Re: Recommendation for Alfa 115's Manual Transmission non-hypoid Gear oil

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@xxxxxx>]

Hi Jay:

I like to use Kendall Nitro 70 motor oil in both my Spiders.  I've been 
using it just about forever (maybe 20+ years, although the "Nitro" name is 
new), and have never had a problem.  Maybe not ideal for a track car, some 
might say, but my gearboxes both shift like butter.  In fact, before I 
began reading the Digest a few years ago, I truly had no idea that there 
was a "2nd gear synchro problem", and I've had Alfa's since '78.  You might 
also seek out a commercial Shell Oil dealer, and order up some of the 
Alfa-recommended Spirax 90 gear oil.  You might have to buy a case, so make 
some Alfa friends and share.

After making the change from an "improper" lubricant, you might notice the 
improvement in synchro action will take a few hundred miles to fully 
occur.  When I got my '87 last Fall, I did the first change to the Kendall, 
then repeated after about 400 miles.  For the rear axle, I like Mobil 1 
75w/90, which is a synthetic GL-5.

Regards,

Dean
Lutz, FL
'74 & '87 Spider Veloce's


At 11:23 PM 3/24/2003, you wrote:

> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 16:58:14 -0600
> From: "Gratchner, Jay [Contractor]" <jgratc01@domain.elided>
> Subject: Recommendation for Alfa 115's Manual Transmission non-hypoid Gear oil
>
> I am looking for an non-hypoid manual transmission oil for a 1989 Spider
> Veloce.  I believe Alfa Romeo recommends Gl-4.  It appears U.S. oil
> manufactures add to many friction modifiers that doesn't give the Alfa Romeo
> syncros enough "bite".
>
> Does anyone have a winner recommendation?
>
> Jay Gracchi
> Portland, Oregon, US
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