Vectra gearbox oil - what type?

[Homestar]

Haven't managed to find a definitive answer on the net. Everything from Dextron III to 80W90 gear oil....

I have replaced the box - the old one had a shagged diff (common problem) and had an oil that smelt like gear oil. The good second hand one in there now is running Dextron III - that was in it when I got it.

So, which ones right? The car will be back on the road in the next week or so, and I don't want to wreck another box, they are too bloody hard to swap...

Yeah, yeah, don't start with the Vextra bashing, I know they aren't great cars, but it only cost me $200 and all in with reg won't cost me $1,500 which makes it a cheap first car for my Daughter. Only 165KKM on the clock - it's been laid up for 3 years after the box **** itself, and the engine runs great.

Anyway - what oil to use...

[sheerluck]

I'm assuming an auto, Gav, but what year?

[Homestar]

Sorry - no, a 5 speed manual. It is a 97 model.:)

Cheers.

[sheerluck]

Sorry - no, a 5 speed manual. It is a 97 model.:)

Cheers.

Oh. I see your problem now. :eek:

(Manual Vectras and their manual gearboxes was the main reason why a company I used to work for moved away from Vauxhall for their fleet cars. They had 200 of the damned things)

I believe it was definitely gear oil rather than Dexron. Something like Castrol Syntrans 75w-85.

[Homestar]

Thanks for that - I was leaning that way myself. Yes, the manual boxes are fairly ordinary and bloody hard to change. They are barely strong enough for the standard torque of the 2 ltr engine.

The PO had turned it into a boy racer (no idea why) with big wheels, lowered suspension, spoiler, etc - all gone now (apart from a killer sound system:)), but I bet he blew it up thrashing it...

I've given my daughter strict instructions not to do that - and told her if she kills the gearbox, then she can save up for another car as I sure as **** won't be doing the box again...:D

Cheers.

[slug_burner]

Gear oil according to the Castrol Lube guide. I had a look at a couple of 2 litre variants and the manuals all came up with 75W85 syntrans.