Reduction Box Oil

[Lucky5]

Thanks m4rmite!

I do wonder if these new Shell e-lubes have just been created using parts of Unicorn just so they can up the price when in fact an ordinary everyday type that can be easily obtained would do the job perfectly.

I know it doesn’t need to be changed but I’d just feel happier knowing all the running in particles were out of the way.

 

[m4rmite]

Thanks m4rmite!

I do wonder if these new Shell e-lubes have just been created using parts of Unicorn just so they can up the price when in fact an ordinary everyday type that can be easily obtained would do the job perfectly.

I know it doesn’t need to be changed but I’d just feel happier knowing all the running in particles were out of the way.

It's most likely an atf vi.
I've searched the shell product technical data sheet database but no mention of sl2808.
They won't want anyone copying their hard work in a hurry.

 

[Alb]

I found this in my browsing:

 

[m4rmite]

I found this in my browsing:

A very interesting read.
At the very bottom of that pdf it looks like shell are trying to palm off their GTL oils for ev's.

Gas To Liquid - just in case it was unfamiliar to anyone.
It's a good oil which was created but without a specific application to market it at.
It does have good VI properties so it operates at low and high temps with less viscosity variation than other oils - read this as needs less VI additives to achieve the same result.

The good news is that it's brilliant at oxidisation and is a low viscosity oil.
The bad news is that it is so polar (molecularly clean) that traditional additives have trouble staying homogenised due to the lack of sulfur and phosphor.
Additives like to stick to phosphor and sulfur, P + S in the file above.

Copper staining can be treated with benzotriazole so that shouldn't be an issue.

I'm guessing the E-Fluid is group III base on - on P+S content alone, and the E-Fluid + is GTL.
Group III is cheaper and has a more competitive supply market.

As the report is from a meeting in Nashville they will like to push the GTL as they use fracked gas to make it, no reliance on the middle east.

Hopefully other oil giants get on board to keep the prices reasonable, at 1 litre bottle usage i doubt it though.

Ok that's all my brain cells used up in 1 post.

 

[Deleted member 3150]

I can understand the intellectual interest in this subject but you have ignored my original input for consideration. It’s a factory fill lifetime of product solution. Why would you even worry about this? By way of example my Audi dealer a few years back told me to stop worrying about my gearbox, it was a sealed unit warranty replacement. Check the MG warranty, it’s not on the 7 year exclusions so chill.

 

[Kithmo]

Thanks m4rmite!

I do wonder if these new Shell e-lubes have just been created using parts of Unicorn just so they can up the price when in fact an ordinary everyday type that can be easily obtained would do the job perfectly.

I know it doesn’t need to be changed but I’d just feel happier knowing all the running in particles were out of the way.

Could you drain it, filter it then put it back ?

 

[m4rmite]

Could you drain it, filter it then put it back ?

Of you want to then start with 5micron filters, if you have the time use a 1 micron filter and let it drain through.
That will be a good as new, debris wise.

It won't remove any oxidisation though, darker colour.

 

[weedavemac]

I can understand the intellectual interest in this subject but you have ignored my original input for consideration. It’s a factory fill lifetime of product solution. Why would you even worry about this? By way of example my Audi dealer a few years back told me to stop worrying about my gearbox, it was a sealed unit warranty replacement. Check the MG warranty, it’s not on the 7 year exclusions so chill.

I can totally understand the desire to change the oil.
The warranty is only for a certain amount of miles. Once exceeded, it is out of warranty. I do 50,000 miles a year - the warranty for me will be less than 2 years.
My Peugeot 508 auto was 'sealed for life' according to Peugeot. However, the box itself was made by Aisin Warner (I think), who, on their own technical data sheets, recommended partial gearbox oil changes every 50,000 miles or so. The oil that came out the box was very different to the oil that went into the box. I changed mine once a year. Much cheaper than having a failed autobox.
Your Audi dealer is correct when stating it was sealed unit warranty replacement. But after the warranty is up you are on your own. And the manufacturer/dealer really doesn't care after that point.
Once the correct oil can be established it will be well worth the investment in changing the oil, especially the first time when all the initial crap is removed. All just my opinion.

