Manual Transmission Oil

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Manual Transmission Oil

Postby tartan18 » Wed May 11, 2011 1:29 am

While I likely missed the answer even after doing a topic search, and therefore beg your understanding of this newbie's question, but what are the "special wear additives" that I need to add to the GL1 oil in my 5 speed transmission (1975 Spider)? According to the manual it specifies SAE 80W/90 oil containing special anti-wear additives. (Page 00-11, Spider Service Manual). I bought a gallon of GL1 from NAPA but it doesn't mention that it has any additives.
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology

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kmead
Posts: 1069
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:24 pm
Your car is a: 1969 850 SC 1970 124 SC 85 X19
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby kmead » Wed May 11, 2011 6:26 am

As long as you have chosen a GL 1 that is not EP (extreme pressure) you have the right product.
Karl

1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9

velozi
Posts: 261
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:53 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby velozi » Wed May 11, 2011 2:56 pm

Transmission: NAPA SAE90 GL-1. Part# 65-201

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124ADDHE
Posts: 365
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider Amalgamation with C40 Solex
Location: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby 124ADDHE » Wed May 11, 2011 5:11 pm

20-50 engine oil works great too! especially if you run your spider in cooler weather, like we do up in BC :)
Regards,
Keith Cox
1973 124 Spider
1973 John Deere 500c backhoe
1987 Jaguar VDP
2013 passat tdi
2015 cherokee

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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby tartan18 » Wed May 11, 2011 5:30 pm

Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to use the NAPA GL-1 this time around but this coming fall I will likely change over to the 20W/50 for winter driving. When I drained the transmission oil out of the car it was dark/cloudy and there was a moderate amount of metal in the bottom of the drain pan. I have no idea when the transmission was last drained and refilled. I will feel better once I have drained and refilled it a second time.

Next on the agenda is to change my timing belt, tensioner and all the front end oil seals. After that is the installation of the new Allison Automotive aluminum radiator.

Again, thanks for your help.
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology

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TulsaSpider
Posts: 1547
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
Location: Tulsa, Ok

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby TulsaSpider » Wed May 11, 2011 9:35 pm

Metal is never good! Is that Gordon?
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!

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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby tartan18 » Thu May 12, 2011 12:37 am

I discovered metal in both the differential and the transmission. Not a good sign so I will be monitoring this closely.

Tartan is the MacKenzie Clan. Luceo non Uro
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology

gabricare

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby gabricare » Mon May 23, 2011 2:31 pm

Can u guys tell me how to change the transmission oil?

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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby tartan18 » Mon May 23, 2011 10:51 pm

Changing the transmission oil in my 5 speed manual was a straight forward job but it came with the usual Fiat challenge. Step one was to take out the fill plug which is on the passenger side of the transmission housing. Make sure that you can take this plug out before draining the transmission or you won't be able to re-fill it. The plug is the same size as the differential and oil drain and fill plugs -- 17mm -- which makes things simple. Taking this plug out was for me the most challenging part of the job .. that sucker was on very tight and there isn't much room to maneuver up there. Once the fill plug is out then you can drain the fluid -- that was step two. I let mine drain overnight as the oil is heavy and takes awhile to empty. There is also a small square screw plug at the upper/rear of the transmission that needs to be taken out and this will drain off several additional ounces of oil. Once the transmission is drained I was ready for Step three -- refilling -- which is the reverse process. To re-fill the tranny I used a funnel with 5 feet of clear tubing. This is a picture of the one I bought at a local auto parts store but I had to buy a longer piece of clear tubing to run from the engine compartment down to the fill hole. Be sure the tube fits into the fill hole completely.

Image

I then simply poured in the transmission oil (1.75 quarts). This took a while so I ended up securing the funnel and did a few other jobs around the garage while the new oil flowed.

I've probably given more direction than is needed or even wanted and likely a veteran will point out my mistakes.
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology

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courtenay
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Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:41 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby courtenay » Mon May 23, 2011 11:42 pm

James - I wish I'd had your tutorial before I changed my tranny fluid. The long hose and funnel trick was a whole lot better than the rather messy route I took!!
Cheers,
Bruce
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago

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124ADDHE
Posts: 365
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider Amalgamation with C40 Solex
Location: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby 124ADDHE » Tue May 24, 2011 8:39 am

make 2 holes in a 4l (gal) oil jug lig, place a plastic hose to the bottom of the jug through the hole, place other end into tranny fill hole, take compressed air and gently throttle it into the other hole in the oil-jug lid and voila, easy way of filling those hard to reach places.
Regards,
Keith Cox
1973 124 Spider
1973 John Deere 500c backhoe
1987 Jaguar VDP
2013 passat tdi
2015 cherokee

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Ken
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:48 pm
Your car is a: 1980 2000 Spider carb model
Location: ilwaco WA
Contact:

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby Ken » Fri May 27, 2011 8:12 pm

I guess i do it the hard way, i went to NAPA and bought a gear oil pump. its about $20
Ken Stackhouse
inline302@comcast.net



80 Spider

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tartan18
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Lebanon, Oregon

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby tartan18 » Fri May 27, 2011 11:31 pm

I'm a Scot. Need anything more be said ? :roll:
Jim MacKenzie
1975 Fiat Spider
Finest Italian Automotive Technology

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adrians
Posts: 851
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:07 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider Turbo - missing the turbo
Location: Sydney - Australia

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby adrians » Sat May 28, 2011 4:22 am

gabricare wrote:Can u guys tell me how to change the transmission oil?


Do a search for 17 year old sons - they come is useful for somethings .... Like holding the funnel. :lol: :lol: :) :lol: :lol:
THE FLEET
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc

geno58

Re: Manual Transmission Oil

Postby geno58 » Tue May 31, 2011 8:50 pm

What is the issue with EP Trans oil, seems like todays Synthetic Trans EP Oils would be a real advantage. Smoother shifting, longer trans life.


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