The Halfords guide recommends 2.4 litres Castrol SMX-S 75W85 for the Seicento. I'm looking for quality oil, but this costs £12.99 per litre and £39 seems a bit on the steep side. It's also out of stock.

Can I go for any fully synth 75W85 oil or are there particular ones I should look out for? What would you recommend?

FIAT callout 75W/90 oil to meet
API GL5 & Mil-L-2105D specifications

i.e. Full synthetic, but if you wanna change more frequently like 20k a semi should be ok, and will purge more metal chips and grit.

The heavier grade will slow the synchro...

Noel

Best bet is pop into your FIAT dealer. The oil they sell is said to suit the gearbox to a T and be reasonably priced. 90k miles is probably OK for changes -- let's not forget that on many modern gearboxes the oil is designed to outlast the box!

My 'box has only done 31k, but it's become much crunchier since I've owned it and thought an oil change might be a good preventative measure, especially as there doesn't seem to be a way to check the level of oil in there at the moment.

I've driven a Sei with twice as many miles on the clock and a smoother gearbox...

I've read good things about the Tutela and will give it a try

I need 3 litres for a full change, don't I?

No. It'll be around 2.5 depending on how well the old stuff drains. Use the proper method, through the refil hole till it runs out again...........

Three litres of Tutela ZC75 is just under £30 from Shop4Parts.

Unfortunately it's only available in one litre bottles.

beecon said:

My 'box has only done 31k, but it's become much crunchier since I've owned it

Click to expand...

Adjust the clutch or replace the clutch, the synchro should only be annoying in second gear and then only if you are hill climbing and snatching - needing FTD.

Noel

Does sound like clutch rather than gearbox. They do vary a little in quality, but not hugely unless they've been well and truly hammered.

ooo I hope it's just the clutch... at the moment I feel guilty changing into second and fifth!

I'm getting tyres fitted tomorrow and will get the garage to check it over. I think my clutch has some issues anyway, since there's a rattle that goes away when I press the pedal. According to Haynes, it's a worn input shaft bearing...

Thanks for the help everyone

It is more likely to be the clutch release bearing 'death rattle'. My clutch failed spectularly about half a mile down the road...

The synchro on 5th should be imperceptable, the box and clutch should be beyond reproach for feather lightness & +ve selection.

Not impossible to replace clutch yourself with trolly jack and axle stands, procedure should be in guides.

Noel

Oh gawd... I'd hate to have to fork out on a new clutch right now. Just paid for alloys, springs and tyres

The clutch noise isn't always noticeable, so I'm hoping its got some life in it yet.

I can only re-iterate what's above really, probably not the 'box but the clutch. If you want to change the 'box oil then get the fiat stuff, my turbo's 6 speed 'box has been living on that without problems & that has a rather stressed life.

A quick update...
Adjusting the clutch cable helped. It hasn't done miracles but the gearchange is now considerably smoother. Many thanks for the advice.

My Tutela oil from shop4parts arrived today, but while draining the old stuff I was surprised by how little came out. I carefully poured it into an old 2L milk bottle... there was only about 1.5L of the stuff.

I was consoled by the fact that less than the stated 2.4L was needed before oil started overflowing from the fill...

Is this lack of oil likely to have caused damage?

If so then this could explain why my clutch has gone a little "Winter Snow" feely. (not crunchy but you can feel little snags as u put your foot down, outside you can hear it).

Was going to replace the oil anyway but this seems more of an incentive to me now.

Thanks