Gearbox oil

I have never used Amsoil. I always had good luck with Valvoline Synthetic.

 

Try a search on "redline royal purple" for a lot of prior threads.

Never had any problems myself when using Amsoil 75W90 GL-5 (but there seems to be a lot of car-to-car variation when it comes to shifting behavior), but for a (non-hypoid) 308 specifically looking for improved shifting, I'd try Redline 75W90NS GL-5 or Redline MTL 70W80 GL-4 -- JMO.

 

+1 for Redline 75-90NS. Make sure you get the 'NS' variety. Amazing stuff.

 

My gearbox always had Swepco (Porsche guys love this stuff) lube in it until I purchased the car from the original owner. When I performed the first major, I used Mobil 1 75-90 gear oil. While the shifting was good, it was still very typical early Ferrari notchy. I replaced with Redline per fchatter recommendations about 2-3 months later and immediately noticed a difference. The synchros matched up more quickly which lead to smoother faster shifting. The 'NS' has an additive in it that makes the synchros have more grab when being rubbed against so it is not so slippery like other gear oils.

 

I had the fluids changed earlier this year and Radcliffe Motorcars changed the tranny to Motul synthetic because that's what they use and now the tranny will shift immediately to 2nd after just starting the car cold and driving off. It wouldn't do that before.

 

A minor point, but I believe that you are mis-describing this, although your conclusion is correct. The Redline 75W90NS lacks the "slippery" additive (usually called a friction modifier) used in "regular" gear oils like Redline 75W90:

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=47&pcid=7

Helps the syncros to "grab", but can also cause the LSD clutches to chatter.

 

Absolutely... I'm sold on it for my QV.

 

I use Redline MTL in my 3.2 Mondial, noticable improvement in ease of shift, especially when cold, verses an unknown conventional oil there when the car was purchased. I had success with MTL in an old Porche 944, and I recalled a Ferrari service bulliten suggesting an 80W gear oil for easier shifting. My father uses 75W90NS in his Fiat X19, also very happy, had tried MT-90 with syncro engagement difficulty. Redline recommends 75W90NS for Ferrari's, but some say MTL is better for difficult gear boxes, but Redline can't recommend as the MTL is GL4, not the factory spec GL5. Other threads say this is ok as the Ferrari 308/328/Mondials don't have hypoid gears, but who knows why GL5 was the factory fill. I think each gearbox has different historical wear, and in different climate conditions, various gear oil may well suit specific cars. Redline says all their products can be mixed, so one could do lots of fine tuning if so inclined.

 

308qv, experience.
+1 for Redline 75w-90NS !!! MUST be NS !
Prev owner had Royal Purple in the gearbox and I hated it, very hard to shift when cold, I switched to redline and no kidding, it was like a new tranny, 100% difference. I'd never use anything else.

 

Me too ... Redline 75W90NS. I put this in mine a few months ago and it made a big difference ... the car slips into 2nd gear no problem at all, even when the temps are below zero. The gearbox is even better once everything's warmed up.

 

Using Redline MTL in my 328 as per Rifledriver's recommendation. Works well.

 

I switched last gearbox oil change to MTL per Rifledriver's suggestion and here is what I noticed.....

On startup and all during the first drive, the tranny shifts smooth as silk. Maybe even better than silk! However, if I stop the car and get back in while its still hot and take off again, the car shifts like there is heavy mud in the gearbox. Once cool, it goes back to that nice smooth shifting. I'll be going back to Redline at the next oil change.
I'm not knocking MTL, just a wierd thing I've noticed since the switch.

JIM

 

+1 Redline MTL.

 

Isn't MTL from Redline? I think you may mean that you will switch back to the Redline NS?

 

Quick related question - I'm pretty sure my Mondial has a limited slip. Rotating a wheel on one side produces a rotating wheel on the other side in the same direction of movement. The breakaway pressure is fairly low however.

Does the 3X8/mondial transaxle come with a LSD? If yes, I'd guess it's the friction plate variety. If that is the case then the Redline 75W90NS may not be the right spec.

 

Wrong stuff, they should have used Severe Gear 75W-90
www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx

Use it on the 308 that was here for daily use and hard tracking and was great.

 

* The Redline Company was contacted and asked about the NS spec for 308's and they said it is great for 308s BUT if you need some slip additive , that a small amount could be added(maybe 1 oz or so), if necessary. I bought some but I've never needed it. (3 years).
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I asked the same question a few weeks back and got some very constructive feedback.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252838

I postponed the service until next month so can't comment on the result yet but Maurice 70's advice sounds very sound. I rang Redline here in Australia and they confirmed the 80/20 mix should work well.

Bob.

 

Thanks Steve.

Rather than adding a friction modifier to the "NS" appropriate for the LSD, why not just use the Redline gear lube which is designed for LSD? I'm speaking of the Redline non-"NS" stuff. Or, better yet, as I've seen recommended by smart folks elsewhere on the net, use a blend of "NS" along with the non-"NS" in an appropriate ratio. I'd heard that is what Redline reco's. May not make one bit of difference in the end however....

 

It's odd that even though the cars are designed the same, each car seems to have it's own preference. I tried Redline NS in the GT4 and it was pretty bad. It shifted very hard regardless of temp and 2nd never would smooth out.
Switched to Swepco and it's a LOT better. Can almost immediately go to 2nd without difficulty.
However, I switched to Redline MTL in an M Roadster we had and it transformed the car! Guess I'll try this next and go with whichever ends up working the best.

 

** The reason that we use the NS rather than the non-NS is that the non-NS has too much slip additive. Using NS, we can add if necessary but it usually isn't required. You could make a blend, if you want to. Redline said NS is fine for our cars and will not hurt them, just add slip additive, if needed, so that's what most owners here, do.