Hello.

I visited Fiat's today to get some info about parts and since I was there asked some other things.

The gearbox/transmission oil (valvoline, if it translates the same from portuguese) was out of stock , and by from reading the manual I assume the Cento's use Selenia 2c75 (is that correct?)

So my two main questions are:
Wich brand do you use or recomend?
How to change it in my car in a DIY style job (mechanic will be present)?

Many thanks.

*I browsed some other threads about the subject.

Changing is easy (even if it does require triple jointed wrists). The drain is at the back of the gearbox, right in front of the rear mount and angles down towards the ground and back of the car.

The filler is on the front of the box, a bit higher up and easily accessible.

All you need to do is take the wheel liner off to get to it (I have mine permanently removed anyway so all I had to do is climb under the car - I didn't even have to jack it up!)

As for what oil to use - just stick with the Selenia oil and you wont go too far wrong. I use Redline MTL in mine but I don't exactly have a standard box but we have always used MTL in our cars at the workshop as it has proven itself over and over again as both protecting the internals and reducing friction losses, the downside is that it is very expensive.

Also

Always remove the "fill" plug before you remove the drain plug.

If you drain the oil, then find that the fill plug is impossible for you to remove, it is a bit annoying...!

David C said:

Also

Always remove the "fill" plug before you remove the drain plug.

If you drain the oil, then find that the fill plug is impossible you you to remove, it is a bit annoying...!

Click to expand...

lol only just this sec done mine (all i can smell is that horid oil!)

for some reason i only got about a liter and half out (by teh looks of it) and about a liter and half back in. dunno where the other liter is ment to go cos it never came out

Litre and a half is about right: Haynes got the capacity completely wrong.

Will people go for mineral, semi-synthetic or full-synthetic?

go fully synth if you can afford it or even find it (good luck!)

are you serious fingers?!?!?!? i better go drain some then!!!

Haynes is definately wrong (says 2.4 lites) mind you, so does the Sei manual, the Porter Manual and the Autodata.

I've never managed to get 2 litres in.

WTH, if you filled through the hex plug on the side of the gearbox (and allowed any excess to drain out) I can't see how it could be wrong.

lol ill be honist with you.... in the manual it says if all the fluid dont go in, take it for a drive then try again. I did this and it still started to come out the hole. so i pulled the breather off the top and poured it in there haha

lucky i never drove it. i planned to remove the plug tomrrow and let it level itself out but instead i just drained it and filled it till it started to flow out the plug.

How's it possible that all the manuals and guides are wong???

If the system for filling is the plug and it fills with about 2 liters, I can only assume Fiat uses another plug higher above to fill it with the referenced 2.4liters.

*off topic... my Cento is now driving me mad with it's temperature.

RuiG said:

How's it possible that all the manuals and guides are wong???

Click to expand...

it happens.... alot.
My suzuki manual says to tighten a 8mm bolt that goes into a alloy case to a stupid amount. and that manual is actualy made by suzuki. :bang:

Fiat got it wrong big time with the head bolt torque settings a few years back. They stated different settings for the range of FIRE engines, the only one they got right was the later 1242 8v and 16v engines, the others were way under spec'd and that alone has resulted in a lot of blown headgaskets. Only seems to be a problem in the UK though and I've noticed that they've fixed the misprints in later documentation.

The capacity of the gearbox is quite small - nothing like the capacity of older gearboxes. I was a bit shocked when I refilled mine.

RuiG said:

How's it possible that all the manuals and guides are wong???

Click to expand...

Because someone long ago typoed 2.4 instead of 1.4 and no one ever bothered to check the specs? I'm being serious, I have a copy of the Fiat Technical Service Manual in one place it says 1.4 the other it says 2.4.

GoBe said:

Because someone long ago typoed 2.4 instead of 1.4 and no one ever bothered to check the specs? I'm being serious, I have a copy of the Fiat Technical Service Manual in one place it says 1.4 the other it says 2.4.

