Gear box oil

[apple0154]

Having just purchased a Midget I found out the previous owner put 80 oil in the gear box instead of the recommended 20W50. Should I just drain the oil and refill with the proper grade? Any problems I can expect?

 

[JPSmit]

welcome - please repost this over on the Spridget board - Sprite + Midget = Spridgit.

My 1500 uses gear oil but I'm not sure what the effects would be on a 1275 transmission

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Yes, drain and fill with SAE30 or 20/50.

 

[rggav]

If the transmission had been upgraded it would use a different weight oil. I just had the Moss five speed transmission installed in my MGB and it uses 75W-90 gear oil not 20W50 like the official manual states.

 

[DrEntropy]

If its a standard BMC trans, drain it and use motor oil. Your laygear will thank you.

 

[Roger]

20-50 oils, or any other over 40wt, aren't subject to the same additive restrictions as lighter oils. So they're closer in formula to oils of old, with respect to stuff like ZDDP, etc., though still retaining the benefits of lubrication technology progress.
Read Castrol's write-up on their Syntec full-synthetic 20-50 for example. It's on their
Web Site.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

One thing the original poster didn't state is if this is chorme bumper car or the Triumph engine rubber bumper car, if it is chrome bumper MG engine car, then motor oil in the gearbox, if it is the 1500 then gear oil in the gearbox.
Sorry I should have ask you that from the get-go, than assume it was a CB car.

 

[JPSmit]

it is Hap - '74 from his profile

 

[Boatin]

Hy Hap,

Whats a Triumph 1500 engine in a rubber nose. ? Never heard of that one.

Regards Boatin

 

[JPSmit]

Whats a Triumph 1500 engine in a rubber nose. ? Never heard of that one.

Final run of Midgets (rubber bumper cars) 75-80 used the 1500 engine from the Triumph Spitfire as it wasn't worth British Leyland adapting 2 engines (1500 & 1275) for the smog regulations of the USA and especially California.