 

[Lucky5]

I can understand the intellectual interest in this subject but you have ignored my original input for consideration. It’s a factory fill lifetime of product solution. Why would you even worry about this? By way of example my Audi dealer a few years back told me to stop worrying about my gearbox, it was a sealed unit warranty replacement. Check the MG warranty, it’s not on the 7 year exclusions so chill.

Ultimately it is not even about failure. I am happy to change the oil, remove the crud that has occurred during running in if it means in a several years time I have a nice quiet reduction drive versus a much noisier worn one. I wouldn’t trust a VAG group box (particularly DSG) as far as I could throw it which wouldn’t be far so would be worrying too. Sealed for life doesn’t exist as far as I am concerned as no matter how good modern production methods are crud wears away during running in.

 

[Alb]

It can be beneficial to have a magnetic plug.

 

[Kevin]

Hi you are lucky as my MG5 Provider reckon our car will not be back on road till November as they are unable to get the recommended oil

 

[Fluffykins]

I asked Shell about SL2808 and have just received this:

Enquiry: SL2808 info needed
Response:
Hello,

SL2808 is on the market as Shell E-fluids E6 iX, but not available in Europe

datasheet is attached

Gerrit De Simpelaere
[email protected]
Technical Information Centre (TIC) BeNeFrUx
Belgian Shell S.A.
Kantersteen 47
1000 Brussels
RPR/RPM 0403.048.262
Group tel. : BE : 02 508 9060 / NL : 0900 202 2780 / FR 01 57 60 66 44
Group Fax : BE : 02 508 9743 / NL : 010 300 2591 / FR 09 69 36 60 23
Group Email : [email protected]

I've asked Shell what alternative IS available in the UK. I'll post an update if/when I hear back.

Fluff.

 

[Fluffykins]

I asked Shell about SL2808 and have just received this:



I've asked Shell what alternative IS available in the UK. I'll post an update if/when I hear back.

Fluff.

Well that was quick! This just in:

Hello,

Nothing directly available. Best to ask for product at official MG dealer.

Benefrux
Phone BE: 02 508 9060 / NL: 0900 202 2780 / FR: 01 57 60 66 44
Email address: [email protected]
Technical and Safety Data Sheets www.epc.shell.com
LubeMatch - www.shell.be www.shell.nl or www.shell.fr

United Kingdom
Phone: 0800 731 8888 option 4 or 08708 500 924 option 2
Email address: [email protected]
LubeChat: LubeChat
LubeMatch: www.shell.co.uk

Fluff

 

[johnd973]

Hi Folks,

I need the help of the hive mind and maybe @MilesperkWh

I wish to keep my MG5 long term so was hoping to swap the reduction box gear oil now I have covered nearly 4K miles.

The manual states Shell SL2808 and nobody has heard of it...not even my local MG dealer. They said they don't even deal with Shell and would get Fuchs but they didn't seem to know what type so let's hope they find out before the first Taxi needs a change

So the question is what grade of oil is required I guess?

Cheers All

Why at 4k!! Be surprised if it needed changing within the first half a dozen or so years! Like all automotive fluids, lubricants do a lot of environmental damage and shouldn't be changed prematurely.

 

[weedavemac]

Because when the box is initially built there is a fair bit of crap left in it. Get the crap out early doors, and the box should in theory be quieter, and last longer.

 

[johnd973]

Because when the box is initially built there is a fair bit of crap left in it. Get the crap out early doors, and the box should in theory be quieter, and last longer.

I would imagine there's a strainer in the box which is more than capable of keeping anything big enough to cause any damage out of the workings of the box.

Enjoy the car and don't worry. This car is made by a company with quality standards that are good enough to warranty their products for 7 years and good enough for Audi to trust them to manufacture their cars in China (Audi are very precious about their brand reputation) I'm sure they wouldn't leave anything in the mechanicals which may mean they have to do a very expensive warranty repair.

