Help - 'Bubbly' gearbox oil?

[Garth]

Have a BGH type 9 gearbox with a dipstick.

Checked oil today in prep for trackday this coming Wed. The level seems ok and oil is clear, but it is frothy - see picture!

Did Donington with my son a month or so ago so car was worked hard with two drivers! Gear shifts felt fine all day.

Not sure what this bubbly froth means, but feel it is not quite right?

Any advice welcome - will try BGH on Monday?

Thanks

Garth

 

[Geoff Brown]

Moisture contamination ? Best to just change the oil as a precaution

[Wrightpayne]

With a dipstick hole you'll be able to get a pela extraction pump pipe or oil syringe in there to get the old oil out. I used a Machine Mart oil syringe to evacuate my sierra diff while still in the car (boot floor out!)

 

[Garth]

Thanks - looks like that will be the sensible way forward - will try and source the pump urgently!

[7 wonders of the world]

you can syphon it our with a small tube thro the level plug anf leave it overnight slow but effective.

I thought BGH drilled the spacer plate and put a drain plug in there...?

[Wrightpayne]

I wouldn't like to get a mouthful of that starting the syphon going! Good idea though!!

[Garth]

Will look for a drain plug in the spacer plate thanks Neil! I think I needed to ask for one - not sure if they put them in as standard! Just got 12V oil pump from my local motor spares shop in case the drain plug is not there!

Much cheaper online but happy to support the guys and need it right away anyway! They didn't have the Pela style extractor. 

Let the fun begin - any tips on best method/placement of suction pipe welcomed?

[SM25T]

Preferably below the oil level ! Just feed it down as far as you can

[Wrightpayne]

Being warm helps the flow!

[Garth]

Thanks Ian - had sort of worked that one out  Am going to tape some stiff wire to the tube to be sure it is not going to simply curl up on insertion! Will try and heat up the oil - blow torch!!?  

[7 wonders of the world]

That's why I use Redline MTL oil - it's strawberry flavour  

[SM25T]

Cresta drink adverts from long ago .... It's Frothy Man !

[ScottR400D]

#7 can you let us know how that pump works? I've been thinking of getting one but some of them get very poor reviews, slow, unreliable etc. 

[Roadsport06]

I have what looks to be that identical one that I brought from Lidl. Used to pump out gearbox oil from a VAG gearbox and then pump in replacement oil. Worked a treat, faster than a pela by some way. Alas the tube isn't thin enough to get down the engine oil dipstick tube like on a Pela, but no reason you couldn't add one

[Garth]

Not going to use the pump for a while now, so will not be able to report!

Spoke to BGH and they say I should not be unduly worried - just keep an eye on the level. Evidently the oil can go a bit frothy when the box is being worked hard and it is whipped up by the gears - one can even expect to lose a bit out of the breather pipe in this situation! Will be amplified if the oil level is a bit high (think mine is!) and Ford recommend a slightly lower fill level for vigorous use!