Oil advice and recommendations here

Originally Posted by symonh2000

Buy what oil you think is best, and if the engine hasn't blown up by the time Oilman gets back then it is ok for your engine.

what he said

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

I do change the gearbox oil regulary but my gearbox life has been less than spectacular to date, so was just checking for what oils might protect it a bit more.

Aren't you using quite high spec gearbox oil already?

if the diff failures on standard GTA's are heat related as suggested before, putting in a stronger diff like you did will tend to move the problem elsewhere. I'd seriously look into cooling and filtering the gearbox oil in your case. just adding a filtering circuit will increase the capacity by +- 0.5l and aid in the cooling...

The gearbox oil is transported internally to the 5th (or 6th in you case) gear cogs, where there's also a return present. have someone look into plugging that return and rerouting it extarnaly either over an oilcooler or a filter. With a pump obviously, and ideally with a thermostat if going through a cooler? you wouldn't happen to have an old gearbox around? in that case I'd be happy to take a look at it and see what's possible. Just drop it off at my place next time you go to the ring, it's only a ten minute detour....

Track days seem to be concentrated around summer, I'm sure this won't help with cooling your gearbox.

Cheers Steven - very kind offer

I'm still using whatever the recommended standard oil is (fogotten the rating) with Redline friction modifier, was about to try the
Redline "Heavy ShockProof" but haven't used it yet.

Red Line Oil: Gear Lubricants

"A unique lubricant containing a suspension of solid microscopic particles as an extreme pressure agent--unique solid dispersion which cushions gear teeth to help prevent tooth breakage and allows the use of lower viscosities.

Recommended for heavily-loaded racing differentials and transmissions, Off Road racing and problem gearboxes. The viscosity characteristics allow the lubricant to resist throwoff and provide a film thickness similar to a 75W250 grade, while providing the same low fluid friction as an SAE 75W90."

On my first new gearbox it was 5th and 6th gears that went simultaneously.
2nd (recon) gearbox had a "taper bearing" near the front of the gearbox go, I would imagine this was a once off though.

Thanks for the info on cooling and filtering, I'll mention it to my local guru and see how easy/expensive it is to do.

Unfortunely I did recently leave an old gearbox go to the scrapyard a few weeks ago I simply didn't have room to keep it, my little shed is getting too full of sets of wheels and parts between the GTA and my little Uno racecar.

I wont be taking the Alfa to the ring this year at least, my first season in the Uno is eating all my money!

Originally Posted by Cuore_Sportivo_155

Aren't you using quite high spec gearbox oil already?

if the diff failures on standard GTA's are heat related as suggested before, putting in a stronger diff like you did will tend to move the problem elsewhere. I'd seriously look into cooling and filtering the gearbox oil in your case. just adding a filtering circuit will increase the capacity by +- 0.5l and aid in the cooling...

The gearbox oil is transported internally to the 5th (or 6th in you case) gear cogs, where there's also a return present. have someone look into plugging that return and rerouting it extarnaly either over an oilcooler or a filter. With a pump obviously, and ideally with a thermostat if going through a cooler? you wouldn't happen to have an old gearbox around? in that case I'd be happy to take a look at it and see what's possible. Just drop it off at my place next time you go to the ring, it's only a ten minute detour....

Track days seem to be concentrated around summer, I'm sure this won't help with cooling your gearbox.

Uno? talk about downsizing

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Certainly these prices are more like what I would expect to pay for oil through the trade. Personally, although my 156 TS is modded, and I'm still running it in, I only plan to use 10W/40 in it after running in. It has a fully rebuilt engine with higher quality internals etc.

I only use the 10W/60 in the 75TS as it gets used for track days, though I used 10W/60 in my 155 16v, but it was over 90k and could get some stick sometimes.

Remember that if you are looking more better fuel consumption these days, it would be slightly better to avoid the more viscous oils as they predominately ensure the oil stays in grade at high temperature when working very hard.

I'd certainly be happy to use any of the Castrol products in my cars, so marketing or not, I think the information we have been given by Guy in the past it is a fair trade.

Well done oilman for finally coming back to this thread.
But it is a shame it was just to post another advert and not actually answer any questions...

I used to inhabit a BMW forum.

Oilman was a regular there. Maybe Alfisti aren't such good customers?

oilman is more than one guy, it's opieoils as a whole.. That's why they sign with different names at times, and sometimes aren't aware of what the other person wrote, I think...

Maybe this thread should be closed as surely one of them that wrote it should have been back ages ago to post something other than the sales email posted above???

Bump

Originally Posted by David P

Bump

OOOOh an invisible Bump !!!!!

Originally Posted by Cuore_Sportivo_155

I'll start. I'm looking for a full synthetic gearbox oil for my 1992 Alfa 155 2.0 8v. Not sure what's currently in there, but smells like something died as usual with gearbox oil.

