The owners manual and S4P as well as many transmission oils have EP in the spec so I can't see it causing harm?

Shop4Parts have assured me (with screenshot) that according to my VIN number that Petronas product is compatible, so I'm ordering it tonight. I've been talking about this long enough!

Wonder if it'll make the gear change any smoother.. either way I'll be 'convinced' it does regardless but is there any technical reason to believe for or against that phenomenon?!

Finally ordered.. £35 altogether though.. Hit with the £7 shipping .. maybe because I'm in N. Ireland but well, I've been talking about it long enough time to get the gear box oil changed!

Make sure you can undo the filler plug before draining

There was a thread on the saab.net about a brand of oil sold in the uk that sorted out the stiff shifts on the F40 gearbox. At the time I had a 9-3 aero and I bought some and it made a heck of a difference. Trying my best to remember what it was called but I can't. The oil company that supplied it were giving advise on the forums and a lot of owners reported smoother gear changes on their cars.

Right I think it was redline 75/90 synthetic oil from ople oils. It was about £20 a litre.

I've went and ordered the Petronas Technyx (fiat recommendation) now :-(

It's done now.

GOD THAT STUFF SMELLS AWFUL. I can smell it (still) and I'm in the house far from the car.....


Anyway, what a mess of a job. That old fluid was still quite golden but darker - maybe it isn't original.

I'm so so scared that either the drain hole or fill hole is going to leak, however.. Only tomorrow morning before work will I know... and I seriously hope is is fine.

The drain plug is as tight as I could get it without feeling like I'm really pushing it beyond its limits..

The filler cap was quite messy as we had the odd minor overflow whilst filling, but eventually got it so full I could reach my pinky in and feel a pool of oil level with the hole. It was dripping finely as I put the cap back on, it was quite hard to get off in the first place but it's on and FLUSH against the gearbox.

I got a tin of HOLTS BRAKE CLEANER and sprayed the whole area so that any leaks can be spotted quickly.. Have no idea what to do if it does leak.

Let it run for a while, took it for a few miles drive and checked - no drips. My friend reckons the pressure of operation and driving would have either blown the cap out or forced enough for a puddle even by now if this was the case...

Hope it's done right... Thanks for everyones help.

Reverse gear still crunches, we will see how the others feel and what difference this makes..

Regarding the crunch when going into reverse try getting the clutch fluid changed. If it still continues try putting it into first or second gear before putting it into reverse. It can help.
Yes the oil does smell ! I pumped 70 litres of the stuff into the gearbox and both rear axles on a scania last weekend. I can still smell it on my overalls even after a 90c wash! It must be the sulphur in the oil.