the problem worse. Usually if the gearbox has a sixth speed, the final drive ratio is slightly lower, but in these boxes it is the same.
I only now use sixth gear above 60 MPH to try to relieve the strain, especially with a load.
Smallfry
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I think you are right.
I am not a Ford fan, but they always seemed to have good gearboxes back in the day. Smooth and slick, when most others seemed a bit (or a lot) notchy and agricultural.
On these Renault boxes, the oil used makes a big difference to the gearchange, especially if overfilled. makes it more difficult to engage gears.
Oil tech is complicated these days, just like the minefield of engine oils, and now seems to apply to gearboxes too, as engine power levels increase. Gone are the days when you could chuck just about anything in them.
Smallfry
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Yours at 2008 should be the later PF six speed ? The oil does have a lot to do with gearchange smoothness, especially if overfilled.Mines only on 80k, (2008 van) but as an ex-Swindon Council van, I'm guessing it's done lots of town work , so lots of gearchanges.
Weirdly online specs say the 100hp should be a 5-speed (esp as mine is poverty specs with no A/C & hand windy windows).... but mine is 6-speed
When I first got it, I did slightly crunch into 4th a couple of times (which made me think perhaps its spent a lot of time in 3rd & 4th gear)... but I ensure I never rush the shift & fully depress the clutch to the floor & the 'box seems smooth & quiet - so maybe this backs up my town driving theory is right, & the clutch has a bit of wear?
Paranoia though says to me "change the gearbox oil soon, dum-dum!"
Yours will not have a dual mass flywheel BTW
Smallfry
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Thats not good. Caused by condensation possibly ?The VW's are a bit weak too. On my 100k mile Transporter I had a whine. It took the tin cap off on the end of the box and there was a bearing full of moisture. Pretty grim eh?
View attachment 443736
But you can't get the bearing off without splitting the box.
View attachment 443738
I had just caught it in time because it had been turning on the shaft (but not in the ally case). Luckily it was well within tolerance to bond the new bearing to the shaft. It's been 5 years since and all is well. That bearing (amazingly) is a shielded from the gearbox. It gets it's lubrication from being packed with grease at the factory! There was no moisture whatsoever in the oil so the bearing chamber must have been 'sweating' somehow or moisture creeping in round the cap. Still, if it does another 100k I suppose it will see me out!
Thank you!
(I did realise mine was not a DMF... but only after I'd bought it - which pleased me no end!).
It costs more to tax as its not listed as a Euro4 - but the trade-off is that means no DPF, which is another positive from a mechanical POV.
(I'm hoping being ex-council it's been serviced somewhat- buy already I've had the cambelt changed just in case)
Hopefuldave
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wives are like that, too...
8ob
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The VW's are a bit weak too. On my 100k mile Transporter I had a whine. It took the tin cap off on the end of the box and there was a bearing full of moisture. Pretty grim eh?
If I was aware of that problem that tin cover would get a grease nipple fitted and a periodic pump of fresh grease. Done similar on problematic machines and new grease can get into the shields, may end up with a teaspoon of it in the box but doubt that would matter.
Bob
I think that must be. When I first saw that bearing I assumed the rest of the gearbox must be like it (full of water). I was very relieved when I drained it and found it a bit grubby but in a good dry state, And even more pleased when I saw the general condition inside. I like Bob's idea of a grease nipple although you would have to be careful it to only use a couple of pumps not didn't pop the cover off with hydraulic pressure. I've never heard of such a strange design for a bearing.
qwakers
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Pk6 box is trf oil, fill to quantity, checked with a special district and sealed for life. Change the oil every 50k and you will have no trouble with it. 250k on my laguna before I scrapped it, gave me no trouble.The pk6 in the laguna and vans are the same.
Pf6 is a totally different box. Fill to overflow with normal gear oil. Again supposed to be fill for life but don't do that...
Pf6 is a totally different box. Fill to overflow with normal gear oil. Again supposed to be fill for life but don't do that...
@Smallfry says my 2008 Mk2 6-speed is the later PF6 - so your saying it takes "normal" (which to me is EP80??) Gear oil? Not this Elf clever stuff?
Colour me confused.
