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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Thicker Diff oil making it louder ?

I had GL4 75-90 in the axle, but could hear the diff, not to loud, and mainly on overrun, but it annoyed me slightly.
So i tried some GL4 85-140 instead, on a short run it seemed ok, but on a long run this weekend I started to get a low pitched whine/rumble, sounded like the engine was sitting directly on the frame if you can imagine that...

Not sure it is the diff... tried pressing clutch , no difference; coasting in neutral no difference; then coasting in neutral with engine off, no difference...

So the noise has to be coming from wheel bearings, diff or propshaft, i think...


Question is, could the new oil be having the opposite effect than i expected and actually make the diff noisier ?

Maybe i'll try Nigels synthetic oil before i start taking things apart again..
Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

thicker oil will not circulate or get to the friction surfaces so well or quickly as thinner oil, so I'd expect it to accelerate wear. But this would not be immediate. Are you getting vibration too? That usually means it's likely to be propshaft.
David Smith

Andy,
regarding the diff oil only, the 140 is a bit thick but out your way with the heat might not be so noticeable

a good hot drain of your present diff oil would be a good flush and you'll be able to see how the oil now looks and if there are any bits in it

if you can get it out your way I'd strongly recommend you try Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 diff oil (GL5 spec*)

*GL4 spec oil is recommend for the gearboxes but the more modern GL5 is considered fine for the diffs and if you get mineral 75w90 or 80w90 most will be be GL5 too, well over here anyway

- http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/heavydutyoils_products_rear-axle_mobilube-1-shc-75w90.aspx





Nigel Atkins

No vibration just the noise.... i'll try the Mobil oil and see if it makes a difference.
Will jack up the back end as well and spin the wheels to see if there is any noise/play, but they are new bearings so i hope not....

Anyway, the reason for my trip at the weekend was to go to a tourist authority of Thailand sponsored car show at the palace in Nakhon Pathom, heres a pic of my car next to an enormous American one.

One of the smallest cars ever built next to one of the biggest...

Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Hi Andy ,Find me a couple of those buses in the photo's background and ship them over to me please.!!

Roy
R Mcknight

They belong to the King, that's why they have red carpets under them... he also has a collection of landrovers.





Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Hey Andy. Is the a calendar list of all the shows in Thailand throughout the year? Next time I come there it would be pretty interesting to time it so I could go to one of those.

Is the kings show always this time of year?
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence,
No official calendar, i get to find out about a month before..
There is the 'concourse' show inside a big shopping mall north of BKK mid August, then the weekend event at Hua-hin mid december.
Then usually one or two other things in between.

This years Hua Hin event is at the Sheraton hotel on 12th-14th Dec.
About 50 cars drive in convoy with police escort from BKK to Hua hin, stopping at a restaurant on the way. then a gala dinner and driving around the town on saturday.
You are expected to dress in a 'vintage manner' which means most people wear a flat cap and braces... you should fit in just fine.

if you come you could drive my support vehicle with my spare parts/tools and wives weekend bag..


Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

LOL. They don't try very hard to load them do they. I get more on the roof rack on my Sprite hard top. ;).

Yeah I'd love to do that convoy. Sounds like a hoot. I'd leave the braces and substitute the flat cap for a Bali baseball cap, worn backwards of course.
Lawrence Slater

Andy,

how many vans has the King got?!
Jeremy Tickle

i saw 6 at the show

Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

This thread was discussed between 16/11/2014 and 20/11/2014

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