NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 Evening all, I’ve had a single rail in my XD for some time and while it is eventually being replaced sometime in the future I am getting more frustrated with it every time I drive it, and as a result not wanting to drive it. Most issues I have read are people having to fish for a gear with it being sloppy. I have the opposite issue, mine is difficult to get into any gear and even worse on down changes, it’s like lots of resistance. It’s beyond agricultural. The box was rebuilt back in 2014 and has only travelled about 700km since. The clutch has been bled a number of times but it’s the same shift quality. I’m thinking it could be the type of gear oil I’m using??? Any advice is much appreciated. Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 20, 2019 what oil is in it.. one of the service manuals suggested ATF but after mine was reco'd the builder said to use engine oil, 30weight from memory gear oil is way too heavy 2 CHESTNUTXE and NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 20, 2019 hmmmmm criss from the tranny shop who worked at the geelong plant back in the day said those boxes were just filled with normal engine oil from factory,but i run penrite gear oil in my box ,were your syncros replaced ? when criss rebuilt my box,with a new single rail kit and new syncros i honestly cant belive how good it is ,its the best rail box i have ever shifted and not sloppy at all,new alloy shifter nut as well,maybe just try a lighter oil and see what happends,a lot less work than pulling it out. 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 what oil is in it.. one of the service manuals suggested ATF but after mine was reco'd the builder said to use engine oil, 30weight from memory gear oil is way too heavyIt's got 80/90 gear oil.When you say 30 weight, what specifically is that?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 hmmmmm criss from the tranny shop who worked at the geelong plant back in the day said those boxes were just filled with normal engine oil from factory,but i run penrite gear oil in my box ,were your syncros replaced ? when criss rebuilt my box,with a new single rail kit and new syncros i honestly cant belive how good it is ,its the best rail box i have ever shifted and not sloppy at all,new alloy shifter nut as well,maybe just try a lighter oil and see what happends,a lot less work than pulling it out.Yes it had the full kit put through it with new syncros and new shifter nut etc. The oil is currently 80/90 gear oil.What Penrite oil do you use?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 20, 2019 just mineral oil for older cars,about 27 bux for 2 litres,most outlets sell it,dean means just light engine oil 30w /50w Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 20, 2019 i cant remember the weight of my oil but i think its lighter than 80/90,i will chex in morning. 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 i cant remember the weight of my oil but i think its lighter than 80/90,i will chex in morning.Do you mean like some 20/50 mineral oil? 15/40 type stuff. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 20, 2019 noooo not 15/40 thats way to light 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 So SAE 30 weight is common 4 stroke engine oil for small engines. I actually have some for the lawn mower. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 20, 2019 34 minutes ago, NZXD said: It's got 80/90 gear oil. When you say 30 weight, what specifically is that? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk i would have used 25/50 valvoline engine oil, normal non synthetic, i did 80,000kms on it before the clutch went.. and i converted to auto 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 i would have used 25/50 valvoline engine oil, normal non synthetic, i did 80,000kms on it before the clutch went.. and i converted to auto I am open to all bits of advice. 20/50 mineral. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, NZXD said: I am open to all bits of advice. 20/50 mineral. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk i'd definitely try a lighter oil like that. could ask the guy who built the gearbox. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 20, 2019 My gemini when i got it had gear oil in it, it's synchro on 2nd felt non existent.. replaced it with 25/50 engine oil(gemini service manual says SAE30.) and it's almost perfect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 My gemini when i got it had gear oil in it, it's synchro on 2nd felt non existent.. replaced it with 25/50 engine oil(gemini service manual says SAE30.) and it's almost perfect. From everything I’ve been reading I need to drop the gear oil out and try engine oil. Sounds like it will help a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 20, 2019 1 minute ago, NZXD said: From everything I’ve been reading I need to drop the gear oil out and try engine oil. Sounds like it will help a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk i think you'll be glad you did, when i first asked the gearbox mob who did mine what oil to use, i was a bit shocked to hear engine oil also 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted February 20, 2019 The original manual says SAE30. It's getting harder to find monograde oil so I'd go with either 15W40 or 20W50. A light, non-ep gear oil would suffice, say Syntrans 75W85. That is a GL4. The problem with using the gear oil is twofold. Not only do the EP additives make the syncros too slippery, they actually eat the brass away as would acid. Using EP oil (API GL5) in anything with brass/bronze components is a no-no.Stick with dino oil Penrite HPR30 (with zinc) and you'll be sweet. The zinc will protect the teeth and bearings. I wouldn't go any thinner than that or with synthetic engine oil because single rails like to have leaks and synthetic loves to find them.Sent from my CPH1607 using Tapatalk 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 20, 2019 The original manual says SAE30. It's getting harder to find monograde oil so I'd go with either 15W40 or 20W50. A light, non-ep gear oil would suffice, say Syntrans 75W85. That is a GL4. The problem with using the gear oil is twofold. Not only do the EP additives make the syncros too slippery, they actually eat the brass away as would acid. Using EP oil (API GL5) in anything with brass/bronze components is a no-no.Stick with dino oil Penrite HPR30 (with zinc) and you'll be sweet. The zinc will protect the teeth and bearings. I wouldn't go any thinner than that or with synthetic engine oil because single rails like to have leaks and synthetic loves to find them.Sent from my CPH1607 using TapatalkI have some Penrite HPR 30 (20/60) oil as I use it in my Crossflow. ThanksSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 20, 2019 im gunna check my penrite to see what it is 1 NZXD reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 21, 2019 I picked up a couple of litres of Penrite SAE 30 oil. Hopefully this helps and I can report back good news. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 gerg and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 21, 2019 Oil has been changed. Roll on Friday arvo for a test drive. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 4 deankxf, CHESTNUTXE, Thom and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 21, 2019 ok tell us what happends 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,294 Posted February 21, 2019 yeah please report any findings. be surprised if it's not better Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZXD 2,328 Posted February 22, 2019 Right so went out for a drive, let it all get up to running temps. Initial differences are that the box makes a very slight whine, a lot easier to get into reverse. Driving the up shifts are better and not so rough, downshifts are slightly better too. Maybe over time the shifter will loosen up a bit, it’s quite stiff. Over all for the $25 I spent to get oil it is a heap better to drive. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 1 gerg, deankxf and CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,318 Posted February 22, 2019 I found a drunk under my car last night he was trying to pinch the wine out of the diff 2 2 thorne, NZXD, 351XD_Fairmont and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites