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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - gearbox oul

Hi guys,me again.Another question for you to ponder over.The gearbox on my 1275 midget makes a terrible whine in use,even when my wife is not in the car.Does anybody have any easy solution,ie replace oil with specialist synthetic oil?
I.M. CHRISTIE

Is there any oil in it?

If so, what sort?

The gearbox should have 20/50 engine oil.

If it's making that much noise with the correct oil in it, it sounds like it's in need of a rebuild.
Dave O'Neill2

But gearbox noise is relative! I don't think one in "good condition" is particularly wine-free, especially in first. Unless you know it has got worse lately I would listen to one in athoer car so you have a comparison. Think coffee grinder with gravel not beans.
G Williams

Use a 1/4 qt of lucas oil stablizer with the oil...it will quit it down to a tolerable level

Im not sure id use synthetic oil
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

checking the level of the g/box oil is part of service work is very often missed as is actually changing the oil

if you do a thorough oil change of your existing oil
a) it might help but probably only a little but still worth doing if you don't know when it was last done
b) with the existing oil drained you can compare the condition of the oil that was in the box to the condition of fresh oil which might give you a clue and also see what, if any, bits come out with the old oil

to do a thorough oil change (same for engine and rear axle) have the existing oil as warm as possible before draining and leave to drain as long as possible to get as much of the old oil and muck out as possible

for the g/box you might as well stick with a good quality 20w/50 engine oil at least until you know what's what with the g/box

the rear axles often whine too so you could apply above to it, check level or better still change oil

with the rear axle you have the option for longer lasting oil with reduced cold weather drag of using a modern alternative like Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75W-90 (GL-5 spec*) or Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 (GL-5 spec*)

(* modern GL-5 is considered fine for use in the rear axle)

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-737-castrol-syntrax-longlife-75w-90-formerly-saf-xo-75w-90.aspx

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-806-mobil-mobilube-1-shc-75w-90-fully-synthetic-supreme-performance-commercial-gear-oil.aspx
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2014 and 25/04/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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