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BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2995 Location: U.K Surrey

on my last service my garrage ran out of gearbox oil and i was supposed to go back and get it topped up.
Well i never got round to it and a lot longer later am wondering weather i should just get it topped up or the whole lot replaced? What do you think?
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x2 33 16v
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tvatavuk · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:38 am Post subject:

It is strange that you might need topping up.
Is there gearbox oil leak somewhere?
What kind of seal is there on gearbox cover (rubber or cork).
Do you find gearchange ok at startup in cold winterdays?
What about hot summer day after hours of driving?
Have you (or previous owner) changed oil in gearbox ever before?
If so, when was that?
Which exact brand and grade of oil is inside gearbox right now?
Can you buy that same oil now?
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Tino Vatavuk
Little black dress which replaced Alfa Romeo 33 S 16v Permanent 4 GMo

Ben_nz · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:14 am Post subject:

My gearbox lost some of its oil through the selector shaft seal (drips onto the exhausts and burns off) and through the inspection plate seal (because the bolts loosened themselves). Now it has quite a loud whine from 2000~2500rpm in third gear. Sounds good, like a supercharger, but I don't think it's a good thing for a gearbox to make that noise.
So try not to run your gearbox with low oil! Wink

How long ago was it that the garage ran out of oil while servicing your car? Gearbox oil isn't that expensive, and the current oil might have got hot/old, the new oil might be a different grade - easiest just to replace it all.
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"Now, all that is left to do ... is wait that something else brokens, to fix up again!"

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2995 Location: U.K Surrey

no, no guys, there is no leak

tvatavuk · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:20 pm Post subject:

Since you obviously changed oil no so long time ago then topping up is ok as soon as you find out which brand/kind was it. This is why I allways buy oil myself and pay for change work.

Problem with you topping up with different brand/product is that you migh end up with black jelly like mass which if ignored will kill gears. Problem can also occur if you make oil change but don't drain gearbox enough.
This happens rarely but happens.

If you don't have any leaks or cork seal on gearbox cover and you have problems with cold gearchange on winter mornings semi-synt off full synt oil is good way to go. (I use Castrol TAF-X 75w80, but seen many other like Mobil and even Selenia (oem for new AR) with same API GL marks)
If you have leaks,cork seal...then original mineral oil is only way to go.
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Tino Vatavuk
Little black dress which replaced Alfa Romeo 33 S 16v Permanent 4 GMo

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2995 Location: U.K Surrey

Thanks, still trying to get hold of garrage, always busy when i call, it has been handed over to the other people that work there so they should know what was used.
_________________
x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203