I know that this has been done before but I cant seem to find a definitive answer.

2 questions……

If I do it properly and use the correct oil is it going to leak?

Will I notice any significant reduction in drag?

Cheers

IME-

Yes.
yes.

Don’t do it.

My 11 has an oil bath and is still as draggy as my old 8.

Ah well – at least that is a definitive answer
…and will save me time and money too 🙂

IME opinion (just because I happened to do mine last week)

Got mine apart and bathed internals in Auto Transmission fluid
Allow to drip excess off
Re-assemble with suitable grease on the various bearings
Alfine 8 doesnt leak oil as it doesnt have internal reservoir of fluid

benefits Ive noticed include, smoother gear changing and less draggy 🙂

How do you do this without dismantling the wheel?

On the Alfine 8

Non Drive side its a cup and cone – unscrew this

Drive side: Take off the cog, gear selector and other bits until you get to the Spring washer. I use some circlip pliers to get this off (the hard bit). A bit fiddly and usually the spring washer goes ping and ends up 10ft away.
After the spring you need to get the large round black plastic end piece off. This should only be hand tight but the first time you do it can take a bit of carefull persuasion to go round. Note: THIS IS A LEFT HAND THREAD. It is marked on the plastic.
Thats it – the hub then seperates

Re-assemble in reverse order

Alfine 8 doesnt leak oil as it doesnt have internal reservoir of fluid

I was thinking of replacing grease for oil

Had my 8 done recently. Made no difference at all. That was on a hub that had done at least 2500 miles in all weathers and a bit of mud thrown in for good measure.

I was looking into doing this a while back. The youtube video I watched did say that if you used transmission fluid it might well leak and that that was not ideal if you’re using disc brakes

I think it was this guy. The birds in the background are very relaxing.

Alfine 8 doesnt leak oil as it doesnt have internal reservoir of fluid

I was thinking of replacing grease for oil

Would be interested to hear how you would improve the sealing, on the hub body, to cope with being able to contain a fluid.

Would be interested to hear how you would improve the sealing, on the hub body, to cope with being able to contain a fluid.

Well I wouldn’t – if it leaks I wouldn’t bother.
But is the housing any different to an Alfine 11 which is oil bath???

Anyhow I’m not bothering anymore as I took the wheel off last night and discovered the cone had come undone and tightened up on the bearings. when I loosened them to release the preload the difference in drag was huge.