Advice needed on right gearbox oil for 68 spider

[Rad alfa]

Hi there, I have brought over from the uk a 68 spider junior. I had it serviced recently and the gearbox fluid changed. The gearbox change is now awful. I know the original spec was shell spirex 90 EP which is no longer available. can anyone tell me what the right local equivalent is? I suspect this is the issue.
Thanks!

[colcol]

Have a look at the Penrite-Castrol-Valvoline-Mobil-Martini or your favourite oil brand websites and see what they come up with for your car, Colin.

[Rad alfa]

Thanks Colin, but the mechanic has already tried to match the oil. I guess what would be ideal is to know what exact oil someone else is using so I know what works. As they say oils ain't just oils.

[colcol]

In 33 and 156 i use Penrite 80-90 fully synthetic gearbox oil, the recommended is 80-90 Mineral oil, but the synthetic is better for worn synchromesh's and easier to change gear first thing from cold and when hot, still works ok, and the Penrite is on the shelf at Repco, so its easy to buy, what oil is in it now, and what is the problem?, Colin.

[Rad alfa]

Hi Colin - thanks for coming back to me.
The issue is that when cold it is now a pig to change from 1st to 2nd. It really wont go in without alot of crunching. However literally after 2-3 minutes everything is fine. This didn't happen before the oil change so it would point to an issue of oil viscosity when cold. The mechanic cannot remember what oil he put in there but is going through his paperwork.

I am not an expert, but I would assume the oil is to 'thick' at cold but fine when hot. Maybe to your point a full synthetic oil is better in this respect i.e. is 'thinner' when cold.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again, Rad.

[Craig_m67]

I am not an expert (in the least) however there's more to it than just viscosity.  I *think* that different oils were used during the period for different boxes. Our (Duetto) boxes are in the cross over period when Alfa changed the material the synchros were made off (to moly?), which changed the resultant required oil spec.

If your mechanic is a unable to find a the correct oil to replace the *known* correct period one () then I suggest you start researching and then ask in this forum.. Ie.http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/gearbox-transaxle-differential-propshaft/200908-why-shifting-gears-difficult-cool-weather-not-warmer-temperatures.html.

You may get a wider response in the 105 section of this website as it covers all states.
Best of luck !

[colcol]

If it is a pig to change between 1 - 2, then the oil is too thick, try some Penrite 80-90 Fully Synthetic as its a bit thinner when cold, [when you need it thin] and thickens up when hot, i have always found Synthetic gearbox oil nicer than mineral oil, but the down side is that it is more expensive, Colin.

[Rad alfa]

Thanks I will pass it onto the mechanic and trial the 80-90 fully synthetic. I will also look at the other 105 section too and ask in that forum.

[AikenDrum105]

Hi mate,  I've run penrite manual gear oil light (80). In my 105 boxes for a long time and haven't noticed any difference in change when cold. 

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/pis_pdfs/0Manual%20Gear%20Oil%2080.pdf

I use HPR30 in the engines and their diff oil (in LSD or non LSD flavour). Has been fine too. 

Hope that helps, 

Cheers,