Definitive list of oils

[Mrp]

Hi

I have a 2009 125 Roadsport and am looking to get all the correct oil and fluids to do some fettling over the winter.

I'm struggling to find the correct spec. gearbox and diff oils, I have tried using search but it does not seem to come up the correct oils, just lots of discussions.

Do I use GL4 or GL 5 ? Caterham are out of stock of the diff oil which would have been the easy option. From what I can see my car has the Ford diff and gearbox.

I'm sure this information would be useful for others, recomendations for any particular manufacturer of oil would also be appreciated.

Many thanks

Mrp

[7 wonders of the world]

  GL4 for the transmission and GL5 for the final drive

 

Redline MTL is a got lubricant for the transmission either 5 or 6 speed

 

Final drive depends if you running anf open diff or LSD and then what type of LSD???

 

 

[Mrp]

Thanks 7wotw its and open diff, what grade of oils would you say for both gearbox and diff

Thanks Mrp

[6speedmanual]

Gearbox 75w80 GL4. Comma or Redline MTL

Diff EP80w90 GL5 or LS80w90 GL5 if running LSD. Comma.

http://www.commaoil.com/passenger-vehicles/products/subcategory/29

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?product=50204

Peter

[Mrp]

Cheers Peter thats what I was looking for !

What would be the opinion that the car has only done 8K miles should I drain the box and diff and refresh or just top up as don't know what was used before. Is it OK to mix with what was in before.

Thanks

Mrp

[Mrp]

I should add see you Wednesday

Mrp

[Jonathan Kay]

Do you have the Owner's Handbook? If not would you like a copy?

I would top up without draining unless you have reason to suspect it has something unusual in there.

Jonathan

[6speedmanual]

I would drain and refill!

By the time you have faffed about for a top up, if indeed any top up is required, you may aswell drain first (the easier part of the job)

After once leaving my gearbox oil 2 years I was surprised how much darkening and metallic matter was apparent. I change my 'box and diff oil once every year now. In the overall scale of things the cost is not very great, it's a good chance to inspect magnetic drain plugs for any other issues. (amusingly, not on a 7, I once found a ball bearing and part of race cage on a mag plug on a box which was apparrently working fine!)

Peter

[Mrp]

Cheers Peter,

Any recomendations on draining ?

Thanks

Mrp

[Mrp]

Cheers Peter,

Any recomendations on draining ?

Thanks

Mrp

[6speedmanual]

Before draining gearbox, make sure you can shift filler plug. (otherwise very difficult to refill*scratchchin*)

Diff does not have drain plug so syphon out or use suction pump extractor.

 

Peter

[Mrp]

So do you use a suction pump for the box and the diff.

Mrp

[6speedmanual]

Nope, just the diff.

[Mrp]

Ok so how do you drain the gearbox because I can't find a drain plug ?

Mrp

[Jonathan Kay]

I think that all 6 speed boxes have drain plugs but most 5 speed boxes don't.

Jonathan

[Mrp]

Hi Jonathan

I know this, I have a 5 speed hence my question.

I thought 6sm had a trick.

Mrp

[Mankee]

When I had a 5-speeder without a drain plug, I took the lid off and fed the tube from a cheapo Silverline fluid extractor to suck most of the oil out. You could go through the filler plug, which is made easier if you have a hole in the passenger side panel. A drain plug is a very useful addition to a boggo Type 9, especially if you like to dump the oil regularly.

[Slipper man]

My advice - don't bother. Just top it up, until it needs to come out for service. These components are designed to take much harder stress than a Caterham will expose them to (assuming you are not racing it) and are designed to last for a hundred thousand miles or more.

[6speedmanual]

I found my 6 speed manual oil to be significantly blackened after two interval circa 7,000 miles and some fuzz on the mag drain plug, therfore I change it annually.

My diff (LSD) stated to make a slight clucking / snatching noise when pushing my car backwards into garage on full lock after same drain interval.  Fresh fill of Comma LS80w90 fixed it, therefore I change it annually.

Incidentally I recently changed the oil on my BMW 530i manual at 180,000 miles.  I have no reason to suspect that this was not the factory fill on this "fill for life" box. Even if it was not, I'd done 40,000 in my ownership.  The oil was still pink transparent and the mag drainplugs completely free of fuzz. BMW must have been using some bombproof materials in their box design in the 90s to 00s.

[7 wonders of the world]

You can syphon the oil from both units when the oil is warm using fine bore tube ,set the syphon going and leave overnight - works a treat.

 

NB if you simply keep toping the 5 speeder up you could end up overfilling the box, due to the note I previously mentioned regarding variations in plug height  / optimum capacity.