Advice on Lubricants

[DaveC]

For a TR3, what do you all recommend as the best lubricants for the gearbox, diff and steering box?

I've seen the advice on Classic Car Motor Oil and the whole ZDDP story, but am unsure on best advice on the other things.

any help/guidance gratefully accepted

dave

[Steve Simmons]

Welcome to the forum, Dave!

I generally follow the manufacturer's recommendations on viscosity and fluid type, taking into account changing technologies and improved additives, viscosity modifiers, etc. I don't know what the factory called for in your gearbox but in an MGB non-overdrive unit I use Castrol GTX 20W-50. If you have a laycock overdrive then you can also use the GTX, but even better is a straight 30W non-detergent oil.

For rear ends I'm a fan of Royal Purple. My '67 BGT has run it for 30 years and the gears are still in great shape.

In the steering box I use Castrol 90W gear lube but that's for rack and pinion and I think the TR3 has a BC box?

I'm a fan of Classic Car Motor Oil but there are other good oils too, like VR-1 20W-50 and for a full synthetic I like Mobil 1 15W-50.

[DaveC]

Thanks, Steve.

[HealeyBN7]

hmmm...

I have a feeling that I would be very interested to see DaveC post to this thread....

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=158" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Dean

[DaveC]

Ah yes, good idea Dean. Done.

[RodH]

This is a little different take on the subject:

I read through most of this webpage: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and came away with this:


1st: Most of what I read points to using a 0w -? helps engine life at start up the oil goes through the system easier and onto bearing surfaces quicker.

I like Synthethic Oil, just a personal preference, not trying to open the debate (if God intended us to use synthectic oils he wouold not have invented beans...)

The 0w-30 Castrol Syntax European Formula acts like a 0w-40 at temperature. Stands to reason, it can replace 10w-40 in an English engine.

2nd: From the BMW 2002 guys (my son has one) Redline Automatic Trans Oil in their getrag gearboxes, works better than the Redline Manual transmission fluid. I put it in the MGB-GT I'm working on right now, and I'll let you know after we run it a short while.

3rd: Royal Purple/ Redline are good synthetics for the rear end. I've never cooked the LSD clutches with either, I have with Dino oil.

Just a couple of pennies worth.

Rod

[VWNate1]

Diffy & steering gear both use EP Gear oil .....

I discovered my old LBC manual trannies all shifted vastly better when filled with fully synthetic engine oils .

Many claim synthetic oils leak , they don't ~ what they do is creep & seep a bit more so if your old nail drips a bit (most do) you'll prolly see a few more drops on the floor or driveway .

Just don't be lazy and CHECK THE OIL LEVELS occasionally and you'll be fine .

The really nice thing about synthetic oils is : they pretty much stop the wear cycle dead in it's tracks , allowing one to keep on driving an old nail as long as you want sans major repairs , unless of course you foolishly over rev. it and float the valves , bend the rods etc. .