20 replies to this topic

[Richie83]

Valvoline VR1 for mine too. Really helps keep a steady pressure in my experience.

[Cooperman]

If you use a top quality 20w50 oil with a high ZDDP level there is no need for any sort of additive.

In fact the so-called friction reducing additives can cause excessive wear on the syncros.

[59 Speed]

For the running in of my engine I used comma sonic which has loads of zinc according to the data sheet.

https://s3-eu-west-1...elFk31w76ohi8s=

Think they've discontinued it unfortunately

Edited by Smackfiend, 21 September 2015 - 05:15 PM.

[DFulton]

Magnatec...thought castrol had dismissed that crap
STP masking problems, yes it is, it wont recover a metal part and when synchromesh are worn the only cure is to replace them
But you dont know if your synchros were actually that bad or there was just a problem due to oil with the incorrect anti friction package..

Ok, not feeling the love for Castrol

I suppose my question on the STP was whether it's improving the lubrication (and that's why the gears crunch less) or whether it's just masking something that will be steadily getting worse and if be better off hearing the noise?

[jaydee]

 

Magnatec...thought castrol had dismissed that crap
STP masking problems, yes it is, it wont recover a metal part and when synchromesh are worn the only cure is to replace them
But you dont know if your synchros were actually that bad or there was just a problem due to oil with the incorrect anti friction package..

Ok, not feeling the love for Castrol

I suppose my question on the STP was whether it's improving the lubrication (and that's why the gears crunch less) or whether it's just masking something that will be steadily getting worse and if be better off hearing the noise?

 

 

The gears crunch when the synchros are lacking friction, and at every grind a very small part of the syncros get worn

Of course if with such additive you dont get the 'crunching' noise then its a good thing,

but the damage already occurred and no additive will cure the worn part, you just try to not get it worse 

if STP works fine for you then use it, but i'd also switch to a more suited oil, magnatec in a gearbox is definately a bad idea.

[Cooperman]

The ancient A-Series engine has different bearing clearances and tolerances from modern engines, plus the gearbox was not designed for modern synthetic oils.

The best oil is a 20w50 mineral with a high ZDDP content. Of course, the gearbox ideally needs an EP gear oil, but this it can't have because of the combined engine/'box oil.

It is not clear why Rover ended up recommending a thinner oil, but then they did some pretty stupid things.

Use a top quality 20w50 (Valvoline, Kendall, Millers, Penrite) with no additives and that is the best you can get.

If the gearbox 'crunches' when changing up or down, then double de-clutch as we all had to do in the early Minis which had virtually no syncros to begin with (pre 1963 cars).