Checking and changing Comformatic gearbox oil. (1 Viewer)

[peterc10]

I have a 2015 Hymer B678 with the 3 litre Fiat badged Iveco engine and Comformatic Gearbox. I bought it new and have done 47, 000 miles so far. I have seen lots of threads about the Comformatics being very tempermental, but I like it and it has not let me down at all in the 8 years I have had it (touch wood!!).

As far as I know it has never had the gearbox oil level checked, despite it being required every 30,000 miles, according to the scheduled servicing plan in the Comformatic manual. I want to get it checked at the service coming up in October. I am using a general motor mechanic company which do a lot of work on motorhomes because the business owner owns a motorhome himself. Speaking to them they say there is no way that they can check the level or the state of the oil. All they can do is to drain the oil and then refill with the recommended quantity of new oil.

Is it that simple or do they have to muck about with the electronics? I am happy for them to do it that way, as long as it is not going to cause any problems.

 

[Minxy]

I wouldn't let anyone who isn't familiar with a Comfortmatic touch the gearbox oil bit, nor the 'robot' bit either, too much to go wrong in the hands of those who haven't a clue.

 

[Taran_Las]

I asked this question of Motus the Fiat professional outfit that service my van. They suggested that the gearbox oil shouldn't be changed rather the hydraulic fluid that operates the gear changes should be replaced. Others (with far greater knowledge than I) will be able to add more meat to this thread. The mechanic took a photo of the bottom of the gearbox and there was no drainplug.

 

[peterc10]

I wouldn't let anyone who isn't familiar with a Comfortmatic touch the gearbox oil bit, nor the 'robot' bit either, too much to go wrong in the hands of those who haven't a clue.

They know their way round motorhomes and they knew what I was talking about with the Comformatic. How do other companies do it if there is no dip stick?

 

[dunnah01]

The gearbox & fluid is separate to any of the Comfortmatic system so they can change it just the same as the manual box. Not sure with the 2015 model but usually the filler plug is in the side of the gearbox and is at the fill level so just refill until it starts to come out of the filler hole

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[peterc10]

I asked this question of Motus the Fiat professional outfit that service my van. They suggested that the gearbox oil shouldn't be changed rather the hydraulic fluid that operates the gear changes should be replaced. Others (with far greater knowledge than I) will be able to add more meat to this thread. The mechanic took a photo of the bottom of the gearbox and there was no drainplug.

Interestingly the manual says that the hydraulic clutch fluid should be checked every 30,000 miles but changed every 60,000 miles. They are already going to check the state of brake fluid, so I will get them to check the fluid in the hydraulic clutch as well.

As for no drain plug, how would they change the gearbox oil? They are a Fiat Professional Garage so they should know. Having said that my experience with our local Fiat Professional dealer was awful.

 

[Taran_Las]

They suck it out I think. He did say he could change it for me if I demanded. His recommendation was to leave well alone.

60,000 miles or 6 years for the hydraulic fluid change.

 

[dunnah01]

As for no drain plug, how would they change the gearbox oil? They are a Fiat Professional Garage so they should know. Having said that my experience with our local Fiat Professional dealer was awful.

There's a good argument that modern gear oil is so good that it will last way longer than a clutch. The gear oil gets drained out through the driveshaft seals when they are removed to change the clutch so no separate drain plug is required. Effectively the oil will get changed every 100k+ or so miles as the clutch wears out.

 

[Bustup15]

Adams Morey Portsmouth (Comfortmatic specialists by all accounts) advised gearbox is sealed unit and no oil change required. Clutch fluid a definite yes!

 

[WESTY66]

I have a 2015 Hymer B678 with the 3 litre Fiat badged Iveco engine and Comformatic Gearbox. I bought it new and have done 47, 000 miles so far. I have seen lots of threads about the Comformatics being very tempermental, but I like it and it has not let me down at all in the 8 years I have had it (touch wood!!).

