Difference between revisions of "Gearbox Oil Change"

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(New page: The problem here is not removing oil but putting it in. Despite beautifully clear drawings in the service notes of the Speedo cable entry/refill point, you sometimes wonder if you’re l...)
 
(→‎Capacity and recommended lubricant)
 
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The problem here is not removing oil but putting it in.  
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The challenge lays not in removing oil but putting it in.  The transmission is filled through the hole where the speedometer drive cable enters the housing.  The first job is to remove the [[Speedometer Cable]] and speedometer gear from the gearbox and remove the speedometer gear to check the oil level.  Please do this before draining the old lubricant.  If you're not able to remove the cable, it's better to find out while there's still oil in the transmission.
  
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Despite beautifully clear drawings in the service notes of the Speedo cable entry/refill point, you sometimes wonder if you’re looking at the same car! Access is not easy but can be made easier by moving the coolant header tank (no need to drain) to a better position, and possibly removing the air intake hose to the throttle body.  
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If you need to add or refill oil you’ll need a funnel and suitable length of hose (nobody said this was easy). The original Mobil oil specified by Lotus is no longer produced.  Lotus next recommended Castrol TAF-X 75W-90.  TAF-X 75W-90 is no longer available but has been replaced with another Castrol product (see below).  Draining the gearbox is simply a case of removing the transmission drain plug from beneath the car.  The LEC how-to section includes an [http://www.lotuselancentral.com/repair/transaxleoil.htm article with photographs].
  
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The Speedo gear, which must be removed, is located at the rear of the differential housing and is accessed from above. Tracing the speedo cable down from the bulkhead helps locate it. A retaining plate needs to be removed by releasing a single screw before attempting removal. The speedo gear normally puts up plenty of resistance to removal so be prepared for a fight!
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== Capacity and recommended lubricant ==
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Try not to use excessive force unless driven to it.  
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Lotus manuals state 1.8l / 1.9 US quarts as capacity for refilling a drained transaxle.  1.9 US quarts = 1.8l = 3 imperial pints = 60.8 fl oz.
  
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If you need to add or refill oil you’ll need a funnel and suitable length of hose (nobody said this was easy). The original Mobil oil specified by Lotus is no longer produced. Lotus now recommends Castrol TAF-X 75W/90, which is readily available and recommended for the S2 Elan which uses the same gearbox as the S1.  
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Recommended lubricant is discussed at length in [http://forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=122&t=19171 this forum thread] and [http://forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=7835 this one].  Castrol TAF-X 75w90 originally recommended by Lotus is discontinued.  As of 2011, it is replaced by Castrol Syntrans 75W-90 in the UK, Syntrax 75w-90 in the US.  Redline MT-90 (''not'' MTL) also meets these requirements.  For those who have installed Quaife differentials, [http://www.quaife.co.uk/faqs they also recommend] 75W-90 synthetic gear oil.
  
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Draining the gearbox is simply a case of removing the transmission drain plug from beneath the car.
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Bottom line:  75W-90 GL-4 full synthetic gear oil.
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== The mysterious refill plug ==
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Some may have one. Some may not. [http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5127 Read on!]
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[[Category:HowTo]]
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[[Category:TextToCopyFromLEC]]
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[[Category:Maintenance]]

Latest revision as of 10:59, 26 November 2018

The challenge lays not in removing oil but putting it in. The transmission is filled through the hole where the speedometer drive cable enters the housing. The first job is to remove the Speedometer Cable and speedometer gear from the gearbox and remove the speedometer gear to check the oil level. Please do this before draining the old lubricant. If you're not able to remove the cable, it's better to find out while there's still oil in the transmission.

If you need to add or refill oil you’ll need a funnel and suitable length of hose (nobody said this was easy). The original Mobil oil specified by Lotus is no longer produced. Lotus next recommended Castrol TAF-X 75W-90. TAF-X 75W-90 is no longer available but has been replaced with another Castrol product (see below). Draining the gearbox is simply a case of removing the transmission drain plug from beneath the car. The LEC how-to section includes an article with photographs.

Capacity and recommended lubricant

Lotus manuals state 1.8l / 1.9 US quarts as capacity for refilling a drained transaxle. 1.9 US quarts = 1.8l = 3 imperial pints = 60.8 fl oz.

Recommended lubricant is discussed at length in this forum thread and this one. Castrol TAF-X 75w90 originally recommended by Lotus is discontinued. As of 2011, it is replaced by Castrol Syntrans 75W-90 in the UK, Syntrax 75w-90 in the US. Redline MT-90 (not MTL) also meets these requirements. For those who have installed Quaife differentials, they also recommend 75W-90 synthetic gear oil.

Bottom line: 75W-90 GL-4 full synthetic gear oil.

The mysterious refill plug

Some may have one. Some may not. Read on!

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