V7 SLR Posted May 23, 2001 Share Posted May 23, 2001 Now that Ford have stopped producing the red gear oil, what do people put in their Caterham 6 speeders? I guess non-synth as Caterham specified red gear oil, but which one? If it's just a case of buying Halfords EP range, which one? I've seen 75, 80 and 90. I certainly don't want to send off to Redline or Demon Thieves for their outrageously priced brands. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted May 23, 2001 Share Posted May 23, 2001 I use Redline MT90 (or is it MTL?) from Demon Thieves... The cost is insignificant compared to any one of your other running costs (engine oil, fuel, tax, insurance...). Phil Stewart of Road & Race Transmissions recommends Shell Spirax G80 which is non-synth & dirt cheap, PeterC will endorse this choice I believe. Phil recommends using a GL4 oil NOT a GL5. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 23, 2001 Author Share Posted May 23, 2001 Don't even know why I mentioned the costs. Seems a bit petty now I've re-read it. Anyway, I think it was a mis-thought-out attempt to say "Why can't I just buy something off the shelf, instead of having to send off for it?", hence my mentioning buying something from Halfords. I work in Redditch, which is Halfords-central. It's easy to just pop out to pick up something for the car, and I hate having the inconvenience of sending off for something which is too big to get through my letter box at home, and so I end up going to the post office 2 days later when I've found the time... blah blah blah. I'm not normally such a miserable bar steward. Must be having a bad day. I think it's the salad & fruit diet I've put myself onto. An attempt at a free power-to-weight upgrade. smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted May 23, 2001 Share Posted May 23, 2001 "I think it's the salad & fruit diet I've put myself onto" - sheesh, no wonder you're in a bad mood. Have a nice bacon sarny, with extra lard. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted May 23, 2001 Share Posted May 23, 2001 "Phil Stewart of Road & Race Transmissions recommends Shell Spirax G80 which is non-synth & dirt cheap, PeterC will endorse this choice I believe. " So will I.... Arnie Webb The Fat Bloke blush.gif in a Vauxhall that is currently much slower than an R500wink.gif See a car that can't possibly eat an R500 here See the Le Mans Trip Website here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted May 23, 2001 Share Posted May 23, 2001 And me , The Shell Spirax G80 made a remarkable difference in shift quality hot and cold . You will have a shock when you drain the std box lube though .... the smell and the colour . 'Er of the nearside will be giving you grief if you should spill any on yourself wink.gif Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted May 24, 2001 Share Posted May 24, 2001 Am running G80 myself in a 5 speed type 9. Seems okay to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan T Posted May 24, 2001 Share Posted May 24, 2001 Just out of curiosity does anyone know what Caterham will put in the 6 speed gearbox of my new SV? Also as it will be having a 500 mile service pre Le Mans do I need to specify a specific engine oil or are Caterham sensible in their choice ( it's a 1.8 VVC)question.gif Cheers Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Walker Posted May 24, 2001 Share Posted May 24, 2001 Nig, I have had my six speed stripped inspected and upgraded today at Road & Race. Phil specified the cheapy Shell Helix which is a GL4 grade lub. The reason GL5 lubs are not suitable is that they are too slippy and will not allow the syncro rings to grip on the tapers causing poor gear selection. So get down to your nearest Shell Garage pronto, Phil seemed to think that it may be unavailable soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 29, 2001 Author Share Posted May 29, 2001 Thanks to all, I've gone and bought a load of Shell GL4. Odd that they only supply it in 500ml bottles. I had to buy 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Griffin Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Jan My VVC 6sp came back from its first service at Dartford with Comma Syner-G 5w-40. Regards Charles. PS. How's the front garden? (or what's left of it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Er........5w 40 in the gearboxquestion.gifquestion.gifquestion.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan T Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Charles Front garden sucessfully remodelled, thank you! I gather you met my chum Chris P @ Goodwood last week do you think we could convert him to the joys of 7ing or am I wasting my time? Blatman In my earlier posting I did also enquire as to what engine oil Caterham put in at the 1st service and I hope this was the query Charles was resopnding to! Cheers Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Ah......blush.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Anything in yours will do Mr Blat! ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan T Posted May 29, 2001 Share Posted May 29, 2001 Chris I shall have to take a leaf out of your book and strive (good word that )to be less restrained in the manner I reply to certain postings ( ie Blatman's )teeth.gif Jan Sorry not technical....won't happen again! Edited by - Jan T on 29 May 2001 22:17:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 31, 2001 Author Share Posted May 31, 2001 Well, thanks to all those who recommended Shell Spirax. I bought 5 bottles of it (it's G90 now, I believe the G80 is discontinued - it's still GL4 though) and yesterday, having got home from work early, I did an oil transplant. Now, I have changed the Ford oil a couple of times before, and have never noticed a difference (other than a decreasing amount of iron filings on the magnetic drain plug each successive time) but having filled up with Shell Helix, my gearbox feels decidedly slick. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone now. I hope that's the last time I have to change the gearbox oil. It takes so bloody long to refil.... drip... drip... drip... drip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted May 31, 2001 Share Posted May 31, 2001 Nig - warm the bottle(s) of oil before you start. It's what that thing marked "Oven" in the kitchen is for. Flows like a good 'un if you do that. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 31, 2001 Author Share Posted May 31, 2001 Oven..? Nah, sorry. Don't understand. Maybe Joanna would know..? blush.gif Anyway, the bottles were standing outside for a couple of hours prior to me using them so they were nice and warm. I think the problem is the fact that the tube I used, attached to my funnel, was a tad too thick and so kinked as I forced it into the hole in the side of the gearbox. Never mind, I won't have to do that again.... until I take the engine out this Winter of course. Damn..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 31, 2001 Author Share Posted May 31, 2001 Oven..? Nah, sorry. Don't understand. Maybe Joanna would know..? blush.gif Anyway, the bottles were standing outside for a couple of hours prior to me using them so they were nice and warm. I think the problem is the fact that the tube I used, attached to my funnel, was a tad too thick and so kinked as I forced it into the hole in the side of the gearbox. Never mind, I won't have to do that again.... until I take the engine out this Winter of course. Damn..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted May 31, 2001 Share Posted May 31, 2001 Hmm, it seems that G90 is a 90-weight oil whereas the G80 was an 80-weight. Whatever that means - I haven't been & read up on what gear oil weights mean. Can't find *any* info regarding these oils on Shells website, nor any information about stockists. The only way to find any seems to be to stop at every Shell petrol station - so far that's yielded one 0.5l bottle of G90. How do they expect to sell any of their products? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 31, 2001 Author Share Posted May 31, 2001 They're useless B's aren't they. My local has something which isn't labelled as SPIRAX in white 500ml containers, yet the bar code insists it is... I didn't buy it. Then yesterday I stopped at a Shell garage in Derby. They had one 500ml of G80 and 5 of G90. The lady said they hadn't any more G80 and wouldn't be getting any more. The G90 appears to be it's replacement. It works well enough Mike. I agree completely with you. When you go into any bloody garage nowadays you are lucky if you can find any decent amount of their lubricants. They sell tiny little top-up containers and never have any more out the back. Where else do they expect you to get it from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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