Part 2 of 4
Research
On MQ250 Gearboxes:-
This guide was carried out on an MQ250 6 speed manual gearbox. The 6 speed is a 5 speed with a longer "add on" casing section for the sixth gear. The MQ250 is actually an old "02S" gearbox which was first introduced in 2004. The 02S is based on the 5 speed version called the "0A4" from the same year. The reason for the change in name is also the reason why we have an unusable oil filler/level plug on the front of the case! When these gearboxes were designed the gearbox case was mated to an engine which was tilted towards the front of the car. On the MQB platform, ALL engines are now tilted towards the rear of the car by 12deg! Therefore the old fill/level plug is now pointing up towards the bonnet & if you try to use this as the correct "level" you will overfill the gearbox with oil!!
Correct grade of gearbox oil:-
Previously the most common manual gearbox oil used by VAG was a 75w90 which was to an old VW standard of VW 501 50. Since 2013 VAG now uses a part number to designate the specification of the gear oil. I have contacted VWUK, who have NO specifications on the gear oil other than the VW part number & the bottle it comes in has nothing written on it either. So it’s a big secret! When I went onto various oil brand websites & used their selector apps, I was either recommended a 75w, or a 75w80. So I phoned up a couple of companies in the UK & both stated that I should only be using a 75w & the 75w80 is the wrong oil!
However when looking at my spec of Golf via VW ETKA parts catalogue it states my MQ250 QSZ gearbox as having "high performance gear oil" part No.:- G 052 527 A2!! Looking through all MK7 manual gearboxes there are two oils listed, a “basic grade” which is based on MQ number, i.e. an MQ250 basic grade oil is part No.:-G 052 512 A2 (A2 designates quantity of 1lt bottle), & a different part number to a MQ350 basic grade oil. However ALL gearboxes have a “high-performance transmission oil” option listed & all are the same part No.:- G 052 527 A2
So what do we do for our MQ250?? Easy, look at the gear oil “recommendations” & chose one that meets both the G 052 512 A2, & G 052 527 A2 standards.
Workshop manuals/self study guides state:-
MQ200 5-speed:-
0AH design type fitted to:-
Petrol 1.2lt, 63kW, 77kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:-NHW, PKH, SAN
Oil type required = G 052 512
Quantity of oil required = 2.2lt
12 point drain/fill plugs 25Nm, six point = 30Nm
0AF design type fitted to:-
Petrol 1.2lt, 63kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- MYH, PTB
Diesel 1.6lt, 81kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- PSU
Oil type required = G 052 527 oil = PSU, PTB
Quantity of oil required = 2.1lt
12 point drain/fill plugs 25Nm, six point = 30Nm
MQ200 6-speed:-
0AJ design type fitted to:-
Petrol 1.0lt, 81kW 85kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- QGG, REK, SEE
Petrol 1.2lt, 77kW 81kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- MYF, PRL, RGN, RKC, SEH, SEK
Petrol 1.4lt, 81kW 85kW, 90kW, 92kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- MYF, PRL, RGN, SEH, SEK
Petrol 1.5lt, 96kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- RLP, SEL,
Oil type required =
G 052 171 oil = MYF
G 052 527 oil = PRL, REK, RGN
Quantity of oil = 2.3lt
12 point drain/fill plugs 25Nm, six point = 30Nm
MQ250 5-speed:-
0A4 design type fitted to:-
Diesel 1.6lt, 66kW, 77kW 81kW, 85kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- MWW, PME, QYB, RSC, RTD
Diesel 2lt, 81kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- MWX, QVW,
Oil type required = G 052 512 oil or G 052 527 oil
Quantity of oil = 1.8lt for normal oil change. 2.0lt for gearbox dismantle & rebuild
Remove reverse switch drain plug to 35Nm
MQ250 6-speed:-
02S design type fitted to:-
Petrol 1.4lt, 103kW, 110kW = Codes stamped on casing:- NBJ, QSZ, QXH, RSW,
Petrol 1.5lt, 110kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- RMH
Diesel 1.6lt, 81kW = Codes stamped on gearbox casing:- PTW, QVX, RSD,
Oil type required =
G 052 512 oil = NBJ
G 052 527 oil = PTW, QSZ
Quantity of oil = 2.1lt for normal oil change. 2.3lt for gearbox dismantle & rebuild
Remove reverse switch drain plug to 35Nm
Both of these oils meet the recommendations of the G 052 512 A2, & G 052 527 A2 standards. I used Fuchs Titan Sintofluid FE SAE 75w, as it was easier for me to get hold of.
Fuchs Titan Sintofluid FE SAE 75w:-
Density at 15°C (DIN 51757) = 0,873g/ml
Kinematic viscosity at 40°C (DIN 51562-1) = 40.8mm²/s
Kinematic viscosity at 100°C (DIN 51562-1) = 6.7mm²/s
Viscosity index (DIN ISO 2909) = 119
Flash point, CoC (DIN ISO 2592) = 221°C
Pour point (DIN ISO 3016) = -44°C
ROWE Hightec Topgear FE SAE 75w80 S:-
Density at 15°C (ASTM D-7042) = 0,854g/ml
Kinematic viscosity at 40°C (ASTM D-7042) = 37.8mm²/s
Kinematic viscosity at 100°C (ASTM D-7042) = 7.5mm²/s
Viscosity index (ASTM D-7042) = 173
Flash point (ASTM D-92 / DIN EN ISO 2592) = 180°C
Pour point (ASTM D-97 / DIN EN ISO 3016) = -44°C
What is very strange is that the Fuchs 75w80 does not meet either of the two standards required for our gearboxes & yet the ROWE is a 75w80 & does meet both standards!
So DO NOT go by the “W” rating, only go by the “recommendations” list on the oil bottle!!