Gearbox Oil Change... can I go in the top?

jellypig · Post by **jellypig** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:08 pm

Chaps,

Am mid way through a speedo cable change and as such I've the transmission tunnel apart.

On my list is "change gearbox oil" and now is a good time.
I know the manual says to go in via a filler on the left hand side, but is there any harm me filling via the top.

Eg via the brass plug to the left of the breather:

Downside is I won't precisely know level - but I can measure what I put in.
Upside is I won't make as much mess .

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Mark Gordon · Post by **Mark Gordon** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:02 pm

No harm. Just make sure that the gearbox is relatively level fore-aft and side-to-side. Remove the fill plug on the side and fill the case until oil starts to seep out of the fill hole.

Post by **Heuer** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:25 pm

Consider using Redline MT90 or MTL oil for improved shifting. I have MTL in my Moss box and it makes a huge difference. http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=7

Mark Gordon · Post by **Mark Gordon** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:18 pm

I whole-heartedly agree, David. Redline products really do make a difference unlike many of the products out there. When I first got my E, the second gear synchro was barely working and the shift from 1-2 had to be done slowly and gently to avoid grinding the gears. I added MTL and immediately the shifting smoothed out and now grinding only occurs with race speed rapid shifting. Our 1999 Toyota 4Runner (288,000 miles) has had a whine in the differential for about 5 years. This past weekend, I changed the gear oil to Redline 75w90 gear oil and the noise is barely audible now. I will never use anything but their products in my vehicles' transmissions and differentials.

Post by **mgcjag** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:42 pm

Hi Matt.....as Mark said above....yes you can fill via the top but you still need to remove the side filler plug as this is the level you need to fill to......

jellypig · Post by **jellypig** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:44 am

Thanks chaps I shall proceed as directed! :D

My list is getting shorter. Provided I dont get any more irritations like the handbrake lever clevis pin, I <might> even be going for MOT next week. Maybe.

As for Redline, I use that in m'Ferrari. Traditionally 2nd gear is tough to get until there is some gearbox temperature. Its a Ferrari thing.

I removed, lubed and replaced the shifter cables, and changed the oil for that gloupy yellow stuff and the shift just keeps on getting better. Am really happy with it. The only (minor) criticism I have is that for the redcar I need 4Litres and its sold in quarts (946ml ?) and so I need 5.

paydase · Post by **paydase** » Sat May 21, 2016 10:25 am

I am thinking of improving the behaviour of my Moss box and doing an oil change myself using this filling from top procedure.
Apart from the current advices, will the box empty itself completely when drained with hot engine, or is it adviseable to suck the remaining oil ? Also is it prudent to replace plug seals with new ones and to tighten them at a given torque? Anf finally how many quarts are required to correctly complete the process?

Incidentally, Redline MTL is a US product, available from e.g.opieoils in UK (currently out of stock at demontweeks).
Nowadays there are many synth oils put on the market though, so I wish to know if similar quality oils of other brands produced in the EU were tested by some of us?
I also see that the MTL spec recently went from 70W80 to 75W80. Any reason and is that insignificant for the Moss box?

Post by **Heuer** » Sat May 21, 2016 10:47 am

Removing the drain plug from the box is good enough. If you want to be sure leave the car overnight with the plug out. Use a new fibre washer when you put the plug back along with some Hylomar - check the plug and case surfaces are clean and flat. You will need two US quart bottles although you will have half of one bottle left. Other oils may possibly work but MTL has been used and tested by a great deal of E-Type owners and all get the same excellent results albeit after about 500 miles of use. For some reason leaving my car standing over winter improved the change even further. Change of specification makes no difference, just make sure you use MTL in the Moss and not any other the other variants. For the Jaguar 4 speed Redline MT90 is best suited.

paydase · Post by **paydase** » Sat May 21, 2016 11:08 am

Thx David
Just ordered 2 quarts;)

trondvo · Post by **trondvo** » Sat May 21, 2016 5:12 pm

Anyone had luck with Royal Purple in the gearbox? I have the 75-90 Maxgear version in my Moss box but am not too happy with the gear changes.

I cannot remember how it used to be with 30W oil, but was it not pure 30W that was specified from factory?

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Sat May 21, 2016 8:49 pm

What do we think of Redline MTL in a 4 sped syncro box David?

Post by **Heuer** » Sat May 21, 2016 10:09 pm

No idea Andrew. I used MTL in my FHC Moss box but my OTS has a 5 speed. When I was researching oils the consensus on J-L was to use MT90 in the Jaguar all synchro box. You need to check the specifications of the Redline products and match them to the application. For example MTL is not recommended for helical gears. Suggest you email them, get their opinion, report back and let us know for sure.

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Sat May 21, 2016 11:25 pm

The Moss box uses all helical except for first and reverse?

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Sun May 22, 2016 9:48 am

thank you, as you know following your recommendation David, I use it in my Moss and its superb. I have only my previous Moss experience to compare with , which was not good!!

Post by **Heuer** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:12 am

PeterCrespin wrote:The Moss box uses all helical except for first and reverse?

Well spotted Pete. What I actually meant (now that I am awake) is MTL and MT90 are not suitable for use with hypoid gears e.g differentials. From Redline themselves:

"Red Line Oil's MTL and MT-90 are designed to provide excellent protection and improved shiftability for manual transmissions and transaxles, having cured the problem of hard shifting in thousands of transmissions with shifting troubles. How? They have the appropriate coefficient of friction for most manual transmission synchronizers (many gear oils, engine oils, and ATFs are too slippery for proper synchro engagement). And, the wide viscosity of MTL and MT-90 allow proper shifting over the entire temperature range which the transmission will experience. The synthetic base oils used have a very high viscosity index which provides relatively constant viscosity as temperature changes. MTL is a low 70W at very low temperatures and a high 80W, nearly an 85W, at elevated temperatures, providing adequate viscosity to prevent wear and deaden gear noise. MT-90 is a thicker 75W90 version of MTL. The shear stability and oxidation stability of these products are excellent, thus the physical characteristics of Red Line MTL and MT-90 will change little with use. Red Line MTL may be used in transmissions which recommend 75W, 80W, or 85W GL-4 gear oils, or SAE 30 or 5W/10W30 motor oils. If a 90W GL-4 or SAE 40, 10W40, or 15W40 is required, MT-90 may be used. The MT-90 is a 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil that?s slightly heavier than MTL. Provides excellent protection of gears and synchronizers and its balanced slipperiness provides a perfect coefficient of friction, allowing easier shifting. MTL is not designed for use in rear-wheel drive differentials. Those generally require a GL-5 lubricant such as Red Line 75W90 Gear Oil. It is not necessary to flush the transmission before replacing with MTL."

Post by **mgcjag** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:27 am

So just to clarify is the MTL ok in an all Syncro 4.2

Post by **Heuer** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:30 am

Yes, see above. However Jaguar specified a SAE 90 oil so I would suggest the MT90 was more appropriate.

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