This car will be mainly used on track, though will be driven there on public road, and tuning will also happen on the road, for the most part.

No modifications yet, though am seriously considering a Quaife ATB diff...

Regards,
Steven

Please accept my apologies for the late reply to this lot, I did not have notification but all sorted now

For the gearbox you will need a GL4 75w-80 0r 75w-90.

Have a look at this for track use.

REDLINE Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/80w GL4

Cheers

Guy.

Originally Posted by lorenzo 147

hi,

whats the best kind of oil to use on a 147 1.6 ts lusso 02 reg? and where to buy from

ive only had the car 2weeks and im not sure what oil is in at the moment but it is due a change

many thanks

A good 10w-40 is fine with regular changes, if you want to go better then a 5w-40 synthetic is also ideal.

Have a look at the Motul 8100 Xcess 5w-40 Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40 Gasoline and Diesel engine oil 100% Synthetic

Cheers

Guy.

Originally Posted by Mozzer

Hi I have a 156 2.0 JTS. The local Alfa dealer recommends Selnia Racing 10W60 fully synthetic oil(which I have topped up with since I bought the car five months ago) for the engine.
I spoke to my local independant Alfa specialist and he suggested that semi-synthetic 10W40 (as I used to use in my 146ti 2.0 twin spark) would be ok. He said that he would use this unless the fully synthetic oil was specifically reqested.

Which is correct? Also would using 10W40, which is considerably cheaper, cause damage to thre engine?

According to my book you need the 10w-60, its not giving any other recomendation so I would stick with that.

You could also use the Castrol Edge Sport 10w-60 as an alternative.

Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60

Cheers

Guy.

Originally Posted by jaf156

Is Selenia synthetic 10w-60 Racing oil (specified for 2.0 JTS) derived from a hydrocracked mineral oil (similar to Castrol 10w-60) rather than being an ester based pure synthetic oil (any info to confirm ??) and due to the viscosity improvers required to give the 10w-60 spread will this oil be more likely to break down more quickly and subsequently perform more as a 10w-40 ??

Would 2.0 JTS owners (engine which apparently runs hotter due to higher compression ratio of 11.3:1, is it much hotter than TS engine ??) be better off paying extra for a pure (ester) synthetic oil say, eg Silkolene pro 10w-50, to help control oil consumption & protect engine internals ??

The Selenia is I believe from the hydrocracked variety, just like the Castrol Edge Sport 10w-60 though I dont have any hard evidence to support that at the moment.

10w-60 are full of polymors to allow it that viscosity range, it will shear down quicker then a lower viscosity gap oil of the same quality.

Cheers

Guy.

Originally Posted by David P

Hi Guy,

I'm looking for some advise before my next oil change, I am wondering if it is worth getting Selena 20K 10W40 or even Selenia Racing 10W60 ( this is recommended in the service manual for "Sporty Driving" )
I will be changing the oil every 10,000kms or 6,000miles

Thanks in advance


Make: Alfa of course
Model : 147
Year : 2008
Engine size/type : 1.6

Any mods : No

Type of use (road/track) : Road, but I drive it like a track

Additional info (max oil temps, current oil used) : Maxol 10W40 Full Synthetic

What do you want a recommendation for? : Engine Oil

I wouldnt bother with 10w-60, its really a bit too thick.

I would look at use a really good 5w-40 or 10w-40 synthetic.

Cheers

Guy.

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

Hi Guy,

a) What would you recommend for gearbox oil for a heavily modified supercharged 156 GTA running > 50% extra torque over standard that does a lot of track days for half the year, but fewer the rest of the year?

156 GTA
Year 2002
Mileage 53000 miles
(Gearbox only 100 miles)


It has a clutch type LSD installed as well, currently using redline friction modifier to keep it silent.

There is some Redline super heavy shockproof stuff that somebody on here recommended - any drawbacks?

b) Same car for engine oil, currently using Selenia Racing, and will hit max oil temp warning near the end of a track session (on a slow track, so not a lot of air cooling effect) so it really gets a hard time - would use 400ml on a trackday.
Is there any better oil for extreme use, even just for the trackday season?
I'll probably get a larger oil cooler off a 147 GTA long term, but am interested if there is anything better than Selenia Racing for temperature resistance.

Cheers,
TB

Hi,

10w-60 is the only recomended grade for the engine so I would stick with that. If you wanted a really good one then the Castrol Edge 10w-60 (for BMW M series) is very good stuff.

For the gearbox dont bother with heavy shock, its not what people think.

If you like redline then look at the MTL as this is GL4 75w/80w and a good synthetic, ideal for track.

Castrol EDGE 10W-60 for special BMW M-Series engines

REDLINE Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/80w GL4

Cheers

Guy.

Cheers

Guy.