 

[weedavemac]

I would imagine there's a strainer in the box which is more than capable of keeping anything big enough to cause any damage out of the workings of the box.

Enjoy the car and don't worry. This car is made by a company with quality standards that are good enough to warranty their products for 7 years and good enough for Audi to trust them to manufacture their cars in China (Audi are very precious about their brand reputation) I'm sure they wouldn't leave anything in the mechanicals which may mean they have to do a very expensive warranty repair.

I do enjoy the car. I do not worry. But manufacturers sell cars with boxes that are 'sealed for life'. And then once they are out of warranty after 3 years don't care if the box fails. No gearbox should be sealed for life. Much better to change the oil, or even do a partial change, than run with old, damaged oil that contains crap. Changing the oil is relatively cheap to do. A new gearbox, or gearbox repair is much more expensive.

 

[johnd973]

I do enjoy the car. I do not worry. But manufacturers sell cars with boxes that are 'sealed for life'. And then once they are out of warranty after 3 years don't care if the box fails. No gearbox should be sealed for life. Much better to change the oil, or even do a partial change, than run with old, damaged oil that contains crap. Changing the oil is relatively cheap to do. A new gearbox, or gearbox repair is much more expensive.

Modern manufacturing techniques and advanced lubricants have lead to much reduced service intervals and vehicles which do extremely impressive mileages with minimal attention and without serious failures.

I know it used to be common to find swarf in the bottom of the sump and things like that on new cars but I believe those days are long behind us. Manufacturers got on top of that kind of quality issue because warranty claims are one of their biggest costs. This has resulted in cars which tend to last much longer, cover many more miles, need much less servicing and put up with being driven much harder without significant problems.

 

[weedavemac]

Modern manufacturing techniques and advanced lubricants have lead to much reduced service intervals and vehicles which do extremely impressive mileages with minimal attention and without serious failures.

I know it used to be common to find swarf in the bottom of the sump and things like that on new cars but I believe those days are long behind us. Manufacturers got on top of that kind of quality issue because warranty claims are one of their biggest costs. This has resulted in cars which tend to last much longer, cover many more miles, need much less servicing and put up with being driven much harder without significant problems.

As stated in one of my earlier posts, I had an autobox which according to Peugeot, was maintenance free and sealed for life. However, the box was actually made by Aisin Warner, used by numerous vehicle manufacturers, and Aisin recommended a partial oil change every X miles. Peugeot can say sealed for life, knowing it will last longer than the warranty for the vast vast majority of owners, but the reality is if you want to maximize the life of the box then change the oil. When changing the oil, particularly the first time, the colour and viscosity of the oil was very different to what was being put in.

I totally understand the original posters desire to find out what the correct oil is, and change it to ensure any crap is removed. I don't understand why you are persisting that he/she should not be doing it. It can only be good for the box.

 

[Lucky5]

Why at 4k!! Be surprised if it needed changing within the first half a dozen or so years! Like all automotive fluids, lubricants do a lot of environmental damage and shouldn't be changed prematurely.

Why not?

I intend keeping the car long term and no matter how well made there will be wear particles. An extra 900ml of oil for this car isn’t going to finish the planet anyway is it? I changed the oil in the reduction box of our leaf at 4 years/15k and it was jet black with some fine metal particles suspended so that is why I want to change it. Maybe Nissan are very poor quality compared to MG but somehow I very much doubt it. It is a simple reduction drive and just splash fed I think Without filtering on any kind.

The reduction box is one of the areas subject to massive torque from standstill so why not look after it a bit? Nissan have had a few failures at 70k or so and we know a couple of owners have had failures on here already so………hang on why am I justifying myself….I can change it if I want

Thanks Fluff for the info you posted, kinda ties in with one of the failed boxes not being ready to go back on the road until November due to lack of oil in Europe currently.