Click to expand...

sounds about right! I think what happens is when the manuals are translated theres a good few f'ups. more so with jap to english then a country within europe

Just got myself some Mobil1 fully synth gear/transmission oil and first impression is really good.

hmm would it be any problem using a SAE 75W/80 transmission oil in the cinq?

Ming

The reason i am asking, the Honda guys seems to perfer a oil type called MTF? Well they get it from land rover as is cheaper and same as Honda MTF.

As the cinq take SAE80w, just want to see if SAE 75w/80 be ok

Here is the spec of the oil


Land Rover MTF-94 gear box oil
Specification file

DESCRIPTION

Land Rover MTF-94 is a specific manual transmission fluid formulated with dedicated additive technology and non conventional base stocks.

RECOMMENDED FOR

- Passenger car synchronised manual transmissions and transaxles, and non-hypoid transfer boxes.
- Light duty diesel utility and truck synchronised manual transmissions and non-hypoid transfer boxes.
- R380 gearbox used in Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover vehicles.
- PG1 gearboxes in Rover 200, 400, 600 and 800 Series, MG-F and Land Rover Freelander vehicles.
- H gearboxes in Rover 600 Series vehicles.
- Other manual transmissions requiring this type of SAE 75W-80 product (depending on the manufacturer's specific recommendations).
- ZEXEL limited slip axles
- MTF-94 is also specifically recommended for Honda manual transmissions, particularly where the Honda MTF-7289 specification is called for.

MTF-94 is not recommended for use in hypoid differentials where API GL-5 performance is required.

PRODUCT BENEFITS

Maximises transmission life: Extremely shear stable viscosity index improver resists break down under the high shear stresses of modern transmissions, ensuring that oil viscosity and film thickness are sufficient for effective protection of gears against wear and scuffing. Proprietary antiwear and extreme pressure additives provide the load carrying capacity necessary to minimise wear of transmission components under all conditions.

Saves on maintenance: Excellent oxidation resistance and thermal stability of the non conventional base oils provide superior resistance to the formation of lacquer, deposits and corrosive acid by-products.

Longer oil drain periods: Exceptional oxidation resistance and thermal stability of the non conventional base oils resists degradation and provides longer term protection against oil thickening and acidity increase compared with more common MTFs.

Easy gear selection: Special viscosity and frictional characteristics allow synchroniser rings and cones to operate properly over a longer period, enabling light and easy shifting, even at low start-up temperatures.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
API GL-4
Rover Group
MTF-94; R380, PG1 & H gearbox approvals
Honda MTF-7289
MG PG1 gearbox approval

KEY PROPERTIES
SAE Viscosity 75W-80
Density at 15°C, kg/L 0.870
Flash Point, COC, °C 185
FZG, Load Stage 11
Pour Point, °C -45
Viscosity at -40°C, cP 60,000
Viscosity at 40°C, cSt 53.2
Viscosity at 100°C, cSt 10.50
Viscosity Index 190
Full Synthetic 75W80 GL-4

Ming

FCS, why not use the correct stuff? What do the Honda crew know about Cinqs? Probably the cheapest top grade is from FIAT itself. (Shocking, but true.)

mmm i dunno but dont like this bit "MTF-94 is not recommended for use in hypoid differentials where API GL-5 performance is required"

the fully synth i have is GL-4/5 and i think the 4 and 5 are almost identical. just get the fully synthetic. ive had mine for a couple of K now and it is awesome. it fixed a probblem i had going down two second at high speed and it is silky smooth from first thing in the morining to hot stright off the motorway

Not long replaced my oil bought from Fiat, invoice states Z14221620, STAIRS SELEINA ZC75, quanity 3, Total inc VAT £25.12. I uses all three bottles before it gribbled back out of the filler plug. Can't remember how much was in each bottle, the wife through out the empties. Gearbox was fully drained as it had been out. Fiat said they had given me a discount on price, who am I to argue. I have to say the box runs really well on it.