Gearbox oil

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KevR
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Gearbox oil

Post by KevR »

Any recommendations for grade/type? I vaguely recall that there's a reason why you shouldn't use some more modern grades in our older gearboxes - something to do with brass or bronze components being attacked?
All wisdom gratefully received!
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by rutter123 »

I have always used EP75W80 mineral or lately Comma EP75W80-GL4 mineral oil tho some may disagree. Never had any swarf on the sump plug when changing and the gearbox is still good after 290k's. Quite reasonably priced too.
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Defender110 »

The factory spec oil is the Total BV75-80 and there are those who have found their gear changes much nicer when they have replaced none spec oil with this genuine spec.
Kevan
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KevR
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by KevR »

OK, thanks for the replies. Will see if I can find some!
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
Tinkley
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Tinkley »

I'd go with the Total BV 75-80 too. It is correct for BE1 and BE3 boxes AFAIK.

You might like to know that the Vauxhall Vivaro/Renault of current vintage is very picky about the gearbox oil. Even if you use one of the grades recommended (at high end of viscosity) but a different manufacturer it will likely cost you a gearbox....
As /\ just changing the oil to the correct OE spec stuff transforms the box on the Vivaro apparently. Maybe it is a French thing, as the Vivaro is a Renault engine/box and again the best oil is Total. Seems these gearboxes, Pug and Renault love their Total oils... :wink:
KevR
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by KevR »

Well, serendipity wins again!
leaflet full of special offers from local supermarket arrived a couple of hours after my original post, amongst which is Total Gear 8 75W80 for 3.25 euros a litre! I think I'll be filling the trolley up!
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by rutter123 »

Thats a good price, about £6 a litre from GSF.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
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KevR
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by KevR »

Blimey - well under three quid's a proper bargain then!
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Kitch »

Just to rock the apple cart, I use whatever 75w90 semi-synthetic oil the factors send me in all PSA cars, and have never had a problem. They've all got 100k miles under their belt, and my choice of oil now is going to have very little impact on how they operate (unless I put veg oil in it, or something!)
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KevR
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by KevR »

Hmmn, in the past I've always done the same, but....
I changed the box on the grey one a while back when the old one lost fifth. Came from a 100,000 mile car which I'd done 20k miles in with no problems. I refilled it with whatever I had lying about (probabbly 70w90 or 80w90 Castrol), and in its new home it's always been a bit notchy, which I don't remember it being previously. Hence the original question, since I've got the driveshafts out of that one at the moment and wanted to try the 'correct' oil and see if it made a difference. I know on my early MX-5 the gearshift was a bit rubbish, and was vastly improved by switching to a full-synthetic, so it obviously can make a difference.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
RobC
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by RobC »

I once thought I was doing my 16v a favour by swopping for synthetic gear oil. Never again! It right royally messed up the gear change.

Filled up with the proper spec and all was smooth again.
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Kitch »

I must just be lucky then ;)
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by RobC »

Since we're talking about boxes with all probably more than 70,000 miles in them and they're all very much worn in, perhaps they're a bit like leather shoes? In that they wear to fit the stuff that's put into them.

So if they've always had synthetic oil then they may be fine with it now, but if they've always had the normal spec mineral oil then they'll have worn in such a way that the different properties of synthetic (or a different grade mineral, or whatever), when introduced, messes everything up.
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Kitch »

I'm not sure the addition of all the additives in the oil would have much of an impact on how a box behaves to be honest, but you never know. I expect the viscosity would have more bearing.
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Re: Gearbox oil

Post by Defender110 »

Kitch wrote: I expect the viscosity would have more bearing.
and more bearings are bound to help :D :lol:
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
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