Way back in 1986 I bought a Maserati Biturbo. The agency said Alfa,
Porsche, or someone like that had had trouble with second gear being
sticky - this they solved by using ATF, so my Biturbo got ATF. I
then bought a 1967 Maserati Mistral which had a sticky second gear -
ATF solved that. Subsequent cars (except the family one) got
ATF. Not one ever gave me trouble in the gearbox area although the
Biturbo developed masses of problems in other areas after 50,000 km.
My take is that for 'normal' driving ATF, synthetic or 20-50W is fine
but not frothing (heavily factored with detergent) stuff. Oils do
change and maybe the best advice would come from an oil engineer?
At 03:34 PM 10/9/2006, Charles & Peggy Robinson wrote:
> Good lord, what drivel. I've been using 20W-50 Castro l GTX in
> my engines, trannies and ODs for years with no ill effects.
>
> We hear guys that are not engineers being quoted on what oil to
> use as though they were divinely inspired. We should ignore the
> manuals because some self-taught mechanic sez so? Or because some
> other mechanic goes on about oil formulations being changed over the years?
>
> Let's take the OP's msg. He found a note taped on his rebuilt OD
> tranny, telling him to use 50W, non-detergent oil. Can you imagine
> using that stuff in the winter? One thing about the manual telling
> us to use the same oil in the tranny as in the engine; it allows
> for using lighter weight or multi vis oil in colder
> weather. Because of little things like this, I'll go with the
> manual. Er, the manual and the fact that 20 years of my doing so
> has caused no probs.
>
> My .02,
>
> CR
>
Regards
Barrie
Barrie Robinson
1970 MGB GT V8
1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II project
Tel (705) 721-9060
Email barrie@look.ca
Purveyor of O-rings for Smith & Jaeger gauges
Polished stainless steel mesh grilles for MGBs and
some others
Soundproofing materials for autos
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