They Put Valvoline Gl5 85/140 In My 79 Veloce Spider

lgaddy007 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 08:01 AM

I WAS HAVING A SLIGHT GRINDING GOING INTO 2ND. AND THE SHOP COULNT GET THE SPIRAX 80/90 SO THEY USED 85/140 VALVOLINE GL5
WILL THAT BE A PROBLEM? ANYONE EVER TRIED IT?

**Peter** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:34 PM

depends...read Papajam's comments in this thread:
gear oil seeping past the drain plug

**Gubi** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:51 PM

Except that Papajam's comment in that thread is wrong. All GL-5 gear oils (including Redline and Spirax) are EP, so the Valvoline being EP is not an issue per se.

85W140 is obviously thicker than the spec. I've heard of folks using that weight in the transaxle cars so theoretically it'll work in the Spider. Cold shifting will suffer but that's not much of an issue in Florida. No idea if the thicker oil will hurt or help shifting, but I guess you're the guinea pig for that, eh?

The gearbox does tend to be pretty finicky about the difference between brands of GL-5, though, which is why you see folks around here being very specific in their recommendations. I seem to remember reading someone's post that Valvoline didn't seem to work very well in the gearbox. Between that vague recollection and the fact that it's not the right weight, my personal bias would be towards draining it and putting in Spirax.

Oh, and find a shop that (a) knows something about Alfas and (b) consults with you *before* they put in something different than what you asked for.

**backfeeder** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 05:20 PM

lgaddy007,
Up here in J-ville I get Spirax at PEP Boys. Hopefully they carry it also in Orlando.

lgaddy007 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 07:33 PM

i did look at pep boys here ... no luck! ;-(

**Peter** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgaddy007

i did look at pep boys here ... no luck! ;-(

**Zunige** · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 06:13 AM

There really is no excuse for the shop not using a recommended lubricant. (Maintenance is a planned event, and not having the basics says a lot...) If these are not available locally, they are available from both IAP and Centerline. Switch out the lubricant, and find a real Alfa mechanic. (Using a general mechanic is how may Alfas go out of spec, little by little, eventually becoming a basket cases, with years of maintenance that cannot be undone or corrected easily...)

Best regards,

**lowmileage** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 06:33 AM

. Guesswork and/or substitution should be included in a Alfa maintenance schedule.