When I had an E Type with the Moss box a big improvement was to change the oil, I used Redline MTL and it made the second gear syncro work reasonably well. certainly a vast improvement over whatever oil was in there before. For the price of a few litres, worth a try.

 

In the late 1970s, I started using ATF in my Mk2 on the advice of a lubricants R&D man (MTL wasn't around). It was quite a novel idea for many in those days. A garage mechanic giving me a totally misinformed lecture that anything other than hypoid gear oil would destroy the gearbox. However, ATF worked extremely well. It gave a better change and synchromesh action than engine oil (recommended by Jaguar). When/if the Mk2 is running again, I'll use MTL.

 

....this is the point where we could benefit from some explanation from Glyn.

 

The Moss gearbox was designed to run on straight 30 engine oil. The Sync 4 Jaguar box was designed to run on max. GL4 Hypoid type SAE 90 Sulphur Phosphorus containing gear oil but at max. GL4 level to protect the Phosphor Bronze synchro cones that SP containing oil can attack/be aggressive to at high treat rate & temperature. Do NOT use a GL5 or 6.

If one wants to run decent ATF in the Moss for better gear change with it's lower viscosity but still provide proper protection you should use ATF Type F or Type G meeting Ford spec M2C33 F or G. Designed to hold a particularly fragile Ford auto transmission together. Same product should be used in your Jaguar power steering. Contains no friction modifiers.

Redline is a bit of a scam. They have no decent research facilities vs the majors. They just treat base oil with the required percentage of additive supplied to them by the additive companies like Oronite, Lubrizol, Infinium etc. etc. and some dye. The same can be said for most boutique oil peddlers.

I run a 75W-90 GL4 in my all sync box and all is well even cold. I do have a completely rebuilt box with new bearings & synchro cones.

Oil viscosity chart so you don't confuse engine oil grades with gear oil grades. e.g an SAE 50 engine oil is approx the same viscosity as an SAE 90 gear oil.

Do not take lubrication advice from mechanics. They perpetuate old wives tales & are not trained in the subject much as we as an industry have all tried.

 

Glyn, Don't some of the majors produce MTLs?

 

Yes we do but they are mostly just lower viscosity Sulphur Phos products. We in fact make a Potassium Borate version as well in ISO 32. The problem is generally that they are not available in small packing sizes to the public. They are sold to the OEM's. OEM's then sell them as P/N's

Castrol is better in this regard and like the other majors take the trouble to get the right approvals. If they get through the Benz stringent testing protocol, as an example, you can be assured of a good product.

e.g.

https://www.castrol.com/en_za/south-...on-fluids.html

 

Not disagreeing with you, although on their website it says they are owned by Phillips66. Would that be considered a major?

 

No ~ Shell, Exxon Mobil, BP/Castrol, Chevron(Texaco, Caltex), Sinopec, Petro China, Total, Saudi Aramco (although more upstream).

Redline is really in the Royal Purple, Amsoil category. Some of their products are fine but I think the majors get a bit tired of them making false claims & talking nonsense. They are ignored because they are no real competition. Much like the aftermarket additive industry that sell products that generally bugger up proper balanced product formulations to meet tight specs & stringent OEM requirements.