f16 what the best oil to use??

[bigezz]

hi all about to do an oil change on an f16 this weekend what oil are people running in these any information would be greatley appreciated thanks

[MK999]

cheapest ATF going, vaux specify 80w-90 but it tends to be a bit clunky until it's warm.

[bigezz]

atf as in automatic transmission fluid?

[Nova_Tek]

ATF is mean't to help reduce drag in the box supposedly allowing more power through but ATF is a fair bit thinner and can cause problems (just saying what I've read).

[MK999]

atf as in automatic transmission fluid?

Yeah, it's quite common to put it in vaux boxes, because 80-90 seems to be a bit thick for them.

Nova Tek, I've heard of mechanics with a lot of experience using them in vauxhalls on the road, vaux boxes just seem to prefer ATF.

[Nova_Tek]

Yeah but can you use it on a F20 mated to a LET?

[MK999]

Yeah but can you use it on a F20 mated to a LET?

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with it having successfully run it in any box I've had. Less resistance is gonna decrease mechanical stress too, but possibly increase wear, if anything it might wear out 20k miles early in it's 250k or whatever mile life (I've never heard of a vaux box 'wearing out' before tbh!) So I'd expect an F20 on a high power LET to fail before the oil in it had any great effect if at all.

[Nova_Tek]

Well rather than using ATF why not just decrease it from 80w-90 to say a lower grade? Wouldn't that give it less resistance but offer more protection from ATF?

[mowgli]

sae 80w90. drain the old oil out when it is warm, then put 1.8L of new stuff in. the clunky is from knackered box innards, and not from the oil. atf is designed for hydraulic applications, where turque converters & brake bands rub. its characteristics are totally different to a proper gear oil.

[MattBrown]

sae 80w90. drain the old oil out when it is warm, then put 1.8L of new stuff in. the clunky is from knackered box innards, and not from the oil. atf is designed for hydraulic applications, where turque converters & brake bands rub. its characteristics are totally different to a proper gear oil.

This man speaks sense!

I have 80/85w in mine (accurired;) ) lol

[bigezz]

thanks for all the info guys think ill be goin with the proper gear oil just for future referance gear oil will be the same for f 16,18,20 is this correct ?

[mowgli]

yes

[blue_peg_16v]

ive always used atf in all my novas ever since my first conversion and never had a problem its whats in my curent f20 on the let too

[iceni]

Proper GM stuff is SAE90 which looks the sames as ATF but isn't

Part Number is 93165290 and trades @ £4.10 + VAT per Ltr

Cheers
Andy

[bigezz]

thanks guys keep up the good work quite impressed with this forum havent even seen anyone asking how to wire up there neons or how to make there 1.2 make a dump valve sound hahaha sure you all no what im sayin

[Nova_Tek]

thanks guys keep up the good work quite impressed with this forum havent even seen anyone asking how to wire up there neons or how to make there 1.2 make a dump valve sound hahaha sure you all no what im sayin

^ Think you mean Chavs lol

I'd personally use the proper stuff mate. You'd never stick 0w 30 oil in an engine that takes 10w 40 so you wouldn't do the same for the gearbox.

[MK999]

Proper GM stuff is SAE90 which looks the sames as ATF but isn't

Part Number is 93165290 and trades @ £4.10 + VAT per Ltr

Cheers
Andy

That's probably where the ATF thing comes from then lol

[bigezz]

^ Think you mean Chavs lol

I'd personally use the proper stuff mate. You'd never stick 0w 30 oil in an engine that takes 10w 40 so you wouldn't do the same for the gearbox.

very good point im with you on that one ;)

^ Think you mean Chavs lol ye thats what i meant :thumb: lollollol

[mowgli]

That's probably where the ATF thing comes from then lol

people have been sticking atf in for years... i really don't know why. they probably reason that with a plate type diff, the atf will probably do, whereas, you just use an additive for the gear oil, available from a surprising number of places, including CASE tractor dealers...