Redline Gear Oil in 348

Don't hate it! She is just telling you she wants to drink something different.

While I don't have a 348, I just put in 75W90NS in my 328. It had GM's Syncromesh gear oil in it before. When the GM Syncromesh was new, it shifted great and then after a year, that second gear was difficult. So I put in the Redline oil. Shifts great, but on a very sharp turn either right or left, there is a bit of grinding which I suspect is the limited slip differentials. I put in LSD additive and it seemed to quiet the grinding down a bit, but I need to add more.

If I were to do it over again, I would stick with the GM Syncromesh oil (recommended by a local Ferrari dealer).

 

I use RL75/90NS (without friction modifier) and it OK.

How long has that oil been in? Are you sure it is what he said it is?
Is it bad in all gears?
Is the clutch releasing fully?

Maybe the cable adjusment is out (you need an experienced guy to get this right).

 

John, you're not talking about the 348 you just recently got?? I did the Redline superlight shockproof in mine over a week ago, and I also loaded the shifter mechanicals with white lithium grease. I also got a larger/heavier shifter ball and modified my shift gate exactly like the ''slick shift'' gate.
The very 1st shift afterward was a HUGE difference! Its still not as smooth and effortless as I would like, but its at least 80% better overall than it was... and i'm quite satisfied with it.

Can you elaborate on ''shifts like crap''? maybe more specific detail?

 

Don't be a moron, jon! You chased this car down and finally pulled the trigger. It is a very very fine car! You are going to keep it for the rest of your life because there is no other car for you. Now, as for the shifting. I only run Red Line in my trans, heck the whole car, too. My Spider did not require any warm up for smooth shifting - luck of the draw, I figured. The SS is a bit finicky until it gets a bit warm, but only in 2nd. You can easily skip it and use 1-3 until you get a little temperature in the box. And this is only for up shifts. Down shifts, you always, always (ALWAYS) double clutch, right?! You can double clutch for up shifts into 2nd until the temp warms also. If you are having more issues, call me and maybe we can compare notes.

V

 

Before you dump the car check the shifter linkage. It's a cable linkage and may need adjusting. I have not had to do it, but I understand fairly easy 2 man job.

I use 75w-90NS from Redline. That is what the company tech recomends for rear diff. cars like Ferrari.

 

Redline's superlight shockproof is a deep, thick, puke yellow in color, not transparent or "clean" looking. Are you showing yellow fluid on your dipstick or clear?

 

The fluid that came out of mine was quite clean... but a very very dark green. Any clue as to what brand or type it may have been?

John, I totally agree with your comment about a car this pricey should shift like a dream! And I could say the same about MANY aspects of this car. Everytime someone brings up this ''double-clutching'' horse$hit I just see RED! this is a high performance SPORTS CAR, and often times, a RACE CAR... not a Peterbuilt!! I have driven just about every sports/race car from a Miata to a NASCAR stock car... NONE of them shift this poorly OR have to be double clutched!! I LOVE my Ferrari, but considering the prices... Ferrari should have raised the bar a bit on driveability. The fact that they couldnt or wouldnt correct these well-known issues in over 15 years, and 3 full model production runs, really grinds my gears! (no pun intended)

 

DEX-CVT and some newer hydraulic automatic transmission fluids are green. Older automatic transmission fluids are typically red.

Light brown is a typical manual transmission fluid color, with dark brown often indicating a worn 5 speed tranny.

"Clear" tranny fluid is often condensation. Water.

 

Red Line has great products, but MTL isn't the best for 348's. Ferrari recommends GL5 gear oils for us, which leaves you with 75w90NS (not the similarly named "75W90" but rather "75w90NS"). MTL is a GL4 gear oil. I've used it on my 348 and was not impressed.

I personally prefer Redline's Superlight Shockproof over 75w90NS, but I have 75w90NS in my tranny at the moment and it shifts quite well (I've also lubed up the entire shift box from top to bottom under the shift gate in the cockpit with enough white lithium grease to float a small boat on).

If you weren't having any tranny problems and didn't think that you already had Redline's Superlight Shockproof, then that's what I'd suggest using...but in your case I'd play it safe and go with the 75w90NS, especially since you reported problems shifting into 4th gear.


*CAVEAT: if you see dark brown fluid when you drain, then you might try Red Line's Heavyweight Shockproof. That's what they recommend for severely worn or lightly damaged trannies. Also, you'll want to run some ATF or gasoline through your tranny before filling with your new gear oil so that you have a clean tranny for your new fluid.

 

I love my 348 too, but admit the shifting sucks.

Don't think Ferrari was asleep at the helm. Go drive a 355 6-speed. A 355 shifts like a DREAM compared to the 348. The cable system in the 348 was a dumb design, and Ferrari fixed it dramatically with the 355's rod system. They knew they had a dud, and did address the issue.

 

Daniel you are just going to have to stop feeding those gel hairs more ammo!

 

I have to quote this before Daniel reconsiders.................... ............. he even said 355's rod....

Vince, try using high viscosity hair gel in your 348 gear box, that is what makes the 355 shift sooooo smooth.......

 

Well, thats just straight up gear oil John... get the superlight shockproof, thats what made the HUGE difference in my shifting. I can now shift up to second, stone cold right out of the garage! seriously!

Daniel, I have driven the 6-speed F355... its shifting is more positive per the rods vs cables, but it still is harder to shift (in terms of effort) than it should be. Honestly, with my gear oil change, shifter lube, etc that I just did, my 348's shifting is now very similar to the 355. But even the 355 wont go into 2nd if the tranny is cold!

Why is that after 18 years since the 1st 348 was built, NOBODY has come up with a rod-type, or otherwise 100% improved conversion to replace the cables?? Hell man, Ferrari gave a helluva head start by improving the linkage on the 355!

 

Let's face it, those hairdressers don't want to scuff the delicate skin on their hands, so they need an easier shifting car. Especially when they're driving home from a fresh manicure.

 

John,

I've tried the Redline stuff per the recommendation of Ferrarichat, and I think the shifting was exactly the same. I've come to realize that the 348 just shifts the way it shifts -- no changing it. So in my opinion, no gear oil is going to help, and I mean no disrespect to those on the board who swear by the gear oil.

When I drove your car it was typical. Yours doesn't have any problem in my opinion, it's just the way it is unfortunately.

The double clutch technique really helps with the 348. I get into gears with no problem when the car is cold because of the double clutch.

 

Jon if you want to drive mine for comparison, send me a PM. It would fun to have a 348 'playdate' in any case.

 

ND,

What is the amount of gear oil to buy for the 348. I am about to do an all fluid change and I need to order the Redline 75W90NS. I just wanted to know how much to order. The Ferrari mechanic does not stock them.

Thanks

 

I don't know what the answer is to the poor cold shifting on the 348, but I don't believe it's anything intrinsically wrong with the cables. The NSX for example uses cables and shifts brilliantly.

 

4 liters