Advice Please
Advice Please
Author
Discussion

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Bit of a problem with my 1996 67k Griff and grateful for any advice. Had a new clutch 4 years ago, no problems, just had it serviced by a main dealer and I was informed that a thicker (incorrect) oil was in the gearbox, they put the right oil in and now its making a whining/grating noise, its going back to the dealer to look into it but I an very worried that maybe the thicker oil was put in 4 years to mask the noise because they damaged something when they put the clutch in, I have had no problems with the clutch or gearbox for 4 years?

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
I would say that its pretty much impossible to do any intertnal gearbox damage when changing a clutch..

Wrong oil - well maybe but you have a T5 box and I'm pretty sure that uses regular gearbox oil - unlike the earlier LT77 that uses powersteering flid (very thin in comparison).

Being a 96 - it's very possible that the box is just worn out.. and needs an overhaul.

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
rev-erend said:
I would say that its pretty much impossible to do any intertnal gearbox damage when changing a clutch..

Wrong oil - well maybe but you have a T5 box and I'm pretty sure that uses regular gearbox oil - unlike the earlier LT77 that uses powersteering flid (very thin in comparison).

Being a 96 - it's very possible that the box is just worn out.. and needs an overhaul.
Thanks, I had thought it might but I am no expert, I will let you know the outcome.

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Sadly the thicker oil trick is a frequent tool used by the motortrade when selling a car - it can quieten down something that may well be on it's way out..

It's not normally something that itself will cause great harm - after all if it's nearly work out .. then thats it .. but if it's lasted another 4 years then you cant complain really.

A gearbox rebuild from someone like competetion transmission services for a T5 is around 300 quid .. there are even rebuild kits and DVD's for those who like to DIY on ebay for around 100 quid..

Box removal on the griff / chim is around 3 hours and the same to put it back.. will also be worth checking the clutch while it's apart.

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
rev-erend said:
Sadly the thicker oil trick is a frequent tool used by the motortrade when selling a car - it can quieten down something that may well be on it's way out..

It's not normally something that itself will cause great harm - after all if it's nearly work out .. then thats it .. but if it's lasted another 4 years then you cant complain really.

A gearbox rebuild from someone like competetion transmission services for a T5 is around 300 quid .. there are even rebuild kits and DVD's for those who like to DIY on ebay for around 100 quid..

Box removal on the griff / chim is around 3 hours and the same to put it back.. will also be worth checking the clutch while it's apart.
Thanks

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

278 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Our November '96 500 has the later gearbox but early diff. Go figure.

Troogly

81 posts

266 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
A couple of thoughts on this. Certainly Rover / TVR recommended ATF in the gearboxes - it's thin (which helps when the gearbox is cold) and cheap! Over the years oil technology has improved and whilst some will still be happy with ATF there are alternates, such as Castrol SMX (which Castrol recommend and is available in Halfords etc). Others in the forum seem happy with an oil known as DiffLock.

However going back a bit, I believe that a heavier gear oil EP80/90 was recommended for Land Rovers, Sherpas etc. So depending on the knowledge of your mechanic, they may (I hope note) have thought "this is a Rover V8, as used in Land Rovers for years, and they take the EP80 / 90 oil". May be that's why you've had the thick stuff?

Having read some of the threads on this, it seems like a good (maybe majority) like the Castrol / Diff Lock oil options, with a smaller proportion preferring to stick with ATF.

Just a thought...

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Troogly said:
A couple of thoughts on this. Certainly Rover / TVR recommended ATF in the gearboxes - it's thin (which helps when the gearbox is cold) and cheap! Over the years oil technology has improved and whilst some will still be happy with ATF there are alternates, such as Castrol SMX (which Castrol recommend and is available in Halfords etc). Others in the forum seem happy with an oil known as DiffLock.

However going back a bit, I believe that a heavier gear oil EP80/90 was recommended for Land Rovers, Sherpas etc. So depending on the knowledge of your mechanic, they may (I hope note) have thought "this is a Rover V8, as used in Land Rovers for years, and they take the EP80 / 90 oil". May be that's why you've had the thick stuff?

Having read some of the threads on this, it seems like a good (maybe majority) like the Castrol / Diff Lock oil options, with a smaller proportion preferring to stick with ATF.

Thanks for that, I am dropping it off tommorrow and it'll be interesting to see the outcome

Just a thought...

fastandcurious

437 posts

238 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
When I recently replaced my gearbox oil on my T5 box. I went to Racing Green and they syphoned off the correct quantity of what they use (SHC ATF DEX II). I was told that this was fully synthetic.

WOO5IE

966 posts

227 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Have you had the car serviced by TVR garages, if so the gearbox oil should have been changed at the last 12k.2 year service. Possibly twice since the clutch was changed 4 years ago

Just a thought

Trev

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Friday 6th February 2009
quotequote all
Troogly said:
A couple of thoughts on this. Certainly Rover / TVR recommended ATF in the gearboxes - it's thin (which helps when the gearbox is cold) and cheap! Over the years oil technology has improved and whilst some will still be happy with ATF there are alternates, such as Castrol SMX (which Castrol recommend and is available in Halfords etc). Others in the forum seem happy with an oil known as DiffLock.

However going back a bit, I believe that a heavier gear oil EP80/90 was recommended for Land Rovers, Sherpas etc. So depending on the knowledge of your mechanic, they may (I hope note) have thought "this is a Rover V8, as used in Land Rovers for years, and they take the EP80 / 90 oil". May be that's why you've had the thick stuff?

Having read some of the threads on this, it seems like a good (maybe majority) like the Castrol / Diff Lock oil options, with a smaller proportion preferring to stick with ATF.

Just a thought...
You need to be sure of your facts here .. you mention Land Rover and Sherpa but they only ever fitted the LT77 box .. the T5 is a Ford box that LR never used.

The 96 Griff only has the T5 box.

Troogly

81 posts

266 months

Saturday 7th February 2009
quotequote all
Hi Rev-erend

Yes your right, of course. But my point is did the original mechanic who put the thicker oil in know that? He might not have been clued up and threw in what he thought was suitable - which it clearly wasn't. He may have made the quantum leap of Rover engine = rover gearbox = thick oil as used in LR's

cheers

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Monday 9th February 2009
quotequote all
Guys thsank you all for the advice, the clutch was changed 4 years ago by another TVR indie, I realise that the oil should have been changed at the last 12k service but I havwe a feeling that it wasn't. Car is in the garage, I will let you know the outcome.

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Car still in garage, being looked at today, for once I have mananged to check the facts from my records, ATF oil put in during 12k service Jan 06, TROIL put in Dec 07, I have no idea what TROIL is but I assume its the heavier stuff that the garage had to change during the current service, anyone?

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 13th February 2009
quotequote all
I now know what the problem is, the Diff bearing is the issue not the gearbox, bit annoyed as it was only rebuilt 4 years ago, anyone have an idea what this wil cost please, starting to lose the will to live!

LordGrover

34,169 posts

242 months

Friday 13th February 2009
quotequote all
I'd guess yours is a BTR but I've just had my GKN diff rebuilt for £295 (see here).

Corky

Original Poster:

704 posts

270 months

Friday 13th February 2009
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
I'd guess yours is a BTR but I've just had my GKN diff rebuilt for £295 (see here).
Thanks, have regained the will to live again!