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Re: Oil for Overdrive Transmission

To: Charles & Peggy Robinson <ccrobins@ktc.com>,
Subject: Re: Oil for Overdrive Transmission
From: Don Malling <dmallin@attglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 22:44:49 -0400
Hi CR,

I checked my owners manual and you are quite right. It does recommend 
the same oil in the Engine and transmission. It doesn't specify a 
difference between OD and non-OD transmissions. I understood John 
Esposito to say that his recommendation to use non-detergent 30W applies 
only to OD transmissions.

I also noticed that the MG manual recommends 10W/40. I found that 
especially interesting because I have understood from several sources 
that 10W/40 was not a wise choice at all. Under high heat conditions it 
leaves hardened deposits. For that reason, I don't think it is 
recommended for turbos and I don't think it's recommended for air cooled 
engines.

I understand that it leaves hardened deposits at the end of the piston 
travel and as the rod bearings wear the piston travel increases and the 
rings hit the deposits. The rings can crack and lodge the piston in the 
cylinder and blow the engine.

After using Kendall 10W/40 in a 2.3L Ford for years it started to knock 
  and about 2 weeks later a piston seized in the cylinder, snapped the 
rod and pushed it through the block. It failed exactly as predicted in 
the literature.

Whether it was caused by the 10W/40, I can't say for sure. But it was 
enough for me. I wouldn't use 10W/40 in anything.

I would view any recommendation to use 10W/40 with a bit a skepticism. 
Perhaps when the manual was written they were not yet aware of the 
problems with long term use of certain lubricants.

:-)

Don Malling



Charles & Peggy Robinson wrote:
>    He's full of beans.  I've been running Castrol GTX 20W-50 oil in both 
> my MGB engines and OD trannies for over 15 years, no problems.  I do not 
> understand why people want to ignore the owner's manual which clearly 
> states that you should run the same dino oil in the tranny as you use in 
> the engine.
> 
>   Cheers,
> 
>    CR
> 
> Don Malling wrote:
> 
>> According to John Esposito www.quantumechanics.com, only 30W 
>> non-detergent motor oil should be used in an OD transmission. John 
>> said that deteregent motor oil will foam in the transmission and will 
>> not work well with the OD. I can't remember the details of why the 
>> foaming was not good for the OD.
>>
>> Don Malling





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