Thread: Isuzu MSA Gearbox Oils and Gear shifts

Oh and first is almost like driving a non syncro box, overall its not to bad, more truck like than car, may be I've just been spoilt by only driving late model manuals.😊

What oil is in it?

Good luck with the rego coming up.

I assume the MSA5 is syncho in all forward gears - really don't know much about this box, yet . Did you service yours at all ie bearings, syncho etc?

If it is a syncho box, then I'd be clutching at straws to enquire whether gears like 2 and 4 share the same support shaft (is lay shaft the right word?) and use the same syncho ring to change the ratio ie worn or off alignment sychro? Just a right out there guess.

The trouble shifting down is it again just for 2 and 4 ?

Originally Posted by Dougal

What oil is in it?

This. If the oil in it stinks like hypoid diff (gear) oil, drain it out. Replace it with a suitable manual gearbox oil.

I run VMX80. Got it years ago on Rick's recommendation.

Shifts much much better than the engine oil recommended on the tag. Especially in the cold.

That was my thought dougal, will check it when I get home.
What about running a synthetic oil??

Originally Posted by Vern

That was my thought dougal, will check it when I get home.
What about running a synthetic oil??

I found syntrans even better than vmx80. However I takes 1000 k's or so to fully bed in when you first switch to it.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I found syntrans even better than vmx80. However I takes 1000 k's or so to fully bed in when you first switch to it.

Probably worth putting a cheap load of engine oil through it for a week or 2 to flush it.