General topping up gearbox oil

[d miller]

can any one help .trying to top up my gearbox oil but cant find where to find the hole or filling poi,nt .got a haynes manual but that has been little help .it is a 903 dance ,it is a nearly new gearbox so it is still cleanish but the filling point still not visible .

 

[John H]

The filling hole on the few I've looked at have a 12mm hexagon drive stud plug:
it's virtually flush with the surface of the 'box.
It's not the one underneath - that's the drainB)

Looking up from the front of the car to the right of the bellhousing - ISTR the plug is about halfway up the depth of the 'box, on top of a little protrusion.

IME it will be very tight.

 

[Enzo]

The problem with the plug is it's no indicator for oil level, while my Renault 5 has a small "stick" which helps to see if oil is required or not!

Passion has neither brands nor models!

La passione non ha nè marche nè modelli!

 

[Martiny10]

Hi there,

It is true that there is no dip stick; however I believe that the transmission oil level should be at or just below the hole.

With such a high oil level relative to the filling point a dip stick is unnecessary.

Thus, if no oil dribbles out when you unscrew the plug you should add some.

Regards,

Martin

Fix It Again Tony!

 

[Enzo]

Eeh... to be sure the oil was at max level I added till it soaked my garage floor[xx(]...but now I'm sure the gearbox doesn't need more

Passion has neither brands nor models!

La passione non ha nè marche nè modelli!

 

[ottiian]

What grade of oil does the panda use, and is it possible to use engine oil? If so, what grade?

cheers. ian.

 

[John H]

AIUI

The correct FIAT oil is their own "ZC 90"

There have been a number of discussions in the past about what (else) is suitable, as Haynes suggests you can use engine oil.

The FIAT stuff is GL1 (very early specification, with little in the way of additives, apart from something for "anti wear").

According to a site, which I can't find the URL for at the moment,
might be here, or one of the links off, there are different viscosity numbers for the same grades of oil depending on if it is rated as engine oil, or gear oil:
gear oil numbers are higher - 90 is around the 20(W50) mark as an engine oil.

You don't want an oil which is designed for hypoid (back axles) use as the sulphur additives can eat bronze parts in some gearboxes[xx(]

You don't want the latest specification (GL4 or 5) gear oil as the antislip additives will stop your synchromesh from working properly: it needs some friction to get the bits to run at the same speed and not get a crunch (especially into third).


So I suppose the short answer is:
FIAT stuff is the best for the job, but (relatively) expensive in the UK.
Some 20W50 engine oil would probably not do any harm.
You could go to <s>"Wilko"</s> Wilkinsons Comma at 2.09 UKP litre - but it's GL4 and buy the stuff they sell in 1 litre tubs.
Or, you could go to one of the "Countywide" Farmers shops and get 4 litres of Q8 branded gear oil but it's GL5, and some engine oil too, for about 10 UKP a tub.

RED comments added to the original post on the 20th Feb 2004 - JH

 

[Enzo]

May I have right of speech here[?] I have access to a site with pages taken from the original Panda owner's manual, and the ONLY recommended gearbox oils meet the GL3-GL4-GL5 specifications, while the viscosity is the same for all:Sae 90!This is due to the time the manual was printed...today even the gearbox oils are multigrade.Personally my car's very pleased by the Tutela ZC75 full sinth oil...reduced difficulties when cold and no more problems when hot!
Of course the price of this lubricant is quite high here...7.50€ x liter.

Passion has neither brands nor models!

La passione non ha nè marche nè modelli!

 

[Auguste]

But, if your topping off, and you didn't add the original oil, you're basically mixing up an unknown batch, yes?

I know, I'll keep my mouth shut after this ... [}]

 

[John H]

Yes to both Auguste and Enzo.

If you don't know the history of the car it's probably worth doing a full change anyway:
it doesn't last forever (without some degradation).

IME things improve after the oil change, even with ordinary gear oil.

BTW the URL about oils I was looking for is here .

 

[Morty Mort]

Make sure your car is standing flat horizontally. Empty old oil. Fill up with new - I've got recommended GL4 on my Uno, and it works good, lesser grinding into 2nd than before. When oil comes out of the filler hole, it's full. Tighten the hex nut and drive off.

Morten.


abarth alloys, steering wheel. inter alloy lowering. phoenix gold audio. refurnish.

projects: induction. seats. exhaust. tinting.

 

[John H]

Newer UNOs (probably 1992 on in the UK market) have a different gearbox (type C514).

Reverse is aparently selected by pressing down on the lever while pushing the lever to the extreme right on this 'box, and it has some cables as well as rods in the selection mechanism.
(I'd like a 'box like this in my Panda - it makes a funny noise when my youngest hits reverse when changing down from fifth[xx(])

I don't know what oil specification it needs, as it's not obvious in the relevant Haynes (0923), but I'd be surprised if it is the same as the old Panda 'box.