Gearbox Oil Type??

[rothsean]

Should I use 70 weight oil for the gearbox and if so how much and what type do you recommend?

[WelmoedJ]

Should I use 70 weight oil for the gearbox and if so how much and what type do you recommend?

Acoording the manuals you should use SAE 75W over 10 degfrees C (14 degrees F)
Quantity is 0.97 US Glns (3.7 ltrs) including final drive

[Ron]

Acoording the manuals you should use SAE 75W over 10 degfrees C (14 degrees F)
Quantity is 0.97 US Glns (3.7 ltrs) including final driveoops!

75W Below 10C (14F); 80W Above 10C (14F) [Workshop Manual A:05:01]

Gear box takes a little over two quarts, final drive takes a little under 2 quarts...just add until it comes out the fill hole(s).

[WelmoedJ]

oops!

75W Below 10C (14F); 80W Above 10C (14F) [Workshop Manual A:05:01]

Gear box takes a little over two quarts, final drive takes a little under 2 quarts...just add until it comes out the fill hole(s).


You're right, Ron.
I overlooked the sign, a real Oops!

Thanks for correcting me.

[jawn101]

Another opportuntity to shamelessly plug the Red Line MTL... Huge difference in shift quality and smoothness, virtually instantly. Sounds like snake oil but wasn't.

[rothsean]

So 80w oil, any kind?

[jawn101]

So 80w oil, any kind?

Red Line MTL
http://www.redlineoil.com/products.aspx

[rothsean]

Red Line MTL
http://www.redlineoil.com/products.aspx

They only have up to 75w online.

A local shop carries the RedLine 70w, should I just buy that?

[jawn101]

They only have up to 75w online.

A local shop carries the RedLine 70w, should I just buy that?

Clint and I used 70w80 in our transmissions.

[David T]

When the transaxle is used in the Lotus the recommended magic elixir is Castrol TAF-X 75W/90. About the only place you are going to find that stuff is at a Lotus dealer and most of them sell it in 5 gallon pails. Some will sell it by the gallon if you bring your own container. It is VERY expensive. Many Lotus owners have gone to Redline MT-90 and are having good results. Many Delorean owners use Castrol HYPOYC gear oil SAE 80W-90. Do not overfill. Remove the level plug BEFORE you remove the drain plug. Use the proper adapter so you do not "munch" up the drain plugs. Do not use a GL-5 fluid, it will attack the bronze parts.
David Teitelbaum

[rothsean]

Great, I just ordered 4 quarts of the Redline 75W90 NS GL-5 Gear Oil - quart...

So this won't be good?..

[rothsean]

Just FYI, I spoke with a tech at Redline and he said that their GL-5 is NOT corrosive to any brass parts inside the transmission and is perfectly safe to run in any manual transmission.

[Dangermouse]

In a recent discussion with another owner, we were wondering how accurate the testing the fill level would be when only a set of ramps is available.

He was concerned that his final drive was low and wanted to drive to a location that had a lift to check it properly - when level. However he was concerned that the level would be so low that damage would occur. Would backing the car up onto a set of ramps get the level "close enough" for a short drive (say 10 miles)?

[David T]

I don't think you will do much (if any) damage going 10 miles on low oil in the transaxle. Drive it easy and take your time with the shifts. I see many cars with low oil levels in the transaxle and it doesn't seem to cause any big problems except with shifting. Castrol says their stuff exceeds GL-5 service specs but it is NOT a GL-5 oil so it won't damage the bronze parts. The only accurate way to check the level in the transaxle is with the car level. Get rid of the ramps and get 4 jackstands and a floor jack. Ramps can be dangerous, you can ride over them and they can tip.
David Teitelbaum

[82DMC12]

I filled my D's MT while on ramps in my garage, then like you, freaked that it was too low or over full. I had a friend who worked at an oil change place so I drove it to the shop, got in the pit and re- checked it. Can't remember if it was too full or slightly low but the difference was so minute that I decided I won't worry about that again.

So, go ahead and fill it on ramps, it's damn close and not worth worrying about. Literally a couple oz off.

Andy

[Dangermouse]

I don't think you will do much (if any) damage going 10 miles on low oil in the transaxle. Drive it easy and take your time with the shifts. I see many cars with low oil levels in the transaxle and it doesn't seem to cause any big problems except with shifting. Castrol says their stuff exceeds GL-5 service specs but it is NOT a GL-5 oil so it won't damage the bronze parts. The only accurate way to check the level in the transaxle is with the car level. Get rid of the ramps and get 4 jackstands and a floor jack. Ramps can be dangerous, you can ride over them and they can tip.
David Teitelbaum

Maybe I am in the wrong thread. This was an auto car (but not mine) and I was talking about the final-drive.

Personally I prefer ramps over jackstands (and I mean proper ramps, not bits of wood or concrete), when the car is mounted correctly and safely on them. I have ramps, stands and floor jacks, but the other owner only had ramps I think.


I filled my D's MT while on ramps in my garage, then like you, freaked that it was too low or over full. I had a friend who worked at an oil change place so I drove it to the shop, got in the pit and re- checked it. Can't remember if it was too full or slightly low but the difference was so minute that I decided I won't worry about that again.

So, go ahead and fill it on ramps, it's damn close and not worth worrying about. Literally a couple oz off.

Andy

No freaking out taking place. I think he had actually managed to fill the box while all four wheels were on the ground which was interesting.

[David T]

On automatics I have seen them almost empty with no ill effects. I figure most people don't even realize there is a separate reservoir for the final drive. The level is not critical but for longevity you should keep it filled. There is a saying that goes like this,"On British cars when they stop leaking it's time to check the oil"!!!!!! Use whatever you are comfortable with but from a safety standpoint ramps are not the way to go. They also do not give you access to most of the undercarriage and you can't do any work on the wheels with them. As you can also see the car is not level either. I do not know of any professionals that either use or recommend them.
David Teitelbaum