I guess that depends on how you view the use of the word "corrosion". Corrosion is a natural process, which converts a refined metal to a more stable form, such as its oxide, hydroxide, or sulfide.
Yes it is a GL5 and has been suggested by a very trusted source as working well in the iron syncro transmissions. I have not tried it because despite my best efforts the importer for Agip in the USA seems to have no interest in selling it. I have no need to buy a couple of quart bottles and barrels just seem not to exist in the USA.
None of which surprises me. The 355 is the best shifting Ferrari ever made and seems to have little preference for oil that the old iron syncro cars had. The 355 has smaller gears than the prior cars which means the syncros have an easier job and the 355 has the best and most easily adjusted shifter, both internally and externally of any Ferrari made. The 360 went back to cables and it wasn't an inspired design. The adjustments have no turn buckles so only a relatively coarse adjustment is possible. I have always told people the 355 shifts as well as the best the Japanese ever offered.
I find this info to be fascinating. It was a nice surprise when I bought my 355- I really have a blast driving this car- very analog, set up perfectly for heel and toe (as was the 360), and the shifting is great fun. The better shifting than the 360 was a nice surprise to me (I had never driven a 355 before I bought mine)..the best experience for me is driving with the top down wearing either with narrow shoes or even better...barefoot. 355+ Tubi + hyperflow + convertible + stick = Heaven (to me anyway ) I never thought of it Rifledriver, but you are correct- the 355 is the best shifting Ferrari they ever made! Not that the 360 is bad, but given that the 360 and 430 are likely similar and the 355 is better than them or the prior Ferraris you are right. I hope the feel is the same when I switch to redline or whatever my mechanic will use- I'll have to discuss it with him at the next service.
It's no wonder this is all so confusing! I pulled this info from the various owners and workshop manuals, plus the vendor's tech sheets. Right now the LS variant of FE escapes me (FE LS and/or FELS) However, FE is a GL4 while FELS is a GL5 (according to the data plate on my car). . Image Unavailable, Please Login
A 2007 source says, "use the same for [most] all of them" Agip ROTRA LSX 75W90 (GL4 and GL5) http://travel.eni.com/catalog/products/documents/001271_1_en_IT_1_106.pdf http://www.teligumi.net/php/upload4/2009_11/25/125915776664852503/agip_katalogus.pdf . Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for compiling and sharing that, Wade. Interesting to note that GL-5 is specified for the 355 in all of the sources you cite.
Strangely enough, the spec tag on my car says GL5 but the owner's manual calls for GL4 (Agip SP FE SAE 75W90). However, from the ENI website for their Agip SP FE SAE 75W90, "Warning: the product is not to be used in applications where API GL-5 performance is required." . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 348 has iron synchro's so not sure how that really applies ot the 355. Or am I mistaken? I read that say you can use the GL4 or GL5 355. As Brian said earlier...and as a product manager in previous life...someone paid Ferrari a lot of money to be the "lube if choice" (Shell in our case). Was that he best option? Unlikely. Add some time for technology to grow and we have the fog that is today's options. The only open question I have is the comment made earlier about GL5 having a higher "stickyness" to it and that it will literally wear out the syncro's as it is flushed away to allow the braking action of the syncro to the mating gear selected. Is that true? Dunno yet.
It only applies that, times have surely changed, and so has the technology. What was called for back then may not necessarily apply today. Near as I can tell, GL4 and GL5 were merely recommendations. However, the conversation/thread did mention both models (my apologies for intruding in on the 355 forum).
GL5 is a problem in the iron syncro transmissions because its EP additive package that gets it to GL5 levels inhibit syncro operation by its very nature. That was a big topic in some of the information in the links given in the thread. That is the entire reason I quit using it some time ago in 308/328/348 transmissions.
I think what is meant here is that if the oil film between the synchro ring and the gear cone is tougher to squeeze out (so that the synchro ring can "bite" the cone and equilise the rotational speeds of the two), the engagement will be "crunchy" as it will ocur between the not fully equilised rotational speeds of the engaging splines which will cause wear primarily to the splines of the softer synchro ring but will also wear the splines of the gear "cog" (or whatever it's called).
I have a 348, and this is the one I use (GL-5): Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - 75W90 NS GL-5 Gear Oil Would you recommend I use this one insead (GL-4: Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - MT-90 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil The GL-5 lists Ferrari as being a popular user, while the GL-4 makes no mention of Ferrari
Put in Redline ML in my 95 F 355 this morning. Shifted very smoothly but will see tomorrow how it is when cold. I had lightweight shockproof in it before which was good but sometimes 3rd gear crunched but seems gone with MTL. It is much thinner than shockproof so hopefully it's ok for the differential. I mixed in 1/2 liter of the lightweight with MTL. Don't know if that is good or bad.
I must have missed that. I saw your post about not using GL-5 in the 308/328/348, which is why I asked your opinion of which of those two I listed that you suggest I run in my 348.
RP has both slip and non slip.....BUT like all the others, you are supposed to start with NON slip and add the appropriate amount of whale oil. If you don't have a whale, I use the GM Positrac additive, they manufacture synthetically, since Ahab drowned. But of course, Chevrolet Parts department cannot tell you how much, to put in a '70s Ferrari transaxle. Rifledriver can.....
Having a major on my 95 . They took out the transaxle to look at 3rd gear syncro since I was having off and on grinding going fron 2nd to 3rd. 3rd gear syncro was good but syncro ring was worn and rounded. Kelly's-Moss a big Porsche race shop is doing the work. First thing they asked was I using Redline. I have use RL for 30000 mi and they said they used to use it in their race Porsches until had big failure rate. They urged me not to use it anymore. Take it for what is worth. Just adding to the confusion over gear oils. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Over here in Europe (The Netherlands) , a lot of these specific oils are not available. For instance the Mobil brand is rather big over here, but the Syntec 75w-90 is not available. Red line? no, sorry. Pennzoil? Never heard of... Any European oil expert that can point me towards a decent oil that actually IS available?
