Manual Gearbox Oil Change - Ins and Outs

[travelman]

Thanks for the lateral thinking!Why didn't I think of it.

[balto8]

Gents. Before I pour this into my gearbox please confirm me this is the correct oil for the Gearbox. I can read it's suitable for Renault JXX boxes. I understand that JB/JC boxes come into that name, right?

[jamescarruthers]

There's something about bronze bits and needing special oil which is why it is recommended to only buy the oil from the dealer.
‎
Saying that, I think the bronze was only in early boxes, so your oil might be a good bet.

[Robou]

The quote about the bronze is right. If you want to be sure buy from the Volvo dealer. Maybe the oil meant for the gearbox of the 850 T5 is still available. But expensive!

[jamescarruthers]

I did manage to buy 400-series oil a few years ago. It was labeled on the bottle! Ring your dealer, you might be in luck

[jamescarruthers]

Quick search on here has the original oil as ‎3343922-5, which is superceded by 1161681.

This is where things get confusing. With your Elf oil, you have GL4 oil, which is suitable for vehicles with "yellow metals" in ‎their boxes. If you look up 1161681 on Scandix, it is a GL5 oil, which is less friendly to Bronze.
http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/ac ... 0/1022457/
‎
I wonder if Volvo decided that 5 is better that 4 based on nothing more than higher number rather than actually caring about our cars? ‎Some GL5 oils are suitable for Bronze though, so hopefully we are okay.

I can‎ say though that my early car is running fine on the Volvo stuff as has been for about 5 years. I am now a little worried!

Confusingly, I thought the bronze was in early cars and removed as time went on, but then I read a post (viewtopic.php?f=13&t=18250&p=171694&hil ... il#p161123) that said the opposite‎ and that bronze was added to later cars and Turbos, and other posts agreeing with me.
‎
Anyone else got details on this?‎ I think we need proof that the superseded oil didn't miss out our car's needs!
‎

[jamescarruthers]

Any further input on this Elf oil from anyone? I'd rather not buy the now suspiciously spec'd Volvo oil for £60!‎

[suddy]

Hello,

After having a gearbox replaced in the past (probably not due to incorrect oil), I always used the genuine Volvo or Millers oil in the replacement, and did so for the last 13 years (since it got replaced) and the gearbox has remained in good order since.

I took some time to contact Volvo about this topic.

Their response was that the gear oil (now part number 31437148) is recommended by the Volvo Chemical Portal for all gearboxes where 75w80 or 80w is needed.
Further to this when I ordered it, the label says that it's specifically for the 400 series and s/v40 up to 2004...

I don't think it's in Volvo's interests to produce an oil that would intentionally ruin gearboxes, maybe there are not very many 400 series left, but there are many s/v40's which use the same gear oil.

It's up to you, but based on my past 13 years experience, I would only use Volvo gear oil (my preference) or Millers.

Kind Regards,
Stephen

[zapcity]

If you do choose the Millers TRX SYNTH 75w80 oil for your gearbox, then buy direct from www.opieoils.co.uk.

Enter promo code 'volvo' (VOC discount code) and get 10% discount.

5 litres works out at about £41 delivered.

This code of course works with everything else they sell. All fluids, filters etc.

Free shipping over £60 too.

[jifflemon]

If you're looking for additional items to add to your basket at Opie, then add some DYNAX S50.... Trust me, you own a 480, you'll need this!

[zapcity]

If you're looking for additional items to add to your basket at Opie, then add some DYNAX S50.... Trust me, you own a 480, you'll need this!

True. Going to be my project before the winter layup. Didn't realise they stocked this. Good spot!

[brinkie]

Millers TRX 75W80 has the wrong specification (GL-5), which is not suitable for the Renault JB3- and JC5-gearboxes which Volvo used for the 400-series and some of the V40/S40 up to 2004. GL-5 has a sulphurous/phosphorous additive which eats away the protection of the brass synchromesh rings. Please read https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/differen ... aniel-shi/

You absolutely have to use gearbox oil which is explicitly certified for Renault J-series gearboxes, they are usually designated "GL-4+". Don't get tricked into the viscosity of 75W80 being the same, because it is not the same gearbox oil. Even a specification "RPC" (Renault Peugeot Citroën) may be wrong, as later Renault gearboxes did use GL-5 oils.

