Noisy box

[GOG440]

On the Dambusters run yesterday I noticed that the gearbox was sounding a bit whiney in the lower gears, and there seems to be a bit of chatter with the engine running and the box in neutral that disappears when the clutch is in. Any ideas if it is something expensive or does it just need a top up of ATF?
The car is an 87 350i.
It might just be that I have suddenly noticed it because the engine is running so well lol

ps where is the fill plug for the box (in case it does need a topup)

[ElvisWedgely]

If the box has a suspect noise, it would be an idea to change the oil in the box. The drain plug is on the lower part of the box, drivers side, and the filler plug is above it, a little towards the front. The oil that comes out the box may tell you volumes about the condition of your box and you can replace it with better oil than ATF as that's too thin. Alternatives are, amongst many others, Adams theory of Mobil 1 synthetic plus Molyslip, or my theory of MTF 94 fully synthetic. There is a thread running on which gearbox oil to use at the moment.
Noise when depressing clutch could be clutch thrust bearings or possibly spigot
bearings. I hope this helps and I'm sure others in the know will shed some more light on the matter.

Tony. TCB.

[B@man]

My old box did exactly this and I noticed it was worse as the box heated up, it shifted OK just sounded like a bag of spanners when ticking over in neutral. I drained out the ATF which looked more brown than red and refilled with Castrol SMX which did improve the situation considerably especially when hot. I've now switched the box for a Griff 500 unit but so far we haven't stripped the old one to find out what caused the noise, as it was worse in neutral I suspect the bearing between input and output shafts is worn.

BTW don't sit with yer foot on the clutch :- My clutch cover was very worn and the replacement cost more than the flippin gearbox !

[adam quantrill]

If the clutchy noise goes away with very light pressure on the pedal it's quite likely the release bearing. These can stay mildly noisy for years and tens of thousands of miles without getting any worse.

My 400SX box has always been quite whiney in 3rd, 4th and 5th and I was looking forward to it getting quieter when I went for Mobil-1, but it didn't. I suspect it's got some funny cogs in there which are quite noisy. It's never got any worse though in 60k miles.

However, if you are changing from ATF then you might well experience less noise. Maybe you should get a louder exhaust so you can't hear the gearbox?

[GBinUSA]

Aren't these older transmission meant to be filled with GL-4 gear oil rather than the more common modern GL-5. Being as GL-5 is corrosive to the yellow metals. I know the 4 speed Ford T5 in my 280i requires GL-4. Red Line has a GL-4 spec oil, labeled MTL, which is a 75w80 grade and is very popular here in the States.

[350zwelgje]

Based on ATF experience on a LT77 in a Rover SD1, that killed the gearbox: Replacement box with first: gearbox oil, not nice, even when warm.
Then engine oil and running fine for close to 20 years now.
Have used engine oil since then in the Rover and TVR, no issues. After warming up, nice gear changes.
Now have the Mobil 1 ready on the shelf, so that is next for both.

Rob

[adam quantrill]

Yeah but I wouldn't use any old engine oil. We have been fortunate that the SD1 boys have tested Mobil-1 for us. And we've not put a few miles on it ourselves. I remember putting 20W-50 in a Rover P6 box which worked great for 2000 miles (if that) then the box went bang big time.

[mrzigazaga]

So whats it to be then...Mobil 1 + Moly's lips....MTF94...or MT75D...Im now reading that Land rover stopped using the ATF some 10 or more years ago and is not that good for the LT77 box....Talk about...com

[GBinUSA]

Red Line UK distributor:-

http://www.advantage-motorsport.co.uk/lubricants/g...

cheaper than what we can buy it for here in the States.

Edited by GBinUSA on Tuesday 24th March 23:45

[GOG440]

I am bloody confused too.
I have decided to go for this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0068O6I4E?psc=...

with some molyslip in for good measure.

I am just waiting for my new ramps to arrive so I can get the bloody thing high enough into the air to get my ample frame under it so I can get on with the change

[mrzigazaga]

GOG440 said:

I am bloody confused too.
I have decided to go for this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0068O6I4E?psc=...

with some molyslip in for good measure.

I am just waiting for my new ramps to arrive so I can get the bloody thing high enough into the air to get my ample frame under it so I can get on with the change

This also looks to be good...And like the others recommended for the LT77 & R38 boxes...Now I'm even more confused...So

Confucius say's..."He who will not economize will have to agonize."

Zigafucius say's..." Uncertainty is born from multiple choices"

So i guess its all of the above but buy what you can afford....

[GOG440]

mrzigazaga said:

GOG440 said:

I am bloody confused too.
I have decided to go for this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0068O6I4E?psc=...

with some molyslip in for good measure.

I am just waiting for my new ramps to arrive so I can get the bloody thing high enough into the air to get my ample frame under it so I can get on with the change

This also looks to be good...And like the others recommended for the LT77 & R38 boxes...Now I'm even more confused...So

Confucius say's..."He who will not economize will have to agonize."

Zigafucius say's..." Uncertainty is born from multiple choices"

So i guess its all of the above but buy what you can afford....

Been badly let down by Amazon today, so much for guaranteed next day delivery.
It appears they "forgot" to put the big heavy item out for delivery useless set of w anchors