Drivetrain Service

[rehab2010]

Just did an oil change in my gearbox, rear diff, front diff and the transfer case. Car is a R33 GT-R.

Used Motul FF-LSD 75W-90 GL5 in the rear diff and the gearbox.

For the front diff I used some other Motul 75W-90 GL4/GL5 gear oil.

Transfer case got some ATF, Dextron.

Gearbox felt like junk since I bought the car - felt really clonky, notchy - I really thought it was dying, just to figure out that some bright spark filled it up with ATF.

After the change it feels great.

Used around 1.5litres for the rear diff.

Gearbox took around 4litres.

Transfer case took around 2litres of ATF.

Front diff took exactly 1litre of 75W-90.

I found some thread on the forum talking about filling transfer case. There is no need to fill transfer case from the top, where the shifter goes - just get one of those big syringe type pumps and its really easy to do it all from underneath the car.

[rehab2010]

Great feel after almost 1000kms of driving.

Gearbox is noticeably less hot after driving - the gear stick used to get really hot.

3rd and 4th gear are really easy to get the gear into now, they used to feel slightly notchy. So far so good.

For all the people that are worried about how hard it is to change all the fluids - don't be. Its seriously easy task, don't pay people to do it for you, the only thing you may need is the big syringe. I got one from Autobarn for 38 bucks I think, and it holds 500mL. Getting the car off the deck is the difficult part, but having a mate with a hoist does help sometimes

Fill and drain plugs are easy to find - front diff plugs are both on the front of the diff, rear diff plugs are also on the front end of the diff, gearbox plugs are on the drivers side of the box and the transfer case ones are both on the rear of the transfer case.

Happy maintaining

[T04GTR]

well you got the wrong oil in the gearbox. the oil you put in the front diff is more suitable for the gearbox. you SHOULDNT put a lsd gl5/6 oil in a synchro box.

[rehab2010]

well you got the wrong oil in the gearbox. the oil you put in the front diff is more suitable for the gearbox. you SHOULDNT put a lsd gl5/6 oil in a synchro box.

Can you give me a bit of an explanation why, since FF-LSD is listed for both the synchro gearboxes and also for the LSD's. Yes its GL5 true.

This is from wiki:

• API GL-4, oils for various conditions - light to heavy. They contain up to 4.0% effective antiscuffing additives. Designed for bevel and hypoid gears which have small displacement of axes, the gearboxes of trucks, and axle units. Recommended for non-synchronized gearboxes of US trucks, tractors and buses and for main and other gears of all vehicles. These oils are basic for synchronized gearboxes, especially in Europe.
• API GL-5, oils for severe conditions. They contain up to 6.5% effective antiscuffing additives. The general application of oils in this class are for hypoid gears having significant displacement of axes. They are recommended as universal oils to all other units of mechanical transmission (except gearboxes). Oils in this class, which have special approval of vehicle manufacturers, can be used in synchronized manual gearboxes only. API GL-5 oils can be used in limited slip differentials if they correspond to the requirements of specification MIL-L-2105D or ZF TE-ML-05. In this case the designation of class will be another, for example API GL-5+ or API GL-5 LS.

I'm just wondering if its a serious issue having GL5 instead of GL4, especially since this GL5 is listed as suitable for synchro gearboxes, or is it just a minor hassle?

[rehab2010]

well you got the wrong oil in the gearbox. the oil you put in the front diff is more suitable for the gearbox. you SHOULDNT put a lsd gl5/6 oil in a synchro box.

This is what Motul says:

GEAR FF-LSD TYPE 2 75W-90 is a special designed for FF (Front-engine / Front- drive) type transmission with mechanical LSD (Limited Slip Differential) system cars. 100% synthetic with complex ester. Suitable for all transmission (synchronized or non–synchronized), 6-speed transmission, gearbox with differential, transfer gearbox and hypoid differentials with or without LSD.

If this oil is really wrong I'd be pretty pissed off, almost 200 bucks pissed off.

[ARTZ]

Hate to say it but Im with Dave mate,

Its a front wheel drive gear oil, think honda, focus or lancer where the gearbox shares a housing and oil with the diff.

(Front-engine / Front- drive) type transmission with mechanical LSD

Notice its says with not AND

Pretty sure it wont do any harm, but also pretty sure its not designed for your gearbox either..

Id be shooting motul an email and ask them. While your at it have a crack at them for wording their descriptions poorly

[rehab2010]

Hate to say it but Im with Dave mate,

Its a front wheel drive gear oil, think honda, focus or lancer where the gearbox shares a housing and oil with the diff.

(Front-engine / Front- drive) type transmission with mechanical LSD

Notice its says with not AND

Pretty sure it wont do any harm, but also pretty sure its not designed for your gearbox either..

Id be shooting motul an email and ask them. While your at it have a crack at them for wording their descriptions poorly

Cool - hmmm, damn, and there was I selecting the oil for like an hour, then just grabbed the FF-LSD - oh well, next time I'll be more careful.