Interesting, thanks. So how did 0w 30 selenia digitek hold up or can you say?

Mercky said:

Interesting, thanks. So how did 0w 30 selenia digitek hold up or can you say?

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I can't give technical specs and as I'm not allowed to, but I can say it's testing showed it to be a good performer. Wear protection and cooling were very good and well above average which is exactly what the TA needs as its internal hotspots are very toasty, even by turbo engine standards.

Incidentally it was reformulated just before Fiat changed the Twinair to 0w30 and based on testing I'd say Petronas did a good job in doing so. Like most of its kind though, towards the end of its interval it's performance dropped off a cliff with very depleted additive levels so always change annually, regardless of what the local dealer says [emoji6]

While not strictly on-topic, I think a weaker link might be the clutch or transmission.
I've just had my TA man gearbox repaired under warranty. It had a chipped reverse idler gear and also a damaged mainshaft.

I'm pretty sure in my case it's because I have modified my Panda. At one point I was running 17in wheels, a TMC tuning box and towing a 550kg caravan (not far, maybe 50km).

Yet being reverse that failed, I'm wondering if the TMC box getting on boost earlier (?) and reversing up my step, short driveway (abt 7 metres long) had loaded up reverse more than it could handle.

I've read before about this g/box not being able to handle high torque; that FCA have built a 105hp version but kept torque at 145Nm like the 85hp version. That must be for a reason.

I've sold the 17s, have the std 14in steel rims and will go to 15in wheels at the most. I don't tow anymore, and if I do it's only be short distances with a box trailer <250kg.
As for the tuning box? I loved it at first, but then I noted it added vibration under low rpm high load conditions (inherent in my TA, but amplified with the TMC box) and difficulty in reversing cleanly out of my driveway without getting excessive vibrations.
Will I keep the TMC box? I'm 50/50 on that. Part of me wants to plug it back in and use Eco mode for most of the time (it makes the Panda only slightly less powerful than normal mod w/out the TMC) and switch Eco off when rolling and wanting a boost of power/torque.

Anyway, as I said, a bit off topic and mods, remove if you wish.

I wonder if the issue with the gearbox not being able to handle more torque is why there's a definite delay after changing gear before the power comes in (there certainly is in my TA Cross, anyway). It means that gear changes are necessarily lazy, but presumably it must reduce the strain on the gearbox (and hopefully on the wretched DMF), so hopefully it's a price worth paying in the interests of longevity.

I suspect that's just turbo lag o

Nope - I've had plenty of experience of cars with turbo lag, and this is something different - there's definitely something in the electronic settings that delays the power delivery.

Sure feels like turbo lag to me

The gearbox in my new Cross TA is basically pretty pants if I'm being totally honest. Does NOT like to be hurried at all - particularly 1st to 2nd. On top of which it feels a bit fragile in general. I tried a Polo Gti just before this Cross and the GB was a dream in comparison....as was the whole drivetrain TBH. But not, I should add, anywhere near as characterful as the little Cross!

TheItalianThrob said:

Sure feels like turbo lag to me

The gearbox in my new Cross TA is basically pretty pants if I'm being totally honest. Does NOT like to be hurried at all - particularly 1st to 2nd. On top of which it feels a bit fragile in general. I tried a Polo Gti just before this Cross and the GB was a dream in comparison....as was the whole drivetrain TBH. But not, I should add, anywhere near as characterful as the little Cross!

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I agree that you need to be careful first to second - as I remarked somewhere else (or perhaps earlier in this thread) the best plan is to do this change early as it is much slicker and doesn't adversely affect acceleration. Otherwise the gearbox doesn't seem too bad to me by today's standards and I'm not sure what makes a gearbox feel a bit fragile.

TheItalianThrob said:

Sure feels like turbo lag to me

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Well, if it is turbo lag, it's worse than the old Saab turbos from the 1980s, and the lag on those was legendary.

Perhaps it's due to the electronics governing the drive, is it the same in all modes?

Yes, same in all modes, and in all gears. A definite pause before there is any response. I'm sure it's down to the electronics, dampening the throttle response after gear changes. It's my least favourite aspect of the car (apart maybe from the seats/driving position, but let's not go there!!).

It's turbolag IMO FWIW. The turbo even sounds slow - like the first models Audi 80tdis and transit vans etc. - a slowly rising whistling note rather than an almost instantaneous sssswishhhh like on twin scrollers like on modern Audis and BMWs and such. Thinking about it....In 02 I had a new Golf GTD 150 that had horrendous lag from a turbo who's note rose as slowly as and was the same pitch as the Cross! Don't get me wrong: I like the TA. But I'm not so in love with it that I won't be objective about it good or bad!