Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
User avatar
DUCeditor
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 7:36 am
Your car is a: 1977 FIAT 124 Sport Spider
Location: Monadnock Area, New Hampshire USA
Contact:

Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by DUCeditor »

When my `77 was having several systems rebuilt (suspension, brakes) and a tune up the tech also suggested changing all the fluids. Since the tranny and rear end had never had their fluids changed in the 22 years I've owned her this certainly seemed like a good idea. What amazed me was how big a difference this made.

As mentioned in my introductory thread the car had been out of service for four years. After the tech had gotten her running again, rebuilt the systems, he naturally took her out for a test drive. I commented to him that the tranny was none too good - remembering well how slow the synchronizes had become. "Actually it shifted quite well" he told me. "Really?" said I with amazement. And when I finally picked up the car I found he was correct. No, she's not slick like a new Miata, but no where near as balky as she had been. The change? New tranny fluid!

Oh, and the rear end is quieter now too. Silly me! I should have done this years ago! :oops:

-don
Italian motorcycles. An Italian car. An Italian wife. What more could a man desire?
majicwrench

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by majicwrench »

I'm sure you are aware that Fiat trannys take a specific fluid, and the wrong stuff can cause problems??
Hope you have to good stuff in there??

My trans is a little clunky. Always wondered when I will get around the changing fluid. Probably been in there since 71.
Keith
User avatar
DUCeditor
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 7:36 am
Your car is a: 1977 FIAT 124 Sport Spider
Location: Monadnock Area, New Hampshire USA
Contact:

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by DUCeditor »

majicwrench wrote:I'm sure you are aware that Fiat trannys take a specific fluid, and the wrong stuff can cause problems??
Thanks for the warning there Keith. All my recent work was done by Alex at AVA, a euro car restoration specialist. I'll be very surprised if he got it wrong.

If though you read me complaining about some major gearbox failure in the next few months do feel free to say "I told you so!." :wink:

-don
Italian motorcycles. An Italian car. An Italian wife. What more could a man desire?
User avatar
DUCeditor
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 7:36 am
Your car is a: 1977 FIAT 124 Sport Spider
Location: Monadnock Area, New Hampshire USA
Contact:

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by DUCeditor »

Conscious of the warnings kindly provided here, and never wanting to take anything for granted, I went back and looked at AVA's invoice. Listed was Redline MTL. Doing a google revealed (in part) the following:

- Popular replacement for and improvement over GM Synchromesh® (#12345349) and Auto-Trak II® (#12378508)
- Safe for brass synchros, as it lacks the reactive sulfurs found in most GL-5 oils that cause damage
- Offers quicker shifts, perfect synchronizer coefficient of friction
- Eliminates notchy shifting, even when cold
- High performance gear protection and longer synchro life
- Recommended for GL-1, GL-3, and GL-4 applications, as well as where most special synchromesh fluids are specified

What I most notice is the quicker synchro operation.

Anyone else using this stuff?

-don
Italian motorcycles. An Italian car. An Italian wife. What more could a man desire?
Tango

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by Tango »

Apparently I am. Well, it is "Redline Synthetic", anyway, according to the paperwork I got with the car. And it has been in there for about 10 years / 12K kms. Its the only Fiat I have ever driven, but it seems to shift fine to me.
minimike
Posts: 257
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:14 pm
Your car is a: 1979 124 spyder

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by minimike »

Don or Tango,
do you have an actual name for the Redline Synthetic? or Part #. Also how many quarts did it take?
I should do mine. my work manual is so hard to read. I'm used to Haynes, and I've got a Brooklands. I can't
find anything. Did they ever hear of an index?
TVST*R

Re: Tranny Fluid Change - What a Difference!

Post by TVST*R »

Great info and timely as I just called a local tranny shop to see if they can fix my bad 2nd gear synchro.
I may try this instead to see if it changes my shifting issue especially if I decide to sell it..;)
Mark..any experience with the Redline?
DUCeditor wrote:Conscious of the warnings kindly provided here, and never wanting to take anything for granted, I went back and looked at AVA's invoice. Listed was Redline MTL. Doing a google revealed (in part) the following:

- Popular replacement for and improvement over GM Synchromesh® (#12345349) and Auto-Trak II® (#12378508)
- Safe for brass synchros, as it lacks the reactive sulfurs found in most GL-5 oils that cause damage
- Offers quicker shifts, perfect synchronizer coefficient of friction
- Eliminates notchy shifting, even when cold
- High performance gear protection and longer synchro life
- Recommended for GL-1, GL-3, and GL-4 applications, as well as where most special synchromesh fluids are specified

What I most notice is the quicker synchro operation.

Anyone else using this stuff?

-don
Post Reply