Gearbox oil choice?

PostPost by: craig chima » Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:47 pm

Hello,

I'm curious about recommendations for gear oil choice for close ratio synchro gearbox. Application is actually a Turner Mk III with 1500 Ford and 3 rail box with straight cut CR gearset. Virtually all my experience over the past 35+ years has been with dog boxes and we can get away with extremely lightweight synthetic oils in these boxes but have very limited experience with synchro boxes in racing applications and wondering about the appropriate weight to use and thoughts on synthetic vs conventional.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Craig Chima
CC Motorsports
Akron,OH,USA
craig chima
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 35
Joined: 03 Dec 2009

PostPost by: rgh0 » Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:03 pm

I have used Redline MTL for many years in my Elan box in racing with the straight cut syncro Quaife gearset

cheers
Rohan
User avatar
rgh0
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 8815
Joined: 22 Sep 2003

PostPost by: craig chima » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:02 pm

Rohan,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I've used MTL in a lot of dog box applications with good luck but didn't know if it was appropriate for synchro box.

Craig
craig chima
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 35
Joined: 03 Dec 2009

PostPost by: gjz30075 » Sun Sep 18, 2022 2:58 pm

Craig, as long as it's GL4 only. That protects the brass synchros.
Greg Z
45/0243K Sprint
45/7286 S3 SE DHC
User avatar
gjz30075
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 3482
Joined: 12 Sep 2003

PostPost by: Donels » Sun Sep 18, 2022 6:20 pm

I put MTL in my Elise synchro box. The difference was night and day. A recalcitrant gear change was transformed and the whining at 60mph almost eliminated.
Elan +2
Elise mk 1
Donels
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 681
Joined: 10 Sep 2016

PostPost by: craig chima » Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:51 am

Perfect, thanks!
craig chima
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 35
Joined: 03 Dec 2009

PostPost by: Baggy2 » Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:56 pm

Not sure if I'm breaching forum etiquette here but as the heading is gearbox oil choice I'd like to ask the same question about the Lotus 5 speed box - road use only.
Ive seen Redline MTL recommended before on the forum but what caused me to ask was the specific mention above that it reduced whine. I have only had my 5 speed box in for a few months and it whines more than I expected.
Collective wisdom and experience would be very wecome.
Thanks
Baggy
Baggy2
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 259
Joined: 05 Feb 2010

PostPost by: mbell » Thu Sep 22, 2022 2:59 am

I run my 5 speed on redline, currently mt90. Also used redline mtl previously. It works well. I switched to mt90 as had a weak/gone 4th gear synchro and hoped it might improved that.

I've replaced the synchro now and still running the redline mt90 as that's what I had on the shelf.

Can't speak to it for racing but also switched the daily driver with getrag 420 box on to redline mt90. Was a significant improvement to the shift action on the gearbox.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
mbell
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2691
Joined: 07 Jun 2013

PostPost by: jono » Fri Sep 23, 2022 11:35 am

Donels wrote:I put MTL in my Elise synchro box. The difference was night and day. A recalcitrant gear change was transformed and the whining at 60mph almost eliminated.


That's interesting as my S2 111S Elise, K engined, is pretty noisy/chattery and I was looking for a suggested replacement oil for the box to see if it improves. I will give that a go.
jono
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2022
Joined: 17 May 2007

PostPost by: Baggy2 » Sat Sep 24, 2022 10:15 pm

Thank you Jono . The people who installed the gearbox used TAF-X. Think I'll replace it with MT90
Cheers
Baggy
Baggy2
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 259
Joined: 05 Feb 2010

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests