SCOTTIEDOO1990

Hi not sure if anyone can help me i have a 2001 bugeye gx non turbo'd and i recently done a full service including changeing the gearbox oil what i did was jack the car up remove the sump bolt lowered jack and allowed it to drain for about 45 mins while i changed all spark plugs on level ground (the gearbox was in neutral for the process) i then replaced the gearbox oil with valvoline GL-5 80W/90 which i thought was a good oil. i managed to fill in bang on the full line not over or under at all, i also let the car sit for about 20 mins while i tidied up my mess and then started the car and put clutch down and just smoothly went into all the gears then took it round the block however now whever i go from 2nd to 3rd gear it clunks and grinds however it does not do it when going from 4th to 3rd i am stumped as to what it can be as im sure everything went well and as expected if anyone could shed some light i would be really grateful as i dont want to mess up my gearbox (if i havent already) anyway thanks for reading and thanks in advance for the replies

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Dunno about others but when I had all 4 of my previous Subaru's, I used 75w90 oil in the gearboxes.

techdw

iTrader: (2)

I would have used something along the line of Millers Oils CRX 75w90 NT.

SCOTTIEDOO1990

would that make a difference do you think? would it be worth draining again and putting in 75w/90? also is there a paticular brand you found good i got the valvoline as i thought it was a decent make paid £20 for 5 litres from ECP

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Did ECP suggest the Valvoline stuff when you told them what car is was going in?

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60230-mi...ssion-oil.aspx is what I used to use, a vast difference in price from your choice, but I've not tried the Valvoline oil so can't comment on it's quality.

johned

The oil makes a lot of difference and not all grades are the same.

techdw

iTrader: (2)

ECP will only recommend what they have in stock, not what is best for the car.
To begin with I think you need 75w90

Use the Millers, I only use millers for the Gearbox and Diff, and CFS for the Engine.

SCOTTIEDOO1990

alot more lol i may have to try it... what does the 80w/90 stand for? is it the thickness of the oil?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Erm?? Are you suggesting you put any old oil in your gearbox because the brand 'looked ok'? Or have I missed something, as you're coming across a bit naive on information here.

techdw

iTrader: (2)

Who me?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

No. The OP.

The lack of information or knowledge on what they have put into a gearbox worries me.

SCOTTIEDOO1990

no, i put in the valvoline 80w/90 oil as it was recommended to me by ECP so i assumed it was a good oil as it was also there most expensive oil so i thought i was getting a decent oil for in my opinion a fairly good price as it was on offer should have been £35 but got it for £20. i am not very mechanically minded and dont understand the difference between oils therefore when ECP suggested this oil i thought it was the best for my car and being what i thought was expensive assumed it would be a decent oil. I could have bought alot cheaper oil but i wanted the best however i now know this is not the best nore is it value for money. i may try the millers 75w/90 NT oil as suggested by a few people to see if this helps, i feel i may have been ripped off due to my lack of knowledge by ECP

SCOTTIEDOO1990

found another thread with someone recommending some other oils what is your opinion on these Motul Gear 300, Silkolene Silktran Syn 5 and Millers TRX. The Castrol Syntrax, Motul Motylgear and Fuchs Gear Syn...

are these any good or worth considering?

techdw

iTrader: (2)

Not used them my self so not sure. Millers tried and tested for me!

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

Castrol syntrax is what i use, so far, 8 yrs on, not a bad oil and i have worn syncro`s

i have used other brands and it crunches on gear change

castrol syntrax

KAOS_JNR

iTrader: (2)

i've used redline shockproof gear oil expensive but made my gearbox silky smooth

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

No problem. I understand what you're saying but being a part of the Subaru community I'd have asked on here prior to buying. Not a hard job to change the oil but advice on what's going in is what you needed mate

£20 is very cheap for 5 litres of gearbox oil, well to me going into a Subaru it is.

I would personally take the car to a local specialists and have them drive/look at it. I hope it may just need a different oil as I know the pain of a gearbox going on you. At Tesco. At 6.30am. In the rain. 4 miles from home. Without breakdown cover

zenith

iTrader: (3)

I've had the Motul Gear 300V in mine for the past 2 months and noticed a slight improvement but not a massive improvement.

scoobyster

A guy on the ImprezaSport forum had tried lots of gear oils and recommended Valvoline Synpower 75W90, but that is a fully synthetic oil whereas the GL5 stuff you have used is not.

I have previously used the same oil in two different Imprezas (1995 and 1998) and one was fine with it while the other crunched into gear and felt like the box was full of water - that was Silkolene's fully synthetic stuff. The same gearbox was subsequently fine with the Valvoline Synpower. It seems you have to find an oil which 'suits' your gearbox to get a smooth change.

Inviroman

iTrader: (2)

I used Millers CRX 75/90 NT fully synthetic oil in mine and silky smooth.
You know there is two drain plugs for the gearbox? One at he rear and other under the front diff.

SCOTTIEDOO1990

no i didnt know there were i thought there was only 1 close to the engine oil sump bolt... how stupid do i feel thanks for all the advice will let you know how i get on in a couple of days when i get chance to change the oil again thanks again for all the comments