350i Gearbox Oil
Discussion
This seems to have been a well posted subject in the past. AFT oil or not? MTF 94 L/Rover gearbox oil? Or 80W90 oil? Ideas range from AFT being too thin causing internal damage, SAE 80/90 being to thick and causing indifferent gear selection. So what's the general opinion please? At present MTF 94 seems to be the choice of the L/R fraternity. I must add that the handbook for my 1988 350i does specify AFT Dexon 2? Thanks J C.
John042 said:
I assume the 350i is a Ford gearbox.
Is it not the LT77 Rover gearbox as used in the V8 S and early Griffiths/Chimaeras?Yeah it will be the LT77 box, you only get Ford boxes on 280i's (with Ford engines).
I still use Mobil1 0W40 + Molyslip (half a tube). I do about 7000 miles a year with no problems.
Previously I used Castrol SMX-S which was good, but the Mobil means no crunching when stone cold (e.g. starting off on a frosty day.)
I still use Mobil1 0W40 + Molyslip (half a tube). I do about 7000 miles a year with no problems.
Previously I used Castrol SMX-S which was good, but the Mobil means no crunching when stone cold (e.g. starting off on a frosty day.)
Edited by adam quantrill on Saturday 13th October 16:47
I went the mobil 1 with Wynns in lieu of molyslip.as an additive. Works very well. the very first change of the day is a bit tight but after that smooth as silk. I think it had ATF in there for years before which worked ok but it did take longer for the gearbox to warm through and work smoothly.
I've got a ready supply of MTF 94 hence the query? Any good or engine oil with an additive? Thanks J C.Why would you put engine oil in a gearbox?....Engine oil is formulated for engines...gearbox oil is formulated for gearboxes, diff oil is formulated for diffs and cooking oil is formulated for cooking....
Seriously though these products are designed for a particular applications...ATF is recommended for the LT77 or Dexron 3...which is again for auto boxes...you can use MTF94 as its for manual boxes...however from what I have read this can cause caulking on a really cold day...although I have experienced this on a really cold day with the ATF.
Its not just about viscosity...the minerals used is a big factor..Molyslip is an anti shear product that will prolong the life of a worn box...
If your gear changes are crunching then thats probably cos the remote gearbox bushes are shot!...
Each to their own and all that but it might be worth changing out the old oil that is in there already...its probably past its best anyway...
Seriously though these products are designed for a particular applications...ATF is recommended for the LT77 or Dexron 3...which is again for auto boxes...you can use MTF94 as its for manual boxes...however from what I have read this can cause caulking on a really cold day...although I have experienced this on a really cold day with the ATF.
Its not just about viscosity...the minerals used is a big factor..Molyslip is an anti shear product that will prolong the life of a worn box...
If your gear changes are crunching then thats probably cos the remote gearbox bushes are shot!...
Each to their own and all that but it might be worth changing out the old oil that is in there already...its probably past its best anyway...
Quite right back when I was driving my P6's (3500S) I put engine oil (probably Unipart green 20W50) in the rover 4-speed box.
It ran great for a couple of days then destroyed itself on the A45.
So - you have to be careful. In the case of Mobil+Moly as above, I only did this because HJ2 had done it in an SD1 and run many miles first, so I bit the bullet, and since then others have done and I have heard no problems. But I wouldn't suddenly switch to a different engine oil - it has to be exactly that one.
It ran great for a couple of days then destroyed itself on the A45.
So - you have to be careful. In the case of Mobil+Moly as above, I only did this because HJ2 had done it in an SD1 and run many miles first, so I bit the bullet, and since then others have done and I have heard no problems. But I wouldn't suddenly switch to a different engine oil - it has to be exactly that one.
adam quantrill said:
Quite right back when I was driving my P6's (3500S) I put engine oil (probably Unipart green 20W50) in the rover 4-speed box.
It ran great for a couple of days then destroyed itself on the A45.
So - you have to be careful. In the case of Mobil+Moly as above, I only did this because HJ2 had done it in an SD1 and run many miles first, so I bit the bullet, and since then others have done and I have heard no problems. But I wouldn't suddenly switch to a different engine oil - it has to be exactly that one.
As said mate...its not something I personally would do...but I only speak for Poppy...It ran great for a couple of days then destroyed itself on the A45.
So - you have to be careful. In the case of Mobil+Moly as above, I only did this because HJ2 had done it in an SD1 and run many miles first, so I bit the bullet, and since then others have done and I have heard no problems. But I wouldn't suddenly switch to a different engine oil - it has to be exactly that one.
I have started to get a crunching into 3rd when I pull away a bit lively...you could say..."Dont pull away lively then"...but mine is a knackered remote gearbox bush..The gearbox oil was changed last year... and prior to that I have always maintained a 6 monthly regime of fluid top ups on gearbox...diff..UJ greasing..including prop and door hinge nipples..(ooo missus)...seems to work well...
I used to be quite knowledge'd on oils and de-greasers as I did at one point work for AP Lockheed...since then most of the data has dribbled out my ears...
If it works for you then happy days....
mrzigazaga said:
.
ATF is recommended for the LT77 or Dexron 3...
No. Not really. OK, so I know what it says in the manuals, but the guy who designed the box told me personally that it was designed around the use of Motul 80 or similar. The switch to ATF came about at the very last minute when prototype Rover SD1s were shown to the ladies in the staff canteen at Solihull... When the ladies drove the cars they complained that the shift was too notch and hard for them, so some bright spark switched the boxes to ATF. ATF is recommended for the LT77 or Dexron 3...
The disaster was not long in coming to fruition. SD1 gearbox failures were very common in the early days, especially if the car was towing a caravan or being used at high speed for long periods.
andymadmak said:
No. Not really. OK, so I know what it says in the manuals, but the guy who designed the box told me personally that it was designed around the use of Motul 80 or similar. The switch to ATF came about at the very last minute when prototype Rover SD1s were shown to the ladies in the staff canteen at Solihull... When the ladies drove the cars they complained that the shift was too notch and hard for them, so some bright spark switched the boxes to ATF.
The disaster was not long in coming to fruition. SD1 gearbox failures were very common in the early days, especially if the car was towing a caravan or being used at high speed for long periods.
Bloody canteens...The disaster was not long in coming to fruition. SD1 gearbox failures were very common in the early days, especially if the car was towing a caravan or being used at high speed for long periods.
Yeah that makes sense...Think I will order some Motul for when I flush the gearbox out....and change the filter...its probably never been done...supposed to be serviced every 25,000 miles...yeah right...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
Thanks for the heads up...
John042 said:
Thanks all/Mark for the posts. Think I'll go with MTF94 together with an additive. I'm not sure what's in there at the moment the car being dormant for the last 10+ years and see how it performs when I eventually get it roadworthy. Cheers J C.
I have used Silverhook MTF94 fully synthetic in a V8 Wedge gearbox in the past with excellent results hot or cold. I think it takes just under two litres in total.Tony. TCB.
adam quantrill said:
Motul 80W90 in an LT77 will be very thick and a hard gear change. 75W80 might be a better bet.
The racers all used Motul 80, but you're right about the cold shift quality ( Brilliant when hot though!) When I had my 400se transmission rebuilt by the same designer I mentioned earlier - the late Ken Tomlinson - I took his advice and used Castrol SMX-S. The results were startling. (in a positive way)
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