If you have manual transmission, you need to change the transmission fluid on your Volkswagen Beetle every 60,000 miles or four years. If you have automatic transmission, you should change the transmission fluid every 100,000 miles or five years. The method of changing the fluid and the type of fluid you need to use also varies depending on the transmission type.
Raise the car and support it on jack stands.
Place a drain pan underneath the transmission, directly underneath the drain plug at the differential end of the transaxle case. Surround the pan with rags and newspapers.
Remove the drain plug and allow the fluid to drain into the pan. Connect the plug once all the fluid has drained into the pan.
Remove the fill plug located at the other side of the transmission case.
Fill the transmission with fresh SAE 75W90 synthetic gear oil using a syringe or squeeze bottle inserted through the fill hole. Fill the case until the fluid just reaches the hole's bottom edge.
Raise the car onto the jack stands using the floor jack. Place a drain pan underneath the transmission.
Disconnect the mounting bolts for the transmission pan using a wrench. Pry all but one side of the pan off with a screwdriver and tilt it so the fluid drains into the pan.
Remove the pan completely once all the fluid is drained. Clean the entire pan with solvent, remove all traces of the original gasket material and wipe the pan dry.
Disconnect the filter by pulling it down from the valve body. Discard the rubber seal.
Install a new filter with a new seal; this gasket is already attached to the filter in most cases.
Install the pan back on the transmission with a new gasket on the pan. Tighten the bolts evenly a little at a time.
Lower the car and then add three quarts of VW automatic transmission fluid through the filler hole in the transmission.
