What gearbox oil are you using in your 308/328?

I use the Redline now and like the way my transmission shifts. Much better, especially cold.

If I couldn't get Redline in my area I would go with the Royal Purple which is available at my local NAPA store (of all places) and for less than the Redline.

DJ

 

Both of them.
Jesus.

 

I thought both preference and availability were great too!

As far as the AGIP goes, I have nothing unusual to report. No chatter, no grinding, only a little stiff into second gear when it's cold out and the car is not warmed up yet.

Kind Regards, Chris

 

I've got Valvoline Synthetic in my car because it was the only thing available here. It shifts better than ever, however I was distressed when I finally got an E-mail back from Valvoline,stating that they do not make any lubricants that are recomended for a Ferrari!

 

Mike P. -- no need to do a switch (although it's only 4 qts in your case) -- just add 4% of the Redline Friction Modifier to convert the Redline 75W-90NS into Redline 75W-90 (I'm still at 2%, which helped reduce the chatter a bunch, but will be going back to 4% too).

 

Next time you change fluid, it's easier to mix roughly 1 qt non-"NS" with 3 qts "NS" rather than fuss with additive. Or whatever proportion suits your car.

As a side note, someone posted some viscosity measurements here a while back. The "NS" is slightly thinner than the non-"NS". This would, in theory, help shifting.

 

I just made the switch to Red Line 75w-90NS. Won't know until spring if diff. chatter will be an issue.

An interesting alternate recommended by my local F-car dealer, is to use a GM packaged product formulated for Corvette posi rear ends. It's also used in other specific GM applications. Their shop uses it without adding additives, and indicates it helps with hard shifting in 308/328's.
The GM P/N is 1052271 and is packaged in 23 oz containers. GM dealers want $7.39/container. GM dealers that I called had it in stock. The package shows it meets GL-4, not GL-5 specs.

None the less, I wanted to try the Red Line NS anyway. I have a lift, so if chatter becomes an issue I can easily add the LS additive an oz at a time if need be.

 

Mike- Just had this done a couple o' weeks ago by Ferrari of Washington....they use Shell, according to the invoice at least('88 328).

 

Mike, we had a neat "tech session" sponsored by Ferrari of Seattle last spring (2003). In it, they explained that Ferrari is very careful to make sure that the lubricants they use are in almost all cases (rare exceptions) will be backwards compatible with older Ferraris. So this means that you can use the current Shell lubricants at least back to the 308 series with no problems (according to them).

 

Mike - let us know how it works out. I have AGIP LSX that replaced Mobil 1. Shifting is much better -- don't know if it is a better oil or because the Mobil 1 was old (about 5k miles). Second gear is better, but still need to be careful when cold. Chatter is reduced from Mobil 1, but I have had it happen with the LSX. I went with Agip because of the factory recommendation and the debate over chatter issues with NS (I bought the NS and it is still sitting on my shelf).

 

Well, I added enough Redline "friction modifier" to my Redline 75w-90NS to now make it 2% slip additive (regular Redline 75w-90NS is 4%, and too much for the synchros, according to Redline; which may be debatible, btw).

The results are that I cannot induce any chatter when starting out from a stop and making a 90 degree turn. As Steve Magnusson surmised, I wonder if the standard Redline 75w-90 with the 4% friction modifier would be fine, and that Redline is being overly cautious with this synchro concern of theirs?

Also, now that I have 3,000 miles on this gear oil, I am noticing the "cold 2nd gear" syndrome return. I just skip and shift to 3rd for a couple miles, just like before.

Dave

 

Dave,

Seeing your post reminded me that I wanted to share some information .

Having driven 20M miles in the last year , my Mondial is a kind of rolling laboratory for real-life verification of various concepts. Prior to having a major service done last February @ 60M miles I had been using Redline 75W90 (based upon Redline's recommendation 2.5 years earlier when I purchased the car) I'm assuming that at the dealership they went by the book and put in Shell gearbox oil. Then after the discussions on this board , and a NEW recommendation from Redline, I started using Redline 75W90 NS and have been using it for the last 6M miles.

I'm sorry, but I haven't noticed ANY change in my gearbox. The cold-second-gear-issue remains unchanged and i've never noticed any "chatter" from the limited slip. Conclusions ? Since i've got 1/2 case of the Redline 75W90 left, i'll be mixing it 50/50 with the Redline 75W90 NS until used up. After that-----? It depends on what is being discussed here at thet point.

Tom

 

Tom,
Try this: With the car fully warmed up, come up to a stop light/sign, and signal for a right turn. When clear, accellerate briskly, sufficient to almost induce rear wheel spin, and see if you get the "chatter" or vibration from the diff. You may....that is the only time those of us that have experienced this. You will not notice it in normal driving.

Or, as you say, all may be well.

I'll be changing my gear oil this summer and will use one of the following:
Shell
Agip
Royal Purple
Redline 50/50 blend...

These seem to be proven products with a bunch of satisfied users.

 

Redline NS, I dont hear any chatters..yet.

 

Must be the only guy using Amsoil here

Have no problems either

Enjoy(ing) the Drive,

Steven R. Rochlin

 

Good timing. I had Redline 75w-90 NS with 2% slip additive, eliminated the chatter from the diff, but my synchros started crunching....so I dumped it out, and refilled with NS, but this time only 1%. Seems the best compromise...just tiny bit of chatter, but no crunching from the synchros...cold shifting is fine again.

I believe my car may just be extra sensitive to the synchro thing...(maybe they are worn?)

Dave