18 replies to this topic

[james_ly]

So my car has done 78000 miles, no record of changing the gearbox oil. Has anyone seen an improvement in shift quality after a change? It seems an easy job so I might do it anyway for peace of mind. But if it makes no difference at all then I won't bother...

[fezzasus]

Probably won't see any difference in shifting, the issue is the quality of the gear cables.

 

Use Vauxhall branded oil if you're changing. The specifications for gear oil aren't open (meaning that Vauxhall, an additive company and an oil company develop the oil, and do not release the requirements) so the performance of any oil is a best guess.

[SteveA]

The gearbox oil also lubricates the diff so never a bad thing to do. VXL standard stuff is pretty cheap too so might as well.

[mtt88]

I've recently just changed mine and can say it's worth doing. 1st and 2nd are much easier from cold.

[mbes2]

Drain from box, you will see the plug on side of gearbox.

 

Fill from top plug looking down via engine bay on top of gearbox

 

very easy and quick task 

[SteveA]

It's a PITA on Caterhams, there is only a level plug so you have to vacuum the oil out and get it back in through the same hole, plus there is literally 1 inch of clearance between the level plug and chassis. You Vauxhall boys don't realise how easy you have it

[james_ly]

OK I'm sold! So I need to go to a Vauxhall dealer and buy the oil. Is 2 litres enough?

[Nev]

2 litres is enough. Good luck.

[mbes2]

OK I'm sold! So I need to go to a Vauxhall dealer and buy the oil. Is 2 litres enough?

 

Just go halfords or order online 

 

Last time I used Motul Gear 300 75W-90 Racing gearbox and diff oil 100% ester Synthetic

Edited by mbes2, 02 September 2015 - 11:27 AM.

[KurtVerbose]

So my car has done 78000 miles, no record of changing the gearbox oil. Has anyone seen an improvement in shift quality after a change? It seems an easy job so I might do it anyway for peace of mind. But if it makes no difference at all then I won't bother...

 

I changed mine and didn't notice much difference in shift qualiity but did notice a big difference in gear noise. It was much quieter, so very pleased I did it.

 

Use Vauxhall branded oil if you're changing.

I didn't do this. I used a high quality gear oil.

[fezzasus]

 

OK I'm sold! So I need to go to a Vauxhall dealer and buy the oil. Is 2 litres enough?

 

Just go halfords or order online 

 

Last time I used Motul Gear 300 75W-90 Racing gearbox and diff oil 100% ester Synthetic

 

 

I would strongly recommend you don't use anything but the GM stuff

[fezzasus]

 

 

Use Vauxhall branded oil if you're changing.

I didn't do this. I used a high quality gear oil.

 

 

Considering the GM stuff as not high quality is just incorrect. Just because you pay more doesn't mean you get a higher quality. The GM stuff is the only one designed for purpose. All other lubricants cannot be designed to the same requirements, as those requirements are not available to other companies.

[KurtVerbose]

I didn't say the GM stuff wasn't high quality, I just said I didn't use it - I bought a high quality one from a motor factors.

[mbes2]

 

 

OK I'm sold! So I need to go to a Vauxhall dealer and buy the oil. Is 2 litres enough?

 

Just go halfords or order online 

 

Last time I used Motul Gear 300 75W-90 Racing gearbox and diff oil 100% ester Synthetic

 

 

I would strongly recommend you don't use anything but the GM stuff

 

 

You must of had a knock on effect to use such words, why is this ?

 

I change my box fluid 2 or 3 times a year so always happy to try other oils 

[fezzasus]

 

 

You must of had a knock on effect to use such words, why is this ?

 

I change my box fluid 2 or 3 times a year so always happy to try other oils 

 

 

I design and test lubricants.

 

Simply put, most of the after market manual transmission additive systems are cheap and nasty. There simply isn't demand for a high quality lubricant because by the time a car comes to needing a transmission oil change, it's already lost a significant amount of value and few people will pay for high quality lubricants.

 

This is made worse by oil companies offering expensive transmission fluids based on the cheap additive systems. They combine the cheap additive package with high quality base stocks and perform minimal, if any, performance testing. Gross changes in base stock type leads to additive instability and unpredictable performance - you simply can't assume that increasing the quality will make things better. 

 

Finally, most aftermarket lubricants come with a 'suitable for' label rather than 'meets the requirements of' this is because there tends to be no standard testing for gear oils, you could simply mix it all together and sell it without ever knowing if it works. This is in contrast to the original fluid which will have been extensively tested by the OEM.

Edited by fezzasus, 02 September 2015 - 03:16 PM.

[slindborg]

For reference, syn5 gearbox oil is fcuking awful in the f23.

[stu8v]

Changing to Castrol sytrax in my impreza was like night and day in both mine and a mates.

[james_ly]

Well I did the change this weekend, it's as easy as the guides say. 2 bolts, one hose, and 2 litres of GM transmission fluid from Autovaux. The old fluid looked like new after 78000 miles so that's a good sign. The gearchange is now maybe slightly better when cold but barely noticable. But, a cheap and easy job so might as well do it.

[Nev]

It makes no real life or discernable difference what oil manufacturer you use. I've used all sorts (even mixing syth with non synth) and there is no difference in noise, heat capacity, wear etc. I've been doing this for 7 years now, all on my original gearbox, which has transferred more torque than most. Even when taking my gearbox apart the gears were in great order.

 

Assuming that one drives hard, the most useful thing to do for your gearbox is to improve cooling, either by adding an air to oil cooler and pump or removing the bottom tray and allowing good turbulent air to flow around it. Cooling will help stop the plastic selector fork ends from melting which is the main bugbear of the F23.

 

The second most useful thing you can do for your gearbox (which is admittedly a BIG job) is to change the 2 conical diff bearings, these take quite a battering in a VX220 and can become very "knocked" with chips and flat spots etc. Wear on these bearings might be noticeable as noise and possibly a slight "clunk" on pick up due to the diff jumping about.

 

My recommendation is based on my own real world experience, and keeping my ears open about the matter for years.

 

HTH for future readers.

Edited by Nev, 13 September 2015 - 12:07 PM.