As far as I know it has never had the gearbox oil level checked, despite it being required every 30,000 miles, according to the scheduled servicing plan in the Comformatic manual. I want to get it checked at the service coming up in October. I am using a general motor mechanic company which do a lot of work on motorhomes because the business owner owns a motorhome himself. Speaking to them they say there is no way that they can check the level or the state of the oil. All they can do is to drain the oil and then refill with the recommended quantity of new oil.

Is it that simple or do they have to muck about with the electronics? I am happy for them to do it that way, as long as it is not going to cause any problems.

Hi Peter, we have a lot in common, same birthday, same engine (although mine is badged as an Iveco) same gearbox, Same mileage only mines a Carthago. I have come to the conclusion I need to change the fluid in the comfortmatic as a precaution, so it looks like a trip to AM next month

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[Pausim]

Interestingly the manual says that the hydraulic clutch fluid should be checked every 30,000 miles but changed every 60,000 miles. They are already going to check the state of brake fluid, so I will get them to check the fluid in the hydraulic clutch as well.

As for no drain plug, how would they change the gearbox oil? They are a Fiat Professional Garage so they should know. Having said that my experience with our local Fiat Professional dealer was awful.

My service schedule shows changing the hydraulic clutch fluid at 4 years. Adams Morey are saying do it more often.

 

[WESTY66]

My service schedule shows changing the hydraulic clutch fluid at 4 years. Adams Morey are saying do it more often.
View attachment 810513

My book is nothing like that, I have the separate comfortmatic booklet, and this is what it says here

Just says check at 96k km

 

[Pausim]

My book is nothing like that, I have the separate comfortmatic booklet, and this is what it says hereView attachment 810529
Just says check at 96k km

They stopped issuing the separate booklet and incorporated the new service schedule in the main handbook.

 

[WESTY66]

They stopped issuing the separate booklet and incorporated the new service schedule in the main handbook.

But mines newer than yours, so did they just issue the separate book for 2016?

 

[mikebeaches]

My book is nothing like that, I have the separate comfortmatic booklet, and this is what it says hereView attachment 810529
Just says check at 96k km

I am exactly the same! I have a 2016 Euro 5+ 130 hp engine and the only mention in the main manual under servicing, says check the hydraulic clutch fluid (along with other fluids) every 2 years - but no mention specifically of the Comfortmatic gearbox.

And then as WESTY66 has indicated and illustrated, there is a separate Comfortmatic manual which contains the info in his pic - mine's the same.

No mention of changing hydraulic clutch fluid for the Comfortmatic anywhere else that I can find, and no indication in the photo of when it should be changed?

The checking frequency also appears ambiguous too - is it every 48,000 km or every 96,000 km?

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[mikebeaches]

They stopped issuing the separate booklet and incorporated the new service schedule in the main handbook.

So what year is your van?

 

[Bustup15]

According to Adams Morey the schedule was amended based on recorded issues with the clutch/gearbox?

He's the only Fiat Professional I have spoken with who seems knowledgeable about confortmatics. North East Truck and Van I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them!

 

[Pausim]

But mines newer than yours, so did they just issue the separate book for 2016?

So what year is your van?

2019 so probably one of the last Comfortmatics. My handbook has a 12/2018 publication date, what is the date on the separate Comfortmatic handbook?

 

[WESTY66]

2019 so probably one of the last Comfortmatics. My handbook has a 12/2018 publication date, what is the date on the separate Comfortmatic handbook?

Ah, sorry, I’m confusing you with the OP

 

[mikebeaches]

2019 so probably one of the last Comfortmatics. My handbook has a 12/2018 publication date, what is the date on the separate Comfortmatic handbook?

Ah, my Confortmatic handbook has the publication date: 01/2014 - 1 edition (see bottom of page). My van is mid-2016 registered.

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[Lenny HB]

The clutch fluid needs changing every two years regardless of mileage & what the manual says, Simon the service manage at AM runs a Comfomatic he changes his annually.

If you don't change it every 2 years you risk a £2000 - £3000 repair bill as Kannon Fodda and others have found out.
Also best done with someone who has the proper Fiat diagnostics to recalibrate the clutch correctly.

 

[Minxy]

So what year is your van?

The important thing is not when the vehicle was registered but when it was produced, some base vehicles/MHs stand around for a long time before being registered so going just by that isn't ideal.

They stopped issuing the separate booklet and incorporated the new service schedule in the main handbook.

But mines newer than yours, so did they just issue the separate book for 2016?

Check your VIN numbers to see which was made first ...

 

[mikebeaches]

The important thing is not when the vehicle was registered but when it was produced, some base vehicles/MHs stand around for a long time before being registered so going just by that isn't ideal.

Check your VIN numbers to see which was made first ...

I know that. Fairly sure mine is a 2016 model year.

But actually it doesn't matter, because WESTY66 and I have the same documentation (or more or less the same), so it's academic which van rolled off the production line first. Whereas, Pausim 's van is a 2019, so significantly newer and with newer guidance about the need for hydraulic clutch fluid changes.

 

[Minxy]

I know that. Fairly sure mine is a 2016 model year.

But actually it doesn't matter, because WESTY66 and I have the same documentation (or more or less the same), so it's academic which van rolled off the production line first. Whereas, Pausim 's van is a 2019, so significantly newer and with newer guidance about the need for hydraulic clutch fluid changes.

I have a 2019 one too however it doesn't always follow that the documentation provided is 'correct' for the base vehicle in question so always best to double check.

 

[peterc10]

Ah, sorry, I’m confusing you with the OP

My motorhome is a 2015 model. It was manufactured in late 2014 and is one of the first X290 models. It hung around the dealer's lot for a year until I bought it for a good price in October 2015.

As I understand it the clutch (and brake) fluids absorb water over time and that is why they should be changed. However they can be tested to see if they need changing rather than just changing them.

The clutch fluid needs changing every two years regardless of mileage & what the manual says, Simon the service manage at AM runs a Comfomatic he changes his annually.

If you don't change it every 2 years you risk a £2000 - £3000 repair bill as Kannon Fodda and others have found out.
Also best done with someone who has the proper Fiat diagnostics to recalibrate the clutch correctly.

I would change it every year if I managed a garage that can do it! I will speak to my garage to see if they have the software to calibrate the clutch.

How much does Andrew Morley charge for replacing the clutch fluid?

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[Pausim]

As I understand it the clutch (and brake) fluids absorb water over time and that is why they should be changed. However they can be tested to see if they need changing rather than just changing them.

The contamination that causes some Comfortmatic problems seems to start at the slave cylinder. Possibly cross contamination with other hydraulic fluid. Testing the fluid at the reservoir may not reveal the problem and by the time it shows up there the damage has probably already happened. Hence the new advice to change the fluid. Simon at AM Portsmouth said to me that they check the fluid they drain off and sometimes some of it comes out looking grey and this is the problem.

 

[Lenny HB]

How much does Andrew Morley charge for replacing the clutch fluid?

Price seems to vary between about £70 to £120 cheap compared to the damage contaminated fluid can do.
If the fluid gets contaminated the the clutch doesn't disengage properly causing damage to the clutch and if you are unlucky the DMF as well.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Price seems to vary between about £70 to £120 cheap compared to the damage contaminated fluid can do.
If the fluid gets contaminated the the clutch doesn't disengage properly causing damage to the clutch and if you are unlucky the DMF as well.

How much does Andrew Morley charge for replacing the clutch fluid?

Current price £147 - not sure if that includes vat.
They said might get a bit knocked off as having interim service done at same time.

 

[Antique]

Sherwood Trucks Nottingham (not far from me) has quoted £200ish +vat +oil for comfortmatic hydraulic oil change.

Its obviously more £ than A Morey but much closer for me.

Has anyone else tried these people or should I just get down to Portsmouth?

Many ta's
All the best
Antique

 

[Lenny HB]

Sherwood Trucks Nottingham (not far from me) has quoted £200ish +vat +oil for comfortmatic hydraulic oil change.

Hydraulic oil change is not the same as a clutch fluid change.

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