[Healeys] redline

Earl Kagna kags at shaw.ca
Wed Jun 18 11:10:03 MDT 2008


Interesting --------

I have run MTL in my tri-carb (original gearbox o/d) for many years.  When I 
first installed it, I noticed a definite improvement in the shift feel, 
which has remained, with no overdrive problems at all.

I recently changed to MT 90, just for the hell of it, thinking that a 
slightly heavier version of the same stuff would offer a bit more hot 
weather protection, without any noticeable downside.  I've driven the car on 
a few pretty cold mornings and not experienced any 'thick oil' effects.  My 
guess is that the nature of synthetic oil allows it to flow much better at 
lower temps.

So far the beneficial effects of the change are very slight - no noticeable 
difference between the two, shifting is still excellent, possibly slightly 
better, (but that may only be that the oil is fresh).  Maybe the gearbox is 
slightly quieter, but my hearing is shot anyway, so I'm not all that sure.

Before I switched to Redline, I ran whatever was in the engine in the 
gearbox, as suggested in the original manuals - this was always a normal 
detergent oil - usually 20 / 50, sometimes 10 / 40 if I did any amount of 
cold weather driving.  My thinking was that I preferred the usual gearbox 
debris to remain in suspension in the oil and thereby get drained with each 
oil change, rather than have it settle into the bottom of the case to 
accumulate.  Of course this theory really only works if one does regular 
gearbox oil changes, which I have always done.

Earl Kagna
Victoria, B.C.
BT7 tri-carb
BJ8

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan Seigrist" <healey.nut at gmail.com>
To: "Mark LaPierre" <lapierrem at sbcglobal.net>; "David Nock" 
<healeydoc at sbcglobal.net>; "James Shope" <healeymanjim at hansencc.net>; 
"healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] redline


MT-90 is best for the gearbox, unless you live somewhere cold.

On 6/18/08, Mark LaPierre <lapierrem at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> David, the group consensus was to use MT-90.    Are you saying that  MTL 
> is
> what should be used.
>
> What is the "regular"  Redline that you refer to.
>
> Mark
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Nock" <healeydoc at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "James Shope" <healeymanjim at hansencc.net>
> Cc: "healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 11:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] redline
>
>
>> There are several types of Red Line gear oil. You need to use the
>> correct one. The Red Line MTL is a special gear oil for transmissions
>> that require 30wt gear oil. If you used the regular Red Line gear oil
>> it is a 90wt gear oil and is to thick for the Healey transmission.


More information about the Healeys mailing list