Noisy Gearbox

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Discussion

danhay

Original Poster:

7,448 posts

258 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
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I've recently had my car in for a bit of work, including a new clutch. While in the garage it has developed a gearbox related noise. It's part rattle, part whine and only occurs if the clutch is up, and/or if the car is moving. The garage told me that the noise started after they changed the gearbox oil. Apparently the oil that was in there was extremely thick, and they think this was why the noise wasn't there before.

2 Questions

Does this sound likely?

Does anyone know where the gearbox or transfer oil filler and oil level check hole are on a Ferrari 308? (The drain hole is usefully labelled)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

>>> Edited by danhay on Thursday 29th May 14:30

grahambell

2,718 posts

277 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
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Old trick once used by Arfur Daley types to quieten knackered gearboxes on old bangers was to add sawdust to the oil. Using very thick oil could have similar purpose, or someone might simply have used wrong oil in error.

Whining from gearbox (especially in 'indirect' gears ie. not the 1:1 ratio which you usually get with 4th) often indicates that bearings are on way out.

Don't know about Ferraris, but if gearbox should have been filled with semi-synthetic gear oil and something like Hypoid 90 has been used instead, this could have affected lubrication, leading to damaged bearings (which could also explain rattle). Happened on my 2.8 Capri and I had to change the gearbox.

Can't suggest any easy fix.

deltaf

6,806 posts

255 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
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Hypoid, is generally the thickest Ep80/90.
Semi synthetic gear oils can be a problem. Had to rebuild the gt4 gearbox cos of this similar problem.
The syncro thrust faces got overheated and destroyed themselves.....£400 in parts and discount( ) later and the box was fine and still is.
Try and find out what theyve done, it was ok before i presume?

nevpugh308

4,398 posts

271 months

Friday 30th May 2003
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308 gearboxes must be used with fully synthetic gear oil, which MUST have a LSD additive (e.g. Mobil).

Well, I say "must by fully synthetic", they will do with less, but they are way better and way happier with synthetic. But you gotta have that LSD additive coz the diff and gearbox share the same oil.

The drain plug is on the back of the gearbox (i.e. towards the back of the car) in the centre and about 1/2 way up.

There are two fill plugs, but it's best to fill from the transfer box filler plug. That is (if I remember correctly) a copper coloured plug, which you will find on the top of the transfer box. The transfer box is on the left hand side of the engine (when viewed from the back of the car looking forward) and is an alloy housing.

I can send some pics tonight, if you need me to .... email me.

Nev

nevpugh308

4,398 posts

271 months

Friday 30th May 2003
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(p.s. prepare to cringe, coz Mobil Synthetic Gear oil incl LSD additive is very expensive !)

nevpugh308

4,398 posts

271 months

Friday 30th May 2003
quotequote all
(p.p.s where was this work done ? Ferrari specialist ? Any specialist would know to use synth/lsd oil, as this is all pretty common knowledge)

danhay

Original Poster:

7,448 posts

258 months

Friday 30th May 2003
quotequote all
Guys, thanks for the replies.

There was a bit of a whine when going into gear (especially 2nd) which is probably the synchromesh. It is a lot louder since the oil change. The rattling noise is new though.

Nev, I managed to find the various fill and drain ports in the end, so thanks

The work was carried out by a Ferrari specialist, and they used the correct oil. I have added some thickener to the gearbox oil, and this has quietened things down a bit. I used to have a problem with the gearbox graunching when going into reverse. This has dissappeared, and I think may have been caused by the really thick oil that was in there before?

It does seem that the gearbox will need some attention soon though.

Has anyone got a number for QV Motors in Ascot? They seem to be ex directory as far as I can tell?!

nevpugh308

4,398 posts

271 months

Friday 30th May 2003
quotequote all
Forgot to mention (and as a note to anyone who reads this in future) ... when filling from the transaxle casing, it takes a while for it to get from the transaxle casing into the main gearbox section. So fill slowly, otherwise you'll overfill your box.