Stiff gear change when cold - fluid changed

[cont1204]

Hi guys.

Got a bit of a problem with a stiff gear change when the car is cold. I changed the oil a few weeks back and it started after that with 75-90w synthetic gear oil. It's only for the first mile or so until there's some heat in the box then after that it's silky smooth like never before. Can change gear with one finger - and believe me I've tried!

I'm more than happy to live with the stiff change when it's cold for a mile or so, just wondering if it's happened to anyone else.

Used 2.4 litres (F40 box) of this stuff - http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1054-ams...gr-75w-90.aspx

[oilman]

Hi

Just came across this.

I've had a look at the specs for your car and it should take a 75w or 75w-80. Who recommended the 75w-90 for you?

Cheers

Tim

[Ziggy]

As said above I would confirm the oil grade you used and why. Had this on my Lada and it was down to the wrong grade being used.

[cont1204]

Hi

Just came across this.

I've had a look at the specs for your car and it should take a 75w or 75w-80. Who recommended the 75w-90 for you?

Cheers

Tim

The local garage, which is a tad annoying. Apparently they'd replaced with 75/90 in other 6 speed Vectras before and that was their recommendation.

Should have just gone to you, Oilman. You recommended me the engine oil - Millers Nanodrive 10/40 which after being in the car for about 1000 miles now, is awesome stuff. I bought the gearbox oil from you too.

Tim, would you be able to recommend a suitable oil to replace it with? Doubt it's going to doing the box much good having the wrong grade oil in.

[oilman]

Hi

It's not the worst thing you could use (and it is a very good oil), a lot of garages recommend 75w-90 for GM gearboxes, but it can make the changes harder and there are a few occasions where problems in their boxes seem to be linked with using a 75w-90 (we deal with a lot of guys with Astra VXRs, the ones that use 75w-90 often seem to develop gearbox faults). GM design the gearboxes to use thinner oils, so unless the car is a heavily modified track tool where the gearbox oil will be getting a lot hotter, there's no point in going for anything thicker than a 75w-80.

I would go for a MTF like the Fuchs Sintofluid, Redline MTL or Amsoil MTF. They are a little thinner and should help with the shifts.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-670-75w-...ion-fluid.aspx

Cheers

Tim

[cont1204]

Watch out for an order going through in the next 10 minutes then!

Cheers Tim.

P.S. Meant to say 5/40 Nanodrive before. Stupid moment.

[oilman]

I was a little surprised with the 10w-40, we tend to recommend a 5w for road cars so they get the best cold start protection, but I did remember a guy with a Vectra who was sure it needed a 10w rather than 5w.

Look forwards to the order.

Cheers

Tim

[cont1204]

3 bottles of the Amsoil MTF just ordered.

Cheers.

[Даниил]

I was a little surprised with the 10w-40, we tend to recommend a 5w for road cars so they get the best cold start protection, but I did remember a guy with a Vectra who was sure it needed a 10w rather than 5w.

Look forwards to the order.

Cheers

Tim

He probably had the older dti engine they have 10w40. but saying that my cdti had 10w40 from new even though it don't recommend that in the book.

[oilman]

Even if something is recommended to use a 10w-40 or 15w-40, most of the time you can use a 5w-40 instead to improve the cold start protection. There are a few things where a 10w is advisable due to piston slap though.

Cheers

Tim