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The Wombat Alfa Sprint
Joined: 31 Aug 2012 Posts: 168 Location: Deepest darkest Huntingdonshire
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:22 pm Post subject: Gearbox oil - any idea what works best? |
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Going to do a gearbox oil change on the 16v.
Are there any preferences for oil out there to help the shifting of the gears? _________________ Drivers:
- Green Fiat 20VT Coupe
- Champagne 155 V6
- Winter Freelander
- Mrs Wombats Freelander
Projects:
- Various 33s
- Some 155s
Hibernating for 2015
- 75 3.0 Cloverleaf
- 155 Q4 Winny
- Red 33 16v |
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The Wombat Alfa Sprint
Joined: 31 Aug 2012 Posts: 168 Location: Deepest darkest Huntingdonshire
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Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Bump
Has no-one changed their gearbox oil before then, or experimented and found something that works best?
So far I have found comments elsewhere on Redline Lightweight Shock Proof Gear Oil which was mentioned as improving the shift a little. Its 75W140 but with a fluid behavior more like an 80W. Quite pricey though at 16 quid a litre.
Any ideas out there? _________________ Drivers:
- Green Fiat 20VT Coupe
- Champagne 155 V6
- Winter Freelander
- Mrs Wombats Freelander
Projects:
- Various 33s
- Some 155s
Hibernating for 2015
- 75 3.0 Cloverleaf
- 155 Q4 Winny
- Red 33 16v |
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BigAl P4
Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey
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The Wombat Alfa Sprint
Joined: 31 Aug 2012 Posts: 168 Location: Deepest darkest Huntingdonshire
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Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Now that is an interesting read. Chrs Al.
Of interest, this is the same story as the Rover gearbox often found attached to Freelanders in L series or K series guise. I have just the thing available at home already having done oil changes on the 2 Freelanders we own.
However, I am guessing that if the wrong oil has been used in the past, some damage will already be present.
Thanks for the info. _________________ Drivers:
- Green Fiat 20VT Coupe
- Champagne 155 V6
- Winter Freelander
- Mrs Wombats Freelander
Projects:
- Various 33s
- Some 155s
Hibernating for 2015
- 75 3.0 Cloverleaf
- 155 Q4 Winny
- Red 33 16v |
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Bobkelso Alfa Sprint
Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 190 Location: Milan - Italy
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Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, a simple choise is CASTROL MANUAL EP 80W90 (GL4),
quite easy to find and economic (mineral oil old type)..
Also GL4+ oils are ok
GL5 are probably ok the most part of them,
respect GL4 are more protective for the differential gear,
but less sure for the gearbox parts in old cars.
33 car chart says you can use GL5 type,
but in that case I will not leave the same
oil in the gearbox for many years..until some time ago
a minor part of GL5 oils could became aggressive (corrosive)
to metals with years and use at hight temperatures,
expecially with yellow metals.
Don't know if this problem with that type of oil is been now fixed.
In the 33 gearbox only some minor parts like forks are
yellow metals (instead syncros are iron), but you never know..
Probably also modern syntetic oils are ok
(GL4, GL4+, maybe also GL5)
but usually you cannot find the exact gradation,
the most similar to original alfa specification
if you want to try syntetic oil usually is 75W90,
and may be (?) syntetic type can escape from
gearbox seals more easily than mineral one.
If you tray it let we know _________________ Alfa 33 |
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BigAl P4
Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey
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Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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The Wombat wrote: |
Now that is an interesting read. Chrs Al.
Thanks for the info. |
NP
I will be changing mine soon me thinks _________________ x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203 |
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JeremyC Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 583 Location: Petersfield, Hampshire
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Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:46 am Post subject: |
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I changed mine for Redline MT-90 about a year ago as I had previously had experience of this oil improving the change feel in another car (non Alfa).
The improvement in the smoothness of changes, especially when cold was very noticeable.
Mind you it's not cheap! _________________ '93 Black 33 1.7 16v |
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RFlower Alfa 33
Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 432 Location: S of France
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Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:31 am Post subject: |
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I worked for Shell on retail sales in the early 60's.
At that time helical gears were being replaced by hypoid gears in many/most automotive gearboxes, which, although much quieter, because of their sliding contact imposed much heavier demands on the lubricating oil film between the contact area of the gears.
Oils with new sulphur based EP additives were formulated for the newer gearboxes, and were initially recommended to replace existing oils in older gearboxes.
However, it was found that when the new additives broke down in use they tended to form compounds which caused corrosion in yellow metal (bronze and brass) gearbox parts. This was particularly bad in some worm drive gearboxes which used bronze worm gears, which were found to be almost destroyed over time.
Nowadays I am pretty sure you will find that GL5 gearbox oils no longer contain any additives which cause problems with yellow metal components. The old additives were phased out years ago, but the memory lingers on in old literature - and old memories..... _________________ Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for breaking) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '73 NSU Ro80 (F), '99 Fiat Seicento (F) |
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