DSG Gearbox oil recommendations and preferred engine oil

[rossko]

Hi

Pretty new to working the T6

What's the best quality / decent price recommendation for DSG transmission oil?

i've ordered mahle filterand thinking mannol? but not sure if there's something higher quality for not much more?

engine oil i usually go mann / castrol but open to suggestions.

thanks

 

[DXX]

Lubricant experts with normally the best prices (ask for discount code), there’s a chat and phone number.

Opie Oils - Automotive Fluids, Oils, Parts, Tools

The UK's largest independent supplier of automotive oils, fluid and parts. We've products to suit any vehicle, from full blown Race / Track weapons, to Daily Drivers looking to save money. Plus FREE expert advice & recommendations - OPIE KNOW OILS

www.opieoils.co.uk

 

[JoshB_]

Whichever brand you go for it absolutely MUST be proper ATF fluid for DSG boxes.
There’s gearbox oil and automated manual gearbox oil. Either of which will ruin a DSG box.

I use Millers personally as its local to me, I used Febi the first time on a TT and then moved to Millers after and it deffo made it less jerky at low speeds. But no idea if that was the oil or just how the DSG box woke up that morning…

 

[Sasquatch]

Thats confusing, seeing as DSG is in essence a very clever and complex robotised "manual" (manual in the sense there is a mechanical swapping of gears to achieve each ratio in much the same way a human does it via via a selector) and not an "automatic" as such because it has no torque converter.

DSG specific oil is in composition a very thin gear oil. If you use a true ATF such as Dexron standard etc you'll be catching the bus to work.

There are several DSG standard grades. Your handbook will tell you which grade is suitable, then it's a case of choosing the brand you want.

 

[sparkzer]

i used Millers Oils XF Premium ATF DCT DSG Transmission Oil on my Golf (T6 is manual)

and

Mannol 7908 Energy Premium 5W-30 C3 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil (i get the 20L barrels when there is a deal on eBay) which i use most of the VAG fleet

 

[JoshB_]

Thats confusing, seeing as DSG is in essence a very clever and complex robotised "manual" (manual in the sense there is a mechanical swapping of gears to achieve each ratio in much the same way a human does it via via a selector) and not an "automatic" as such because it has no torque converter.

DSG specific oil is in composition a very thin gear oil. If you use a true ATF such as Dexron standard etc you'll be catching the bus to work.

There are several DSG standard grades. Your handbook will tell you which grade is suitable, then it's a case of choosing the brand you want.

DSG boxes run hot compared to manuals as you’ve always a gear waiting, so not only is proper DSG oil thinner, but fully synthetic and can deal with much higher temperatures.

 

[manfrotto]

I would only use the VW OEM spec oil (Pentosin, Fuchs, Motul, Liquid Moly, Febi etc) for the DSG, or as @Sasquatch says you will be catching the bus soon after.

With engine oil only use VW approved 504 00 /507 00 of the SAE rating specified for your van - My 6.1 specifies 0w30 but earler models specify 5w30. There should be a label in the engine bay.

 

[rippelep]

I use this one. Because it might be the only one which meets Vw specification TL 521 82 and is approved from vw. (At the point of time I looked for that)

Fuchs Titan FFL-2 Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid. Pentosin FFL 2​

 

[Sasquatch]

DSG boxes run hot compared to manuals as you’ve always a gear waiting, so not only is proper DSG oil thinner, but fully synthetic and can deal with much higher temperatures.

Thats sort of true, but vastly overstated on the interweb. Unless you're sat in neutral a manual box is also permanently engaged and turning with load going through it and will run in the 75-95°C range, perhaps a bit higher under high load and ambient temps.

DSG boxes run in the mid 90's to a bit over the ton in hot high load conditions, temperatures the oil in a standard manual box will manage such numbers just fine, particularly as synthetic gearbox oil has been the norm for just about every manufacturer since the turn of the century.

Although the heat handling capacity is within the scope of conventional modern gear oil it isn't really suitable for a DSG box. ATF, with friction modifiers to allow clutch packs to engage smoothly and grip, is a definite no-no for DSG.

 

[DXX]

Ref post #2; ask Tim at Opie, this is all he does for a living.
I regularly get reliable almost instant advice via the chat function.

 

[Sasquatch]

He should know his stuff. It was me that taught him the difference between viscosity and kinematic viscosity (degree in a related field.)

He is a nice guy and uber helpful and keeps himself current with all the oil tech.

 

[DXX]

He should know his stuff. It was me that taught him the difference between viscosity and kinematic viscosity (degree in a related field.)

He is a nice guy and uber helpful and keeps himself current with all the oil tech.

I stopped going to the kinema when Vue turned it into a monopoly.

 

[rossko]

Thanks for all your replies - i've gone with castrol transmax dual multi vehicle - will let you know how it goes.

 

[rossko]

Thats confusing, seeing as DSG is in essence a very clever and complex robotised "manual" (manual in the sense there is a mechanical swapping of gears to achieve each ratio in much the same way a human does it via via a selector) and not an "automatic" as such because it has no torque converter.

DSG specific oil is in composition a very thin gear oil. If you use a true ATF such as Dexron standard etc you'll be catching the bus to work.

There are several DSG standard grades. Your handbook will tell you which grade is suitable, then it's a case of choosing the brand you want.

spent about 15 minutes flicking through the handbook - no mention of grades for the dsg as far as i could see unless there's a section i missed.

 

[t0mb0]

Definitely don’t put the cheap stuff in a DSG box, I’ve filled mine with cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and it’s running a treat. Door hinges are another matter though, lard is fine.

 

[JoshB_]

Thats sort of true, but vastly overstated on the interweb. Unless you're sat in neutral a manual box is also permanently engaged and turning with load going through it and will run in the 75-95°C range, perhaps a bit higher under high load and ambient temps.

DSG boxes run in the mid 90's to a bit over the ton in hot high load conditions, temperatures the oil in a standard manual box will manage such numbers just fine, particularly as synthetic gearbox oil has been the norm for just about every manufacturer since the turn of the century.

Although the heat handling capacity is within the scope of conventional modern gear oil it isn't really suitable for a DSG box. ATF, with friction modifiers to allow clutch packs to engage smoothly and grip, is a definite no-no for DSG.

It’s not sort of… it is true.

Do VAG fit oil coolers on manual boxes? No
Do VAG fit oil coolers on DSG boxes? Yes
On European road going cars…

Anyway, the lads got sorted with his oil.

 

[Sasquatch]

The manual box on two of my big power Volvos had coolers. So what?

The numbers I stated are out there in internetville for all to see. They run a little hotter, but not significantly so. Theres no mystical law of thermodynamics that applies only to DSG boxes - its essentially two gearboxes combined within a single casing, well within the understanding of humankind.

Bottom line is dont put ATF on one as you suggest (unless you're sabotaging an ex's car.) It wont end well.