How to check Gearbox oil? plx help

[niceguy]

Having carefully read the whole manual that came with my 2003 986 2.7, I still didnt find much information on gearbox maintenance. It only states the capacity and frequency of service.

I would appreciate if any kind souls out here in this fantastic forum may let me know how to DIY it.

1. check the gearbox oil
2. tell if it needs changing

p.s. I did use the search function here

[ancster]

If you are looking to check the transmission fluid, the boxster uses the same fluid for both the brakes and transmission. You can check the level in the front trunk.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by ancster

If you are looking to check the transmission fluid, the boxster uses the same fluid for both the brakes and transmission. You can check the level in the front trunk.

Hold on there, Boxsters use the same fluid for the CLUTCH and brakes, not the transmission. Using brake fluid in the transmission would be a very fast death of the transmission.

Here are the instructions for changing tranny fluid

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7060

The only problem with those instructions is that they say to fill to the fill plug hole. You're actually supposed to fill to 11mm below the fill plug hole.

[Lil bastard]

On Cars with Manual Transmissions, the tranny and the diff share the same oil. Drain and change the tranny oil and you're also changing the diff oil.

On the Tip S cars, the diff uses the same hypoid gear lube as the manual box. But, it must be drained and filled separately from the tranny. There is no drain plug. To drain it, you must 1st remove the axleshaft and then the diff cover, replace gasket and cover, then fill through the fill plug.

As it's a sealed system, with the Tip S, it's probably not necessary to drain/fill it more often than 45-50k mi. or every 5 yrs.

[niceguy]

Thank you very much gents. It is such a joy to find your useful replies.

I am sooo sorry to forget mentioning that I have a tiptronic boxster. It seems that this job and its tools required are beyond my DIY ability.

Should I go and get an independent specialist to change my gearbox oil on my newly purchased 2003 Boxster (exactly 5-yr old) with 23000 miles on the clock? In addition, the previous owner had never changed the oil since new.

If the answer is yes, will it be a good idea to replace the RMS (Cayanne RMS part, as I read somewhere) together with the gearbox oil change to kill 2 birds with 1 stone?

Thanks again

[pk2]

[QUOTE=niceguy]Having carefully read the whole manual that came with my 2003 986 2.7, I still didnt find much information on gearbox maintenance. It only states the capacity and frequency of service.

I would appreciate if any kind souls out here in this fantastic forum may let me know how to DIY it.

1. check the gearbox oil
2. tell if it needs changing

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Hello,

To check the oil/grease in my 5 speed manual is quite silly. You need to remove the fill plug on the drivers side of the transaxle, right in front of the axle. In my case the level of oil is supposed to be 11mm Below the fill hole (???). 1 way is it to make a mark 11mm down the short end of an allen wrench. Then use it in the plug hole as a dip stick. (Don't know if this is necessary on a 03).

To get the plug out requires a gigantic allen type wrench. I just found that a metric bolt whose head fits the plug “iny” hex on the plug works fine. Just spin on on a couple of nuts on the other end and tightened them against each other, then put a socket wrench on the nut(s)) end and torque the plug out.

Oil change frequency is really just a function of millage I believe. Draining the old oil requires removing the shear plate under the transaxle to get access to the drain plug. The drain plug is “tamper proof” and requires a special torx head with a hole down the middle, Search “tamper oil plug” on ebay., Bout $20.

Another thiing, when you remove the shear plate, wheels are best on ramps where they stay put till the plate is back on. Otherwise you can throw the alighnment off.

Regards, Peter

Regards, PK