Gearbgox oil SAF-XJ

Hi,I used this oil in my 308 gtb and also noticed oil leakage,but mine was leaking beforehand although less so.

 

Simon
I used this oil for a while and it doesn't do what is says on the tin.

It was supposed to make gear changing slicker, it didn't.
It was supposed to help 2nd gear synchro - it didn't.

In the end I rebuilt the gearbox and cured these issues but still had slight weeps from the gasket despite changing them twice. Most of the very tiny weeps was from around the studs / nuts and so sealed these with sealing tape.

Another Dino owner had this in their car and couldn't change gear after the rebuild. Changed the oil and all was OK.

IMO it isn't suitable for this gearbox.

I have now change back to standard gear oil and no issues whatsoever.

Tony

 

Simon,
I am running with SAF-XJ oil Superformance supplied. I have not experienced any leaks or any noticeable gear change issues. Not convinced it made any difference to gear change slickness though. Once I tuned the position of the gear change levers ( see my post photos somewhere on this site) everything was good.
Kevin

 

Swepco 201 here

 

Is the SAF-XJ a multi-viscosity oil?
What would be equivalent oil in the US?

 

Opinions regarding gear oil and engine oil for that matter are like religion....It can be discussed for ever with no clear conclusions.....- Seal your engine thoroughly and add copper washers and dome nuts to all your bottom studs and you will most likely be able to seal the engine to an acceptable level regardless of the chosen oil. I have had limited luck using stat o' seal sealing washers and they only works one time, so I recommend the cheap copper washers. I also use a thin layer of locktite 5922 on both sides of all the sump gaskets with success.

Good luck

Peter

 

I asked Red Line what their equivalent was for Castrol SAF-XJ and received the reply:

"Thank you for contacting Red Line Oil, the cross for the SAF-XJ is the 75W140, these are friction modified gear oils suitable for open and limited slip differentials calling for this higher viscosity but not recommended for use in synchro equipped transmissions as the slipperiness can cause shiftability issues.
In the Ferrari transaxles and transmissions typically the 75W90NS is recommended. If you wanted a higher viscosity the 75W140NS would be an option, though could be stiffer shifting at lower temperatures where a 90 weight oil is originally specified."

Would somebody please tell me if it takes 4 or 4 1/5 L of oil (with new filter) as I've seen both listed. Also are there any soft or yellow metals (bronze etc) in the gearbox?

 

So SAF-XJ is a horrible choice. 75W140 is too viscous and contains LS diff additive that will make synchros work poorly and wear faster.

Yes, there are some yellow metals in the transaxle but using a GL-4 oil such as Redline's MTL might not protect the differential gears well enough and they would wear.

So the Redline 75W90NS is the best choice, scientifically speaking.

 

The Oil Company only care about Viskosity in their Oil. Did they recognize that in our cars the gearbox is not separated from the engine like on most other cars? That the gearbox used the same housing as the Oilsump and the Oil temperatures could get up the same as the engine oil? For this reason Ferrari uses something specific.

 

Yep, That'll be me then!
No due to the fact that the box had been totally rebuilt i think it made the syncro's sooo slippery that they would not mesh.
I replaced it with conventional oil. i forget the brand but a lowly nothing special hypoy as i didn't want to waste any more money in case it was the box and not the oil.
But much to my surprise the box was so slick with not even a baulking into second when cold, that i left it in there!
it appears to be fine on a 'run in' box but not on a rebuilt one.
Don't waste your money.

 

That post was last year Graham, your losing the plot ..........slowly
I think it's being in the 308 section to long!!!

 

It's because my clutch has gone and like me it's slipping!!!