Volkswagen (VW) 411/412/ Type 4 (EU)

Manual transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Volkswagen 411/412/ Type 4 (EU) manual transmission fluid has a capacity range of 2 to 2,5 liters. Service intervals include a change at 1000 km. The data covers 3 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
412 (1972-1974)
  • Use: Initial service
  • Capacity 2,5 liter (Dry fill)
  • Capacity 2 liter (Service fill)
  • Change 1000 km
  • Code: 4/1
411E (1970-1972)
  • Use: Initial service
  • Capacity 2,5 liter (Dry fill)
  • Capacity 2 liter (Service fill)
  • Change 1000 km
  • Code: 4/1
411 (1968-1972)
  • Use: Initial service
  • Capacity 2,5 liter (Dry fill)
  • Capacity 2 liter (Service fill)
  • Change 1000 km
  • Code: 4/1

Additional Notes

  • The Volkswagen (VW) 411/412 Type 4 manual transaxle carries a dry fill capacity of 2.5 liters across all three variants — the 411, 411E, and 412 — representing the total fluid volume required when filling a completely drained or rebuilt unit from empty.
  • The service fill capacity across the 411, 411E, and 412 manual transaxle is 2 liters, which is the lower volume used during a routine fluid change where residual fluid remains in the unit after draining.
  • The 0.5-liter difference between the dry fill and service fill figures reflects the amount of fluid that typically stays trapped in the transaxle passages and cavities even after a standard drain, a common characteristic of integrated transaxle designs.
  • All three variants — the 411 (1968-1972), 411E (1970-1972), and 412 (1972-1974) — share an identical initial service interval of 1,000 km, indicating a break-in fluid change intended to remove metal particles generated during the early wear-in period of new or rebuilt transmission components.
  • The 411E, produced from 1970-1972, carries the same transaxle fluid specifications as the base 411 produced from 1968-1972, suggesting no mechanical revision to the manual transaxle between those two variants that would affect fluid capacity or initial service timing.
  • The 412, introduced in 1972 as the successor to the 411 series, retained the same 2.5-liter dry fill, 2-liter service fill, and 1,000 km initial change interval, indicating continuity in the manual transaxle design through the end of the Type 4 production run in 1974.

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