FTO AUSTRALIA

Just wondering how to change my manual GPX gearbox oil? and where do I check the oil level?

I have done the oil change myself and must have downloaded the information once - but now I can't find it.

From memory, there is a drain plug at the bottom of the gearbox and a filler hole part way up ie not at the highest point on the gearbox. The oil capacity is 2.2l from what I can find on the net, which is consistent with what I remember buying. I think it was a case of putting the oil in until it is level with the filler hole.

Sorry for the very sketchy response, but I figured you might prefer something to nothing!

If no one else comes up with a real guide - I'll go and have a look to see if I can stir up some better memories.

that's great! I would be much appreciated if you could get a step by step guide and photo instruction.

Thanks in advance

I've had a look under my car and I've got some more information for you.

I've taken a photo marking what I think are the key drain and filler bolts. I could email it to you, if you want to send me your address in a message. Otherwise a description follows.

Lying under the front of the car near the passenger side tyre, you can look up at the front vertical face of the gearbox housing. There are two bolts in casing - the larger one has the word OIL on it! That'll be where you put the new oil in then!

I think I can see the drain plug as well, but the car needs to be on ramps to be sure. There are a row of bolts all the way around the gearbox housing that connect the gearbox to the engine. At the lowest point on the gearbox, in between two of these bolts, there is a bigger bolt slightly higher up. You can just about see it lying underneath as before. I think this is the drain plug for the oil.

I assume that you're confident enough to do this yourself and you'll take the necessary precautions, jack safely, dispose of oil respsonsibly etc. and you'll take my ramblings as tips and not a gaurantee to success.

A few other tips - drive the car for a few K's to get the oil warm / hot before you start, so that it drains easilty. I don't know what the torque settings are for the bolts, so you need to be careful there. Bare in mind the capacity of 2.2l, but I'm fairly sure that you fill it up until it starts coming out of the filler hole. Fill it up with the car reasonably level (ie not on ramps).

Good luck if you decide to take it on and I'd be interested to know whether your gearbox is less stiff after the change.

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Thanks for your help.

if the refill plug is under the car and on the side of the gearbox, I think im going to have a hard time refilling it rite? wats the best way? and how do i check the oil level.
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Practically refilling isn't too bad at all. Have you had a chance to look underneath and locate the bolts?

If you remove the air filter housing you get quite a good view and space down from the top, standing at the front of the engine.

The gearbox oil I bought in the UK came in 500ml bottles that had a kind of drinking straw arrangement as a part of the cap (I'm sure many of them do). So refilling was a case of stuffing the straw in the hole, with the bottle upside down and squeezing until it was empty. The capacity is 2.2l and you keep squirting the oil in, until it starts to dribble out the hole. I believe the hole is positioned to give exactly the right capacity, so there's no need for dipsticks or anything clever.

It would be good if someone could confirm what I'm saying about levels!!!! Anyone?

Yeah thats about right, at work we just have a 20L drum of oil and we just pump it in til it flows out the hole, goes pretty much to most gearboxes and diffs, but some gearboxes do have a dipstick but you just fill it up to the line.

what grade oil are u using? dexton III spec and/or gen. Mistu oil?