Alfa Pages

[The Wombat]

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

[The Wombat]

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

[BigAl]

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-33-sud-and-sprint/378692-lubricants-what-oil-is-finally-answered.html
_________________
x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[The Wombat]

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

[Bobkelso]

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

[BigAl]

[JeremyC]

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

[RFlower]

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)