Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 06:13:49 GMT From: Karl Buschhaus <DIESPAMDIEkbuschhausnopsamo.com> Subject: Re: Gearbox Oil Drain Plug
While I was rebuilding the tranny in my '85 900 this last month I frequently met with one of the mechanics at the local official SAAB dealer. (He set the pre-load on the pinion bearing among other things.) He was adamant about not using synthetic oils in the tranny, in particular, the ones that are super-slick, and additives such as Marvel's Mystery Oil(TM). The problem is that the the super slick oils inhibit the proper action of the synchro-mesh on the gears. You may find that shifting takes longer, and that you get the occasional grind as the synchro slides out of the way before speeds fully match. The synchros rely on friction, and very low friction is not always a good thing. (Just ask my wife when she jumped on the bed with silk sheets in silk pajamas and flew off the far side.) I love synthetics as well, but I leave them in the engine, not the gear box. I even avoided using engine assembly lube with Moly. Karl Buschhaus John R. Weiss wrote: > My '82 and '83 use synthetic motor oil in the tranny just fine. AFAIK, it's > only the trannys in the NG ('94+) 900s that require the special Saab synthetic > (like my '98 900T). > ----------------- > John Weiss > Seattle, WA > remove *nospam* from e-mail address for reply > > Mark Plumlee <turbospgnopsamsouth.net> wrote in message > news:385D2AA0.B04EDC7Dnopsamsouth.net... > > if its a 5 speed, get a 3/8ths ratchet, and go for the square hole on the > > middle of the bottem of the tranny. be sure and wipe off the goo and metal > stck > > to the magnetic drain plug. uses 3 quarts of regular(NON SYNTHETIC) moter oil > in > > the tranny