Lubing up your rear end | FerrariChat

Lubing up your rear end

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by qwazipsycho, Nov 3, 2015.

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  1. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
    Full Name:
    Scott
    I've had this discussion before and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

    What weight and type and brand of gear lube do you use in your gearbox and more importantly, why?

    examples:
    75W-90 mineral valvoline because it shifts best with this
    85W-140 synthetic royal purple because I live in a hot climate

    I personally have run several different types over the years and I've had best luck with a lighter weight mineral oil. I've noticed that synthetics didn't seem to get along to well with my synchro's. Shifting was heavy and inacurate at times. Or maybe I was just having a bad day.

    How about you?
     
  2. MoeD

    MoeD Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 1, 2007
    1,278
    USA
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    Moe D
    Catchy thread title ;)

    (I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing) :D
     
  3. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

    Apr 6, 2008
    8,866
    southwest germany and thailand
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    romano schwabel
    I use castrol syntrax 75 W 140 LSD and until now no bad experiences
     
  4. sherrillt

    sherrillt Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 1, 2009
    1,052
    Northern Virginia
    me as well...
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #5 Rifledriver, Nov 3, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2015
    There has never been a need for anything heavier than 75/90 no matter the climate. My climate is much hotter than yours and I have never dreamed it to be required.

    I have not had a positive experience using Royal Purple but I do only use synthetic.

    I experimented with it once and found it improved nothing and caused some cars to be worse. I had one client request it once. He came back and requested I drain it and refill with what I had been using. I have seen some shops here use Redline MTL or MT90 to make them shift better but neither should ever be used in a TR transaxle for the sake of the ring and pinion.
     
  6. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
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    Scott
    It was intended to get your attention. It worked.

    Would you have read it if it said "What gear oil do you use?"
     
  7. 2dinos

    2dinos F1 Rookie

    Jan 13, 2007
    2,772
    Maybe ? :)

    IMHO:
    I like SWEPCO (South Western Petroleum Co). It's a petroleum oil. Smells up the garage when you use it. I like how it treats parts, and shifts after warms. Also, (I think) is kind to limited slip hardware, and holds wear debris in suspension from LSD and synchros. You need to change it every year or so as it ages, but generally a very good product.

    I like Redline, but think SWEPCO behaves more predictably.
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Used SWEPCO for over 20 years. Not as good as synthetic when hot and terrible when cold.
    Still can't figure out why I drank the Koolaid so long.
     
  9. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    25,040
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Having posted having good results with Royal Purple before, I'm going to have to change my previous "buy" rating to "hold". Don't know if they've changed their formula, or if my previous results were influenced by having enough of a residual of something else left in there before, but not happy with the cold shifting behavior since my last change (and TX isn't exactly "cold"). What are you using lately Brian? Redline NS straight, Redline NS plus something, something else?
     
  10. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    I do know some that have liked it. Don't know their basis of comparison. My best experience is neutral but often negative.

    I use Redline NS, sometimes with their additive, sometimes not. My own makes just the slightest noise without and I leave it that way but I run into them sometimes that just need a bottle of the additive.

    I have been told by a very trusted source that drove ours once to try the Agip Rotra LSX but Agip USA seems disinterested in selling it at least in quantity. He knows the cars very well and says it works better than anything he has experienced. You should be able to find enough for a single car on the internet.
     
  11. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
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    Scott
    This is 1 time I agree with you.

    After multiple tries, I'm sticking with Valvoline 75/90 forever.
     
  12. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
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    Scott
    OK, So I didn't read it correctly. It isn't just 75/90 you're talking about it's the Redline NS stuff too.
     
  13. Philwozza

    Philwozza Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2009
    2,045
    Winchester UK
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    Phil Worrall
    Thats the stuff Scott :)

    Phil
     
  14. godabitibi

    godabitibi F1 Veteran
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    Jan 11, 2012
    6,252
    Papineauville, Quebec
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    Claude Laforest
    Mine reacted very well to the Redline NS. Very smooth shift at almost any temperature. Add some LSD additive.
     
  15. intrepidcva11

    intrepidcva11 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 12, 2009
    3,215
    Saratoga Springs NY
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    Seth
    you weren't alone, Moe; I immediately thought 'colonoscopy'

    patient to kaleidoscope [sic] operator: 'are we there yet, Doc, are we there yet?'

    2d patient to same: 'you know,Doc, in some places we'd be considered cousins now.'
     
  16. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
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    Han Solo
    Likewise. I won't use anything else.
    Redline 75W90NS. 4 ounces of LSD additive. Case closed.
     
  17. Prova85

    Prova85 Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2003
    1,993
    So. Shore MA.
    Full Name:
    Kenny K
    Curious what symptoms do you additive adders experience warranting the need for the additive? I've been using the NS for 12 years and see/feel/hear nothing that would have me adding anything.
     
  18. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,985
    Clarksville, Tennessee
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    Terry H Phillips
    Chattering of the limited slip.
     
  19. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
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    Scott
    Just a little update:

    I've now added 2 bottles of the GM LSD additive (10 ounces) to my 11 qts of Valvoline 75W-90 and most of the chattering is gone but the slow speed chatter remains. I'm going to try 1 more bottle. If that doesn't completely eliminate it, drain, fill with Redline, shake head about money.
     
  20. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

    Apr 6, 2008
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    scott,
    as long as it makes noise you know it is working :) :) :)
     
  21. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
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    Scott
    Funny.....NOT! I hate chattering.
     
  22. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
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    Brian Crall
    Back when GM additive was genuine whale oil it was great. I think there are better products out there now.

    Try some Redline additive before you give up.

    I'd be surprised if the Valvoline oil did not already contain additive. Might be more to the problem.
     
  23. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
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    Scott
    Well, here goes bottle number 3 and a test drive.

    I hope my rear end is slippery enough this time.....((he said with a completely straight face))
     
  24. qwazipsycho

    qwazipsycho Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2004
    1,176
    Utah
    Full Name:
    Scott
    The season is upon us here. Maybe I should just harvest my own. Does anybody know if humpback is the right flavor?
     
  25. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
    I could feel the clutches chattering (surging) around tight corners, like in parking lots, or pulling out into traffic.

    You may have enough residual additives in your gear box from the previous type that you used OR your clutches are no longer grabbing at all.
     

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