R380 gearbox oil.... Morris Lodexol FR-X

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Chalky.

Well-Known Member
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Location
Mid Wales
Hi All!

My 90 has done 135k ish and when I first bought it (5 years ago) I had terrible trouble changing from 1st to 2nd, and under hard acceleration from 3rd to 4th.
The problem as we all know is fairly worn syncro's. Anyway, I changed the oil as soon as I got it home and put atf fluid in, as advised by Ashcroft. This was better than before, and I ran it like this for the next three services, changing at about 8k.
With adapting my driving style to that of the needs of a 21 year old Landy, with relatively unknown service history, gear changes improved, but I still found the 3rd to 4th, with a trailer, under full load getting up to traffic speed, the change would still 'catch' and not snick in smoothly, to the point were Id regularly double de-clutch as this helped immensely, and the next service I used the MTF, to no avail, thoughts of a g/box rebuild quickly swamped my everyday thoughts!! :)
I thought I'd try something different on my last change, and my local garage that does the Landy's mot's recommended Morris's Lodexol FR-X.

WOW! Amazing! Honestly, our VW passat doesn't have as nice a gear change as the 90 now, I can literally change gear using my little finger on the gearstick, it is quite honestly unbelievable!! I'll be using this from now on! I hope anyone reading this that are having the same (very common with older g/boxes) issues tries this oil! Reasonably priced, locally made! Just thought I'd share! :)
 
Wonder if it would improve the lt77?
I used that difflock evolution stuff many years ago, very expensive, big improvement but leaks made it too expensive for topping up.
How much does it cost @Gottschalk
 
According to Morris' website FR-X is an EP 75W-90 oil.
The R380 is recommended ATF or MTF.
I have doubts about the suitability of an EP in a gearbox requiring ATF/MTF due to the viscosity of the EP. Based on a replacement 5 speed Ford box on a Mk 2 Granada 2.8i which the customer filled with EP - not the ATF recommended by Ford. Gearbox grenaded on the motorway in under 10k miles. Warranty refused due to incorrect lubricant.
As ever, I stand to be corrected!
 
According to Morris' website FR-X is an EP 75W-90 oil.
The R380 is recommended ATF or MTF.
I have doubts about the suitability of an EP in a gearbox requiring ATF/MTF due to the viscosity of the EP. Based on a replacement 5 speed Ford box on a Mk 2 Granada 2.8i which the customer filled with EP - not the ATF recommended by Ford. Gearbox grenaded on the motorway in under 10k miles. Warranty refused due to incorrect lubricant.
As ever, I stand to be corrected!

I would think that is much too thick for an R380.

James knows this stuff inside out. @jamesmartin ?
 
According to Morris' website FR-X is an EP 75W-90 oil.
The R380 is recommended ATF or MTF.
I have doubts about the suitability of an EP in a gearbox requiring ATF/MTF due to the viscosity of the EP. Based on a replacement 5 speed Ford box on a Mk 2 Granada 2.8i which the customer filled with EP - not the ATF recommended by Ford. Gearbox grenaded on the motorway in under 10k miles. Warranty refused due to incorrect lubricant.
As ever, I stand to be corrected!

I don't think it is an EP oil mate. All I can say is the Landy garage are specialists, and deal with them ever single day, when I asked about oils he said this is what we're putting in td5's these days... All I can say is the improvement is unbelievable, I'll check up on the EP side of things...
 
Wonder if it would improve the lt77?
I used that difflock evolution stuff many years ago, very expensive, big improvement but leaks made it too expensive for topping up.
How much does it cost @Gottschalk

I'm not sure sorry Flos, I haven't been billed for it, I expect around the £25 mark
 
I don't think it is an EP oil mate. All I can say is the Landy garage are specialists, and deal with them ever single day, when I asked about oils he said this is what we're putting in td5's these days... All I can say is the improvement is unbelievable, I'll check up on the EP side of things...
It is the viscosity that surprises me, ATF is pretty thin stuff.
Have you been for any long high speed runs since you put this in the box?
 
You're right, the stuff I put in says 75-80! And it does actually say "EP protection"!

I'll post a pic up of the container... Be interested to see what James thinks, I honestly think it feels fantastic with it in, I'd say its a revelation, I do hope it's OK.
 
It is the viscosity that surprises me, ATF is pretty thin stuff.
Have you been for any long high speed runs since you put this in the box?

I know what your saying, atf felt better than mtf in winter, as it was thinner, this being thicker I would expect it to be worse than mtf, but it just feels silky smooth! And I only really go up to 50-55pmh, I've done about 300-400 miles with it in!
 
DSC_1935.JPG


Here's the controversial bugger I put in! :)
 
I know what your saying, atf felt better than mtf in winter, as it was thinner, this being thicker I would expect it to be worse than mtf, but it just feels silky smooth! And I only really go up to 50-55pmh, I've done about 300-400 miles with it in!
The usual issue that arises with oil in a gearbox that is thicker than the recommended oil is that the gearbox gets very hot, because the gears are trying to stir a thick oil. Can even get so hot as to result in the box seizing up. Obviously, it tends to happen when higher speeds are maintained for a period of time, as on a motorway.

I had never even heard of the stuff. Wait and see what James reckons.
 
At the same time they supplied me with the usual Morris EP 80w-90 for diffs and transfer, so they definitely meant it for the main box! I await abuse.... :D
 
The usual issue that arises with oil in a gearbox that is thicker than the recommended oil is that the gearbox gets very hot, because the gears are trying to stir a thick oil. Can even get so hot as to result in the box seizing up. Obviously, it tends to happen at when higher speeds are maintained for a period of time, as on a motorway.

I had never even heard of the stuff. Wait and see what James reckons.

I've heard of an overlanding 2a that had banana skins mushed and crushed up in its gearbox as a get-to-the-next town type thing.... :D
 
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