Technical Gearbox oil

[Planeboy]

Hi guys

I would appreciate any help with my following question. I live in South Africa and we do not have all the oils available here that you would find overseas. I need to change gearbox oil on my Fiat seicento sporting 1.1 mpi 2002. I know its 2.4 L according to my booklet but the booklet recommends tutela 75w-80 gl-5. I cant find an oil in that spec only 75w90 or 80w90 in an gl-5 level. I don't know what than means by the way

My next problem I can see the drain plug at the front bottom of gearbox allen key style if that's the right one. The filler is my problem where is it located? Is it the black plug that pulls out on top of gearbox housing? If it is how is the level checked on gearbox?

I added 1L of castrol 75w90 gear oil and my gear shift is smoother now but I do prefer to drain it and start with one grade as I assume the tutela oi is still inside of a different grade.

Any help on the location of the filler level check and grades that may be used will be highly appreciated

Many thanks for a great website

 

[rallycinq]

75-90 is fine,

Filler is an allan key plug in the front face of the box

The manual is wrong, its 1.6 litres.

Cheers

SPD

 

[Planeboy]

Thank you for taking time to reply. I assume the allen key plug i see is the filler then. But where the drain then i could not locate it. And what the black plug that pulls out on top cause i did see some oil in there but no way to read oil level
Thank you

 

[fingers99]

The plastic plug on top is the breather. The drain is a conventional hex on the bottom (underneath) of the box near where the pressing which holds the rear gearbox mount is.

 

[Planeboy]

Sorry me again

I took the time to upload some photos of the parts I want to know about. I circled the black plug I need clarity on and the filler plug according to your post

If you can point out the drainer I would appreciate it and the purpose of the black plug as I thought this was the filler

 

[rallycinq]

Pictures 1 and 3, breather.

Picture 2, filler and level check

Drain is on casting where rear gearbox mount attaches.

Cheers

SPD

 

[rallycinq]

Fortunately, for you, my car is in mid air at the moment.

Drain plug location

Cheers

SPD

EDIT: Its unlikely you'll have a sumpguard mount below yours.

 

[BlueDan]

The numbers like 75w90 refer to the oil's viscosity ie how runny it becomes when heated up to a certain temperature.

You probably already knew but no one has mentioned driving the car first before changing the oil - heating it a little will make it drain out quicker. You may also get some inside the engine mount bracket when it initially shoots out, make sure to clean this off.

See also this post in another thread, may be useful:

thats how i fill them. to tight infront the engine to do it the proper way so once i drain the box. then refit the drain plug. remove the filler/level plug.
then put a clean tray under the box. the 1liter bottles have a extension tube that is perfect size for the breather,
so once the cap has been pulled off i can stick the bottle in the hole and do other stuff while it fills itself to the right level

It certainly sounds easier than refilling from the front, from experience of having to unbolt the charcoal canister bracket and holding the bottle at a weird angle

 

[fingers99]

MPI cars don't have a charcoal cannister, which makes it much easier. But filling and emptying will be easier with warm oil (put the new bottles in hot as you can stand water for a while).

 

[BlueDan]

MPI cars don't have a charcoal cannister, which makes it much easier. But filling and emptying will be easier with warm oil (put the new bottles in hot as you can stand water for a while).

I'd never considered pre-heating the new oil before (I do for WaxOyl), good tip! Maybe there will be a aircon condenser in the way instead on this Sei, considering it's in SA

(ot) rallycinq, any other pics of your sump guard floating about?

 

[ycming]

Fortunately, for you, my car is in mid air at the moment.

Drain plug location

Cheers

SPD

EDIT: Its unlikely you'll have a sumpguard mount below yours.

Man it looks like a right pain for you to drain ur oil

Got to see the car sometime after the new year!

Ming

 

[rallycinq]

Man it looks like a right pain for you to drain ur oil

Got to see the car sometime after the new year!

Ming

No, not really, the key goes in fine and if done, as suggested with warm oil, the oil comes out in a big enough jet to clear the mount. Obviously the sumpguard has to be off, luckly for the OP, as it is today.

Cheers

SPD

 

[rallycinq]

(ot) rallycinq, any other pics of your sump guard floating about?

Thought there were some in the 'beast lives' thread but apparently not.

Am working on the guard at the moment, so I'll take some piccies while I'm there.

Cheers

SPD

 

[Planeboy]

any oil brand you can recommend?

Im using valvoline in engine and never topped up in last 10000km as its not using oil it's the durablend 10w40. Im thinking of going full synthetic with 5w40 synpower on next oil change any ideas? Maby use valvoline brand gear oil as well? Btw we don't get amsoil and pennozoil in S.A a big pity. Have to go with shell, castrol, valvoline etc

 

[rallycinq]

any oil brand you can recommend?

Im using valvoline in engine and never topped up in last 10000km as its not using oil it's the durablend 10w40. Im thinking of going full synthetic with 5w40 synpower on next oil change any ideas? Maby use valvoline brand gear oil as well? Btw we don't get amsoil and pennozoil in S.A a big pity. Have to go with shell, castrol, valvoline etc

I wouldn't go 5w40, bit too thin for a Fiat engine. You will start losing some through the seals.

10w40 semi, changed regularly is a perfect oil for the cento.

Valvoline gear oil is perfect, Amsoil and Pennzoil are mainly found in the USA.

Cheers

SPD

 

[Planeboy]

Thanks for all the help

 

[fingers99]

You may just start getting the Lucas 10-40 semi synth over there. US brand, good quality and cheap (while they're trying to expand the market).

I'd be inclined to run a semi-syth and do oil and filter changes more regularly.

 

[rallycinq]

(ot) rallycinq, any other pics of your sump guard floating about?

Am working on the guard at the moment, so I'll take some piccies while I'm there.

Cheers

SPD

Pop over to the beast lives thread, I'll put the sumpguard piccies there.

Cheers

SPD

 

[Planeboy]

Hi everyone
Change my engine oil and gearbox oil yesterday. Worked great! I used 80w90 gearbox oil. Just a note: the drain plug on gearbox is a m8 allenkey. Car took bout 1.4L of gear oil before it ran out of filler.
Cheers

 

[Planeboy]

Hi guys
Im about to change gearbox oil again as i am struggling to get in gear 1 and 2 when engine is cold. im running valvoline 80w90 gl5. i think the 80 grade is too thick as the manual recommends 75w for cold start. i am unable to find a 75w80 synthetic gl5 oil here in s.a. can i use castrol bot 130 75w90 gl4 synthetic? or and recommendations? just a note the valvoline in is mineral 80w90
thank you