transmission fluid question

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
User avatar
btoran
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:26 am
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Northport, NY

transmission fluid question

Post by btoran »

i've read on the forum that redline mtl should be used for manual transmission fluid. i think they make several different fluids. which is the correct one and where can it be purchased? thanks.
Last edited by btoran on Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
1975 Fiat 124 Spider
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: transmission fludi question

Post by RRoller123 »

I used their MT-90, and bought it online. Great stuff, smooth as silk.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
User avatar
btoran
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:26 am
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Northport, NY

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by btoran »

the MT-90 says it's GL-4. i thought i read we don't want to use gl-4.
1975 Fiat 124 Spider
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by BEEK »

just be sure what you get is gl-1 this is a non ep (extreme pressure) lubricant, this is what the fiat box needs to survive. Having said that, i have used Redline MTL in my race cars with no issues
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
User avatar
81SPIDERMATT
Posts: 1239
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:10 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider 2000
Location: FORT COLLINS, CO

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by 81SPIDERMATT »

make sure you get the fill plug loose before draining the tranny
User avatar
4uall
Posts: 4145
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by 4uall »

this may help :wink:

http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... ansmission

Immediate difference.

Good luck.

BE SURE TO GET THE FILL PLUG OFF BEFORE THE DRAIN PLUG JUST IN CASE :shock:
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by TX82FIAT »

This is from an old mirafiori site post.

" Mobil makes a synthetic gear and bearing oil called SHC-630. It is non-EP and contains no additives. It will NOT attack yellow metals. It is fully synthetic and although it is weighted in ISO format, I was told that it was equivelent to 75W-90. It also has anti-foaming properties. It is NOT GL-5 like MT-90 may be."

The user said they had great luck with the product saying it even silenced a noisy bearing using GL1. You may need to call an industrial suppier like MSC or Grainger to get it ordered if your interested in it.

I'm running GL1 non-ep that I picked up over the counter by the gallon at NAPA. I have mixed emotions on the many synthetics offered. GL1 is basically mineral oil. Redline makes a 90 wt non-ep.

I would caution the following. These gear boxes need a little friction to work properly. Going a step further these gears are supposed to have a certain amount of coating. The design is from the 60's and my concern is that oils today are not designed with this friction and coating in mind. Many newer oils are very slippery even at the same weight. If you depart from GL1 non ep I would look around for a mineral oil that is 90 weight non ep designed for older cars.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
Emersonfiat1977
Patron 2023
Patron 2023
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri May 29, 2020 12:18 am
Your car is a: 1977 fiat 124

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by Emersonfiat1977 »

I am going to attempt tomorrow.

1st get fill plug loose

The Car Quest

Ask for GL1 non ep(SL-SGLX) correct?

75W - 90 correct?



When adding measure or like a differential add until it starts leaking out?

Any help is much appreciated

Thank you
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

GL-1 is correct for the older Fiat transmission, but it's pretty much not available in stores. So, you have to order it online. I have heard people can find it as older tractor oil, but I've not gone down that path myself.

75W-90 sounds correct, but keep in mind that the viscosity ratings for gear oil are different than engine oil. In other words, 75W-90 is not twice (or more) as thick as 10W-40 motor oil. Different oils, different viscosity ratings.

As for how much to add, I just drain the old oil, put the drain plug back in, then fill the transmission up to the level of the fill plug with new oil. When it starts to drip out of the fill plug, stop and put the fill plug back in.

-Bryan
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by RRoller123 »

My local NAPA has gallon size GL-1 on the shelf.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

RRoller123 wrote:My local NAPA has gallon size GL-1 on the shelf.
That's very handy! I checked with NAPA out here, and they looked at me like I was a wingnut. No GL-1. Just curious: How much $$$ does your NAPA want for a gallon of GL-1?

-Bryan
rridge
Posts: 162
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:59 am
Your car is a: 1981 Turbo Spider

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by rridge »

User avatar
manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by manoa matt »

If I can get the NAPA GL-1 in Hawaii, you should be able to get it anywhere on the mainland. A gallon of it will do 2 trans oil changes.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FCA65201
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by RRoller123 »

I don't remember how much they charged for it, but that probably means it wasn't out of the normal expectation.

The folks behind the counter may know of it more generally as "Mineral Oil", as GL-1 is obviously a very old designation!
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
tima01864
Patron 2021
Patron 2021
Posts: 702
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:01 pm
Your car is a: 1983 FIAT Pininafarina Spider 2000
Location: Wilmington, MA

Re: transmission fluid question

Post by tima01864 »

NAPA has the GL-1 branded with their name on the container. #1 Mineral oil
Post Reply