New to berlingos and diesle

[geoff]

The recommendation to change the oil comes from experience as does the advice to use synthetic oils.

The fact that Citroen doesn't say to change the oil is no reason to not do so and if you look around you will find that there are many things that Citroen fall down on.

I concur with Ron and my own experience comes from ( apart from 40 yrs in Mech Eng ) having continually owned a Citroen XUD and its derivatives since 1993.

[Tree]

Are the synthetic oils able to emulsify?

I had a similar thing in a stern drive for a boat once. Despite the oil being about £27 a litre and it needing 3 litres every year, the idea was if the seals failed, even with a teaspoon of oil in the water, it would still do its job.


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[bikergraham]

The recommendation to change the oil comes from experience as does the advice to use synthetic oils.

The fact that Citroen doesn't say to change the oil is no reason to not do so and if you look around you will find that there are many things that Citroen fall down on.

I concur with Ron and my own experience comes from ( apart from 40 yrs in Mech Eng ) having continually owned a Citroen XUD and its derivatives since 1993.

Thank you Geoff,and i respect your point of view,but how is it that a lot of cars produced havnt even got a gearbox drain plug if the oil is supposed to be changed,or is your point of view just refering to the Berlingo ?.I dont think ill be changing mine anytime soon.! I have to agree with the use of synthetic oil ,but not being a scientist i also cant see anything wrong with mineral or part synthetic if the manufacturers advice is to use that specification.At the end of the day its all down to point of view which is why there are forums like this and i always do what makes sense to me and most times what the manufacturer recommends.As i have said on both the BMW and Mercedes websites ,the manufacturer spends millions of pounds in development and i have to say if the manufacturer says " black " and my local garage says pink,i will always choose black.This is in no way saying your wrong,its just my point of view.

[geoff]

^^^^^^^^^ Says the man who changes his engine oil every three thousand miles or twice a year ......

.................... oh well each to their own ...........

[ron]

^^^^^^^^^ Says the man who changes his engine oil every three thousand miles or twice a year ......

....................  oh well each to their own ...........

I agree with you Geoff.I buy the best (available) oils which happen to be synthetic & change regularly.My last Citroen did 188,000 when I sold it with no engine/trans faults.It's still going 8 years later.

[Tomcat3]

For what its worth I always change the gearbox oil on a new motor to me or after 60,000 miles. After seeing the crap oil that comes out with its glistening metal particles suspended in it. I would rather pay 15 quid for fresh stuff and have a nice smooth clean gearbox.
PS if anyones looking for the filler hole on the MA5 gearbox its been done away with and the best way to get the oil in is remove the airbox and pull black breather cover off the box, its next to the reverse switch. Then you can use a funnel to refill the box nice and easy.
Tip 1 use a nice clear mixing bowl to catch the oil in then you know how much came out.
Tip 2 clean the mixing bowl after as it don't half make the cake taste funny the next time.

[steve johnson]

Well fellas I see the reasoning on both sides regarding the gearbox oil...But with this particular van I am going to change it...my reasoning is this...the things I am finding now as I go over it more and more are just sheer lack of general maintenance...I doubt if the level has even been checked in its life...remember how I told about the air filter being as black as coal and the box full of oak leaves...the engine oil being sludge...Im finding bolts rounded off etc etc...so to ease my own mind the oil is getting changed...then I know its good...I still havnt done the glow plugs as I cant find anything to get the torx bolt out of the air intake feed...So I did the back brakes...what a state they were in...they had change one side...not the other....thats stupid.....managed to push back the hand brake cable just too far...without realising what it would do...yep came out of the yoke...had to sort that this morning...bit of a fiddle but not too bad.....The smoking is back a little on start up but gone after less than a minuet then runs great...seems that the additive is doing its job..albiet slowly.
In the spring I will take off the head and sort out whatever I find...too cold and damp for my old bones just now...so untill then I will be renewing any suspension/steering etc parts that require it...and Im still enjoying it
Regards,
Steve.....

[Solent]

The box is 'sealed for life', but that life may be a lot longer if the oil is changed. There will always be metal particles present due to wear, the key is to change that oil before problems occour not after. The reason for no drain plug is simply cost, the vehicle has a design life which will likely be a lot shorter then we would like it to be.

For those who say don't change it, that's fine, they have saved themselves the cost of some oil. Life is a gamble!

[geoff]

In the spring I will take off the head and sort out whatever I find... ...and Im still enjoying it

Steve.....

Not really much you can do with a cylinder head off to be honest apart from lapping the valves and giving yourself a lot of work.

Personally I'd take a deep breath before doing this and ask yourself if the van is running ok and if so don't open the box unless you are retired and bored.

Do check the valve clearances when doing the cam belt and if adjustment is required then rectify with the head in situ.

Glad you are still enjoying the vehicle despite the intensive rejuvination.

[bikergraham]

The box is 'sealed for life', but that life may be a lot longer if the oil is changed.  There will always be metal particles present due to wear, the key is to change that oil before problems occour not after. The reason for no drain plug is simply cost, the vehicle has a design life which will likely be a lot shorter then we would like it to be.

For those who say don't change it, that's fine, they have saved themselves the cost of some oil. Life is a gamble!

Thank you Solent for the voice of reason.I knew this would spark some debate.For me i guess i really dont do the mileage to worry about the "long-lividness "of the car,as mine is 13 years old and has covered only 55k.My father now in his 90s who was a police driver for 25 years,has just changed his old Renault,He has had the thing for about 23 years ,done about 100 + k and never ever had the gearbox oil changed,sold on ebay as a good car for £500 so pretty good value for money and indeed if my own car threw a wobbly tomorrow it wouldnt owe me anything id just go out and buy a new one.I can understand the people who wish to change the oil and like i said in my opinion thats their choice but for me and quite a few manufacturers, by the look of it ,its a waste of " time ".     Having said all that i am given to understand that the Smart car hasnt got a engine drain plug and the engine oil has to be sucked out,and thats a merc design !! Now the engine oil does have to be changed,and particularly in a diesel due to contaminants created by combustion, [ do i sound clever ] so not to put in a drain plug is unforgivable so i wont be buying a smart anytime soon.Anyway as Solent said life is a gamble.