Xsara HDi black gearbox oil

[nick]

Hi folks,

I've had a week off work so decided to change the filters and fluids on the Xsara.

From the 2002 model year onwards there isn't even an official internal to check the gearbox oil level any more, but I thought I would have a look to be on the safe side, and was quite worried by what I found.

Although the level was fine, what trickled out was black, like used engine oil The gearchange has been getting increasingly awkward lately, and looking at what was in the box I'm not surprised! I've changed the gearbox oil on a few Citroens over the years, but never seen anything as bad as this.

I've drained all this horrible stuff out, and re-filled with 2 litres of the proper 75W-80 gear oil, and the gear change is much improved and with no obvious noise from the 'box, so hopefully I've got away without any serious damage.

Has anyone here seen oil as dirty as this come out of a PSA gearbox?!

The 'box on the Xsara HDi is a bit of an oddity anyway, known as the BE4 it appears to be a development of the BE3, still using a metal rod gear change linkage, but with a hydraulically operated clutch. I don't know if it was used on any other PSA cars?

The annoying thing is I had the clutch changed by a Citroen specialist only just over a year ago, and presumably they drained this stuff out to change the clutch then poured it back in again afterwards! Unless they put some sort of additive in without telling me? Is that Molyslip gearbox additive dark grey or black perhaps?

Any thoughts?


Regards,

[CitroJim]

Hi Nick,

Normally, as you know, well-used gearbox oil may be quite dark brown but rarely black like engine oil. There is nothing in a BE that can turn it totally black.

Seeing the clutch was changed, which would need a drain, I wonder if the garage drained the oil into a container thay normally use for engine oil. Even if this container was totally empty, any oil subsequently drained into it will turn black in an instant. I know that from my waste oil drum. They may have done that and then poured the oil back into the gearbox...

Moly additives are indeed dark grey/black. Knowing the synchro material used in these 'boxes, I'd caution against the use of any such additives as they may damage the synchro cones.

All's well that ends well but I'd be very tempted to treat your recent oil change as a flush and change it again soon.

[nick]

Hi Jim,

Your theory on the garage using an old engine oil container to transfer the gearbox oil could well be correct. It looked almost as black as used diesel engine oil.

I remember the gearbox oil in my Xantia TD stayed very clean looking 'til I changed it about 120k, so much so that I wondered if I'd wasted my time changing it! Hence my reason for being quite alarmed at the colour of the oil in this.

I'll probably leave it for a few months then see what state the new oil is in.

Thanks for your help.