Technical Gearbox oil question again!!!

[nitro_warrior]

doesnt the A series engine in the mini share gear and engine oil ? its all one big sump? i know totally dif cars, but meh, oil is oil

Yes it does. Good point!

 

[james2609]

I found out that the for Panda gearbox, best oil is Castrol Syntrax. Apparently there is something to do with bronzing properties that it helps to maintain and sealant properties for driveshafts..?

???

 

[purple haze]

Syntrax is a GL4/GL5.....it does not get a good press on here..i asked about it quite awhile ago and after some very good education from others on the subject i find myself with 5LTRS of syntrax in the cellar...

Wanna buy it cheap????.....I really dont fancy risking it!!!....kev

 

[Luke P]

I've just filled Sparky up with GL5, more out of choice than necessity in that that was what the old man brought back from the motor factors having been given express instruction not to bring me any EP oil!!

If it dies then I probably won't be able to tell wether it's wear and tear or the wrong stuff... We'll see... Have to say it looked nice and gloopy on the way in and it is in the car and not all over the road so it can't be all bad!!

Luke.

 

[purple haze]

I've just filled Sparky up with GL5, more out of choice than necessity in that that was what the old man brought back from the motor factors having been given express instruction not to bring me any EP oil!!

If it dies then I probably won't be able to tell wether it's wear and tear or the wrong stuff... We'll see... Have to say it looked nice and gloopy on the way in and it is in the car and not all over the road so it can't be all bad!!

Luke.

Hmmmm....be interesting to say the least..this oil thing is crazy..Im going to stick with the HD 40...cheap as well... (Prob go bang now!!!)

kev

 

[Luke P]

To be honest I was trying to get the old codger to buy some oil as per reccomendations on here but my motor facors told him that the EP spec had changed since Pandas were new and that modern oils were fine...

Personally I'm not sure if it's ****e or not but the car is getting the service of its life this summer and all fluids are getting changed so if I get 4000 miles out of the current gearbox oil I'll be surprised. I have to say I was surprised to find that the inner cvjoint boot was held on with zip ties... Sound usual??

Over the last 18,000 miles Sparky has got better and worse... It'll take more than a bad pint or two to kill her!!

Cheers all, Luke.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Hi Luke

Cable/Zip ties are what I've been recomended to use on CV boots. They've a better hold and less of a tendency to fall off rather than the metal ring things that get supplied with the boots.

Jon.

 

[nitro_warrior]

To be honest I was trying to get the old codger to buy some oil as per reccomendations on here but my motor facors told him that the EP spec had changed since Pandas were new and that modern oils were fine...

Personally I'm not sure if it's ****e or not but the car is getting the service of its life this summer and all fluids are getting changed so if I get 4000 miles out of the current gearbox oil I'll be surprised. I have to say I was surprised to find that the inner cvjoint boot was held on with zip ties... Sound usual??

Over the last 18,000 miles Sparky has got better and worse... It'll take more than a bad pint or two to kill her!!

Cheers all, Luke.

This GL5 debate is endless, you'll find it in loads of different car brand forums. There's some evidence to suggest GL 4 and 5s are ok but there's also a lot to say it isn't. Best to play it safe, and I would be happier with engine oil than GL5.

I hold my CV boots on with cable ties, big chunky ones. More than adequate. Easier and cheaper than the proper metal ones that will only rust (though the boot will fail before that happens I guess)

 

[Luke P]

Cable ties it is then

I have to say one of the boots that I fitted failed and it was down to the metal strap... (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!)

The gearbox feels lovely, nice smooth shifts, better than before anyway... I reckon that would have been the case if I'd filled it up with golden syrup though!!

I'll be changing back to a non EP oil in autumn though, as you say; better safe than sorry!!

Luke.

 

[xsparky]

I put syntrax in my gearbox as a stop gap when the cv boot was leaking, then researched it and bought Millers Classic, the box sounded much better. I've just changed the driveshaft on the other side and had to put a couple of pints of clean oil in to top up and its sounding even quieter. I wouldn't risk a GL4 or GL5 oil in unless I had specific data regarding its effect on yellow metal bearings. As far as believing what they say in a motor factors, I don't want to tar everyone with the same brush, but they generally talk ******** to make life easier for themselves!
Mike

 

[james2609]

OK, I have done further research into this and this is what I have found.

• GL5 oils and and all engine oils are not recommended at all by anyone I've spoken to.:shakehead:
• BP say that Castrol Syntrax is the best oil to use (synth. 75w-90).
• Fiat Dealer, (AMC Chelmsford) have said that the oil which replaces the original is their Synthetic 75w-80, which he claims is only available from them at around £7.30 per litre.

I know a few people here use different engine oils for their gearbox, have you had any problems with this at all?? what make/grade/viscosity are you using??

Halfords make their own synthetic 75w-80 transmission oil at £7.99 per litre, I'm thinking of using this once I have replaced the driveshaft seals.

 

[xsparky]

Millers Classic Gear Oil GL3 is exactly the right kind of oil to use in these boxes. There are bound to be others, but that's what I've settled on.
Mike

 

[Uno driver]

Tutela ZC 75 synth is not OK for 4x4 gearbox then? It's API GL-5. I bought it already, fiat dealer said it's ok for this gearbox.

 

[james2609]

Tutela ZC 75 synth is not OK for 4x4 gearbox then? It's API GL-5. I bought it already, fiat dealer said it's ok for this gearbox.

I'm not sure about the 4x4 gearbox at all, sorry. I've got 2wd 999cc Fire.

 

[purple haze]

It goes for all gearboxes....Millers GL3 is the way to go....although im still sticking with the Comma Diesel option...No way would i trust any GL5!!!

kev

 

[Enzo]

I'd trust the advice of that Fiat dealer regarding the Tutela Zc75 oil...I've been using it on my 1000Fire for years and I've never experienced any problems in about 150k miles .