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Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:06 pm
by Hegg
I'm gonna flush my 4-speed gearbox and refill it. What's the current recommendation on filling it up? Just regular transmission fluid? I've seen banter in the past about what people switched to in the 80's, 90's, etc...

Thanks!

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:54 pm
by berni29
Hi Hegg

I'm not going to be much help because I am going to do the same with my 5 speed and I do not know what the best oil is. I was hoping that there would be a synthetic oil available that would cut down on wear.

Anyone tried synthetic in a gearbox?

Ta

Berni

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:13 am
by type36lotus
I have Redline MT-90 in my tranny. Shift engagement is quite nice.

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:20 am
by rgh0
Any of the synthetic gear lubes are good and Redline is best. Redline "MTL" is the correct equivalent to the original viscosity specification. The thicker MT-90 will work OK but the change will not be as good as with the MTL.

I have MTL in my 4 speed Elan and it makes the change even slicker than normal. In my 5 speed plus 2 it makes the normally slow change action much better and helps the weak syncros keep up.

Rohan

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 6:45 pm
by twincamman
I still use 80 weight hypoed-----ain't nuthin slipperier or better for the job --in my humble opinion --and with 160 000 miles on the super 7 tranny i feel it bears out my thinking --- ed <_<

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:19 pm
by nebogipfel
Yes good old mineral EP Smelly! :lol:

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:57 pm
by type26owner
Use the GL4 rated stuff only. The newer GL5 stuff can attack the brass bits in vintage gearboxes.

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:39 pm
by Hegg
Thanks for everyone's replies. I decided to plug in some regular spec 80 weight for now. So far everything feels just fine.

Thanks again,

Jeff

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 11:23 pm
by 1964 S1
...and what do you guys recommend (not counting replacing) for an original S1 box with weak second gear synchro ? Shifts fine cold, snicks a bit too much after warming up, double clutch needed at or near redline...

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 11:33 pm
by type26owner
140W dino or ATF (mineral only). All are GL4 rated and okay to use in a manual gearbox. They differ in viscosity from the 80W stuff. 140W is thicker. ATF is thinner. Share the same GL4 lubrication properties though.

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 11:35 pm
by twincamman
pretend your leading the race and d d everywhere ed

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:51 am
by 1964 S1
...pretend? I'm always ahead, and it's because I'm in a Lotus...

Re: Transmission Fluid?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:59 am
by 1964 S1
....which we all know outhandles everything except ?...
...the synchro thing, do I want thicker or thinner? ATF, Synthetic or Dinosaur ? I'm just wanting smoother shifts into 2nd after the trans has warmed up...