A quote from my earlier post in this thread:

Volvo sells 3,4 litre cans (Volvo p/n 31437148), alternatively you can use Elf Tranself NFP 75W-80 (formerly Tranself TRX) or Kroon Oil Gearlube RPC 75W/80W (though availability of the latter may be troublesome in the UK, it is a Dutch brand)
It is imperative that you use oil which is compatible with bronze synchromesh rings! If compatible gearboxes are listed with the oil, make sure the Renault JB/JC gearboxes are one of them. Otherwise the additives in the gearbox oil will eat the synchromeshes away and subsequently destroy your gearbox.

See also https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/u ... er=2800914

[zapcity]

The Elf Tranself NFP 75W-80 (5 ltr) is only £48 delivered from ebay/Amazon etc.

Personally, I wouldn't take the risk of using an alternative especially for such a small saving.

Thanks Robert for the info. I know what I will use.

[eye of ra]

Please read https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/differen ... aniel-shi/

I found this when looking for oil for the Merc and although I have not read all of it yet it makes interesting reading and is the full document being quoted above.

http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf

[Jay-Kay-Em]

Lots of informative posts here. Special Thanks to Brinkie.

So, reading all the above, my criteria should be :

GL4 ONLY
75W80
Elf NFP or equivalent.

So how about :

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-147652-com ... fluid.aspx

Every box above ticked and with VOC discount about £35 for 5L.

It even lists Tranself NFP in the specifications.

Looks like my Millers TRX has been just an expensive flushing oil then! Luckily it’s only done ten miles to an Mot station and back.

I emailed Millers Technical and told them they recommend TRX GL5 for my car on their online catalogue. They said that although they have heard this ‘rumour’ of yellow metal issues, they had never seen any proof, and were not prepared to make catalogue adjustments considering the amount of vehicles.

Like other people have said, when GL4 exclusive oils are still available, why risk anything else?

Sadly, for vehicles 25+ years old that have seen independent garages, I fear it’s mostly academic. They will have had any gear oil to hand used I bet - there’s no chance such levels of research will have ever been invested. When I drained my gearbox oil, you could see the bronze particles sparkle in the light. 20 odd years of independent garages have left their mark. I know they have been there because the drain plug was so butchered!

[Alan 480]

I need to top up the oil in the two litre (AKA NORA) and found an UNOPENED bottle of Castrol Hypoy in the back of the cupboard . .. (and a coupe of openned ones with different viscosity)

I know that it must have been bought BEFORE 1990 as up to that point we'd shared a 'bungalow' as students and things like engine oil were kept separate, all the houshold stuff was evenly split, but car aprts not so as some drank oil like a two-stroke.

anyway the point is , will it be old enough to be the correct 'GL4' ? and not contain any gear-box munching additives?

according to this link, maybe OK?
https://www.classicoils.co.uk/gears

although mine is EP80 (befor ethey thought of 'dual grade' gear-oils

[Alan 480]

quick update

local motor factors have litre bottles of COMMA 75 / 80 gear oil with GL4 on label £5 plus VAT!! which seems cheaper than 'on-line' prices

[jifflemon]

I’d be clearing the shelves!

[Alan 480]

I’d be clearing the shelves!

i think they have a few boxes of the stuff sitting at back of store!!

half a dozen on display area

[ceyal]

Millers TRX 75W80 has the wrong specification (GL-5), which is not suitable for the Renault JB3- and JC5-gearboxes

TRX 75W80 Oil (which has been replaced by NFP Oil) is to be used on PK gearBoxes (e.g. Laguna2 dCi)
For JB/JC/TL gearboxes, Renault recommends TRANSELF TRJ 75W80 which has been replaced by TRANSELF NFJ 75W80
It is still rather easy to find NFJ at about 10€/liter

Both NFP & NFJ oils are API GL4 !!!!
Both NFP & NFJ are to be replaced soon by NFX 75W, a synthetic API GL4 oil for Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi boxes Sx, Jxx, TLx, ND4, NDk1, Pxx et BDx. NFX 75W can be found at around 10€/liter.


Look for NT6012A in French
https://docplayer.fr/57004792-Pour-le-r ... dante.html
NT6012A in English
https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... kSQ45w8YJw