Caterham tranny oil?

[Kitcat]

At yesterday's track day my 6 sp Cat transmission seemed notchy/stiff. What transmission fluid are others using? I put Redline MTL on my T9, as well as my Miata, with excellent results, will it work here as well? If not, what do people recommend? And, does this transmission have a drain plug, unlike the T9?

[yellowss7]

Mike, Redline MTL is what I use in mine. Works fine. Yes there is a bottom drain plug in the 6 speed. The filler plug is on the right hand side of the gearbox. You either need to cut down a hex key for the tight clearance, or you can cut out a hole in the side of the passenger side tunnel to get access. You will need a long flexi tube funnel to fill it. I have a cut down allen wrench if you need to borrow it. Best way to cut it down is with a dremel, using a cutoff disc. Hacksaw takes waaay too long.

 

Tom

[Kitcat]

Thx Tom. What is the 6sp transmission's capacity?

[danilo]

As a suggestion:-0

...TRY.. Honda's MTF (manual trans Fluid) $5/6 litre jug at Any Honda dealers' parts counter. Not a prohibitively pricey 'experiment :-)

This is exceptional stuff. Roughly 30(ish) weight NON synth

No millions spent on advertising it either :-)

 

I've used it for years on a variety of transmissions.. with happy result.

Shifts very nicely

As small bonus ambient temp has very little effect on shift quality.(it doesn't turn to molasses in the cold)

Preferred by Honda racers, who often despite bearing Redline stickers /sponsorship. Refuse to actually use that stuff ..it reputedly dissolves NTN brand (v good brand used exclusively by Honda) Bearings' plastic cages..Not good.

Edited September 1, 2012 by danilo

[Kitcat]

Danilo-when I was an auto-xer, I talked to a Honda guy who said MTL ruined his transmission, for the reason you mention. Hence this post: I have enough se7en mechanical problems without making more:).

[yellowss7]

Mike, more than one quart, less than 2.

[Canadian 7]

I personally use Royal Purple in the tranny and diffs in all my cars. Never any issues and they all shift super smooth. Ron.

[Bill McMillan]

synthetic 10-30 motor oil works for me

[Kitcat]

Billo-Wow, that's pretty thin stuff. I think the Redline MTL is abt 70-80 weight. Your car must shift very smoothly. How many miles on your transmission?

 

I think it might be worth a (hopefully small) trade off in longevity to go thinner than what I have because at the track as I cant consistently get it into the gear I want and the stiffness also slows up the shift. Hurts lap times and end up being in wrong gear occasionally. Since I have a few qts of MTL in basement I wil try it next and work my way thru these suggestions if it doesn't help

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Keep in mind - Gear oils are measured at their typical operating temperature of 150F, motor oils at 210F - so gear oils and motor are similar in viscosity if measured at the same temperature.

 

That being said, motor oils are filled with raw materials that take care of fuel contamination and dilution, neither of which are inside of a gearbox. While it may work - I don't understand why you would run motor oil in a gearbox?

[Klasik-69]

My 5 speed was notchy too, difficult to downshift 3 to 2, almost impossible 2 to 1 gear. I read on this forum about Redline so I bought some. It was like getting a new tranny. My 5 spd is the Sierra Ford T9, not sure about 6 spd so check on the type of synchros & their lube requirements.

 

On the "cut down" Allen wrench, better solution is 1/4" X 1" X 6" piece of steel with a hole drilled on one end & weld a short piece of correct size Allen in the hole with 3/8" Allen sticking out.