Does anyone know the grade/spec of the lighter gearbox oil recommended by Skoda for VRS gearboxes that where the synchro seems stiff. I believe an alternative to what the car comes filled with from the factory is available. :confused:

Sounds weird my gearbox is smoother than a pint of double cream. Was a bit noticy to start off with but a few thousand miles later it is fine.

I found the answer to this query on www.UK-MKIVS.net back in 2003 but the link doesn't work any more - nor does their search facility.

I found the answer to this query on www.UK-MKIVS.net[/url'] back in 2003 but the link doesn't work any more - nor does their search facility.

Thanks, as you say, the link is broken. Do you recall the oil that was recommended ?

Thanks, as you say, the link is broken. Do you recall the oil that was recommended ?

Unfortunately not. But Redline MTL gets mention in the thread below:

http://www.uk-mkivs.net/forums/203042/ShowPost.aspx

...and here too:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB17&Number=945384&Searchpage=2&Main=944505&Words=%2Bgearbox+%2Boil&topic=&Search=true#Post945384

Unfortunately not. But Redline MTL gets mention in the thread below:

http://www.uk-mkivs.net/forums/203042/ShowPost.aspx

...and here too:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB17&Number=945384&Searchpage=2&Main=944505&Words=%2Bgearbox+%2Boil&topic=&Search=true#Post945384

Just to go really old-skool here, anybody tried Molyslip in their Furby gearboxes? Or any known reason why this shouldn't be done?

Just to go really old-skool here, anybody tried Molyslip in their Furby gearboxes? Or any known reason why this shouldn't be done?

I can't find any mention of gearbox oil in the (Octavia) Owner's Manual. However if you read the second thread I mentioned in my earlier post, you will see that there is very good reason to use the correct specification gearbox oil to avoid gearbox damage. I used to use engine and gearbox oil additives - including Molyslip - in the past, eg for my Peugeot 505, but oils have improved vastly since those days. As far as engine oil is concerned, there is a specific warning in the Owner's Manual that 'No additional lubricants may be added to the engine oil.'

As far as engine oil is concerned, there is a specific warning in the Owner's Manual that 'No additional lubricants may be added to the engine oil.[/b']'

I suspect that this is a 'catch all' statement to protect the company from claims resulting from using some of the very dubious additives that are on the market in eastern Europe.

There are additives in the UK that are really quite amazing. I heard of one recently that allowed a Formula 2 car to finish and win a race having lost all oil pressure on lap 2 !! This is some form of ceramic that lasts up to 36,000 miles in a road car and is supplied by the UK agent for Liqui Moly oils.

My understanding is that additives can excessively plate engines and geraboxes and thereby change tollerances but I still think they are worthy of consideration if coming from a reputable source.

Dont bother with addavtives!

If you want improvement use a better quality oil of the recomended viscosity.

75w-90 is what you are after for a manual box, use a top quality synthetic one for results, basically more fluid at cold temps making cold gear changes smoother and an ester based gear oil like the Silkolene Syn5 75w-90 is very synchromesh friendly.

Tech data here http://www.opieoils.co.uk/lubricants.htm

Cheers

Guy.

If you want improvement use a better quality oil of the recomended viscosity.

75w-90 is what you are after for a manual box' date=' use a top quality synthetic one for results, basically more fluid at cold temps making cold gear changes smoother and an ester based gear oil like the Silkolene Syn5 75w-90 is very synchromesh friendly.

[/quote']

Thanks for the tip Guy, just wish I lived closer to you and that i could drop in, the postage is what puts me off using you.

Do you know by chance what Skoda fill the gearbox with as standard ? I would be interested to know how your suggestion compares visa ve viscosity etc. I'm not keen to go to a lighter oil if by doing so I risk faster gearbox wear - its a difficult one. :confused:

Come down to Cornwall for a holiday, you can pop in then!

The 75w-90 gear oil is similar in viscosity to a 10w-40 gear oil, you can use engine oil but it does not have the shear stability of the gear oil so generally not a good idea.

Skoda I should assume use a semi synthetic gear oil, possible even mineral to keep their production costs down, probably and 80w-90.

Cheers

Guy.