Metal Filings In T56 Gearbox Oil

[cdm]

Well, my car has been jumping out of second a little bit recently, but only when it's warmed up. I've also noticed a few drips on the garage floor recently so I thought I would take it to the local mechanic and put it up on the hoist to check the gearbox fluid level. The leak appeared to be coming from near the reverse gear lockout. Upon opening the plug on the side of the box some fluid gushed out indicating there was enough in the box, however, the fluid was a dark auburn kind of colour and had small metal filings in it. What would cause this? The car is running a T56 (done about 30k) with Rip Shift, 4.11 diff gears and 318rwkw. I have to put the car in storage for 6 months from boxing day so I really want to get this sorted out before then. Perhaps I should just change the oil and check it again in a few thousand km? Or is this a sign of iminent failure?

All advice appreciated.

Regards,

Chris

[WBT56]

...Well, my car has been jumping out of second a little bit recently, but only when it's warmed up. I've also noticed a few drips on the garage floor recently so I thought I would take it to the local mechanic and put it up on the hoist to check the gearbox fluid level. The leak appeared to be coming from near the reverse gear lockout. Upon opening the plug on the side of the box some fluid gushed out indicating there was enough in the box, however, the fluid was a dark auburn kind of colour and had small metal filings in it. What would cause this?.........          Chris

←

Sounds like burnt factory oil. I would change ALL fluids and ensure coolant is in date, before storage. Leak is most likely from shifter if not from rear seal, it may have not been sealed down correctly. We fit 4 litres of oil, if you open the fill plug you will get at least 1/2 litre run out, if not more, as factory I6 fill is 4.8 litres. Actual metal filings, as opposed to a "shimmery" effect, is a bad thing. It is most likely metal from dog teeth, and as you have a problem with second that is the likely source. Most likely caused by rough/grinding shifts into second. does the car go into second cleanly? Does it jump out as you let the clutch out, or on decel, or just randomly? Ben.

[Kimberley Scott]

Goldie just changed my T56 fluid the other day, 35800 km, and it was burnt. No silver shimmer or metal fillings though.

Scotty

[WBT56]

Goldie just changed my T56 fluid the other day, 35800 km, and it was burnt. No silver shimmer or metal fillings though.

Scotty

←

Factory fluid is just not up to it. I have seen cars (getting flogged, admittedly) burn mineral dexIII in 2k, hence why we run Transmax. The left hand pedal, when depressed correctly at the right time, activates the "create no superflous metal filings now" mode....Ben.

[O2STOCK]

Goldie just changed my T56 fluid the other day, 35800 km, and it was burnt. No silver shimmer or metal fillings though.

Scotty

←

Factory fluid is just not up to it. I have seen cars (getting flogged, admittedly) burn mineral dexIII in 2k, hence why we run Transmax. The left hand pedal, when depressed correctly at the right time, activates the "create no superflous metal filings now" mode....Ben.

←

Nice Ben

Off the topic what oil do you reccomend for the 6SP Auto does it suffer from the same poor quality oil from factory

James

[Kimberley Scott]

Yep Transmax Z went in, feels a sh*tload better.

Scotty

[WBT56]

...Off the topic what oil do you reccomend for the 6SP Auto does it suffer from the same poor quality oil from factory

James

←

This I do not know, as we do not do autos. The ZF can be very prone to overheating, and a suitable oil will normally help, but I would not make a recommendation, out of my field. Sorry. Ben.

[cdm]

...Well, my car has been jumping out of second a little bit recently, but only when it's warmed up. I've also noticed a few drips on the garage floor recently so I thought I would take it to the local mechanic and put it up on the hoist to check the gearbox fluid level. The leak appeared to be coming from near the reverse gear lockout. Upon opening the plug on the side of the box some fluid gushed out indicating there was enough in the box, however, the fluid was a dark auburn kind of colour and had small metal filings in it. What would cause this?.........           Chris

←

Sounds like burnt factory oil. I would change ALL fluids and ensure coolant is in date, before storage. Leak is most likely from shifter if not from rear seal, it may have not been sealed down correctly. We fit 4 litres of oil, if you open the fill plug you will get at least 1/2 litre run out, if not more, as factory I6 fill is 4.8 litres. Actual metal filings, as opposed to a "shimmery" effect, is a bad thing. It is most likely metal from dog teeth, and as you have a problem with second that is the likely source. Most likely caused by rough/grinding shifts into second. does the car go into second cleanly? Does it jump out as you let the clutch out, or on decel, or just randomly? Ben.

←

Thanks ben. From memory it is poping out as I let the clutch out and going down from 3 to 2, but this has only been occuring after the car has been driven a fair bit. I.e, today I did 2 trips of about 20km with no problems at all, but the other day after a lot of stop start driving it was regularly (maybe 1 in 5 shifts) jumping out. So, your recommendation is to fill it up with 4L of Transmax Z?

[cdm]

For those who are interested I have attached an info sheet on Castrol Transmax Z.

AU_Castrol_Transmax_Z.pdf

[XR06T]

From memory it is poping out as I let the clutch out and going down from 3 to 2,

←

mine did this before the syncro gave way and it lunched 2nd..

it was a t5 though..

still its the EXACT same thing mine did.. the syncro only gets worse and will begin to not work while accel also..

never heard of this in a t56 though, I believe it is common in the t5??

an easy way around it is double clutching, but it will still eventually give up the ghost.

hope this helps..