Ricardo, Filler up

I was told the way to check the fill level on a Ricardo is to remove the nut just above the oil pan (drivers side) and check to see that the oil level is up to the bottom of that threaded hole. Then I've heard to fill, you squirt the QGT oil in that hole, hence the squirt cap on the Motorcraft 75w90 quart bottle. I also heard you can also fill through the vent cap located on top of the ricardo (PS).
I just want to make sure, I've got to add for the tranny cooler and don't want to assume...
 

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Drain plug is on the p/s

Strainer is on the driver side

Level plug is on the driver side

Add oil until you bring the level up to the level plug.

W/o a cooler it should take 4 - 4 1/2qrts.

W/ the cooler installed, start car, depress clutch, run it through the gears several times, time car off, and you should be able to add 1/2 - 1qrt more until it dribbles out. Supposedly you can also then remove the rear sensor plug, run some pvc tube into it and dribble somemore in, but it doesn't seem like many people do that.

Washers are crush washers - change them after every use or leaky-leaky

The ONLY oil you should be using in this transaxle is Energear SHX-M. It's only available in Europe or from your ford dealer.

Also, transaxle oil should be changed every 4th oil change since little bitties can accumualte in it - also be sure to give the strainer a good cleaning (or buy a new one if you so desire)


There you go, everything you wanted to know about your transaxle.
 
Alex, thanks, used flex hose to get down to the fill port. A tight fit next to the diffuser... $30 a quart for that QGT fluid, must have gold flakes in it?!
 
...The ONLY oil you should be using in this transaxle is Energear SHX-M. It's only available in Europe or from your ford dealer.

Why? I know that is what is in the Ford GT manual, but wouldn't any high quality fully-synthetic oil that meets the SAE, GL ,etc standard be used and are for manual transmissions NOT gear oil?

Thanks
Rob
 
Why? I know that is what is in the Ford GT manual, but wouldn't any high quality fully-synthetic oil that meets the SAE, GL ,etc standard be used and are for manual transmissions NOT gear oil?

Thanks
Rob

When Ricardo engineered the transaxle, they had very specific requirements from Ford. Consequently, they specified an oil with characteristics that assured they would meet those requirements. The price represents some attempt to recoup development costs, low production volume (only the FGT uses it), and of course, the expense of extracting the secret ingredient from the glands of baby seals. :laugh:

You could, of course, use any gear lube oil.

But why risk the consequences in a very expensive gearbox over a small cost amount? You can buy the special oil online for a substantial discount anyway, making it not too much more expensive than other premium synthetics.
 
Why? I know that is what is in the Ford GT manual, but wouldn't any high quality fully-synthetic oil that meets the SAE, GL ,etc standard be used and are for manual transmissions NOT gear oil?

Thanks
Rob

No - I asked Adrian about it and it has something to do with the syncromesh (I didn't fully understand his explanation, just something that it had special additives the transmission needed that were unavailable in other brands).

Also, you can only buy it from Ford or Europe - there is no American equivilent (I contacted BP (I think it's BP who makes it, but i'm not 110% certain now) and had to go all the way up to one of their VP guys who confirmed they didn't make SHX-M for american markets - only for Europe or directly from Ford.
 
No - I asked Adrian about it and it has something to do with the syncromesh (I didn't fully understand his explanation, just something that it had special additives the transmission needed that were unavailable in other brands).

Also, you can only buy it from Ford or Europe - there is no American equivilent (I contacted BP (I think it's BP who makes it, but i'm not 110% certain now) and had to go all the way up to one of their VP guys who confirmed they didn't make SHX-M for american markets - only for Europe or directly from Ford.

Syncromesh issues has to do with additives (friction modifiers) that make the oil be more slipper and one reason why NOT to use gear oil designed for differentials (same weight but very different additives). You do not want the oil to be too slippery.:huh:

When Ricardo engineered the transaxle, they had very specific requirements from Ford. Consequently, they specified an oil with characteristics that assured they would meet those requirements. The price represents some attempt to recoup development costs, low production volume (only the FGT uses it), and of course, the expense of extracting the secret ingredient from the glands of baby seals. :laugh:

You could, of course, use any gear lube oil.

But why risk the consequences in a very expensive gearbox over a small cost amount? You can buy the special oil online for a substantial discount anyway, making it not too much more expensive than other premium synthetics.

Understand the exotic car tax and the post was not aimed at the cost of the oil, but more on an information standpoint.
As far as I know STILLEN it the only authorized company to do work on the gear box.

Ford in general is a pretty good company in terms of sourcing parts from vendors. They give the requirements to the vendor and leave it to the vendor to design and engineer the part instead of designing it themselves and saying to the vendor "here make it work". Ford would have not specified an oil (only that they can re-bottle it and stick their label on it). Just for information purposes, the Motorcraft oil is made in Belgium.
 
Why? I know that is what is in the Ford GT manual, but wouldn't any high quality fully-synthetic oil that meets the SAE, GL ,etc standard be used and are for manual transmissions NOT gear oil?

Thanks
Rob

Guys:

After spending how much money ($100K?) and how much time (2 years?) on a car, you're going to start second guessing the engineers who specified the transmission oil?

To "save" how much money?

Really?
 
Guys:

After spending how much money ($100K?) and how much time (2 years?) on a car, you're going to start second guessing the engineers who specified the transmission oil?

To "save" how much money?

Really?

That happens in every forum, from mustang lambos. heh
 
Guys:

After spending how much money ($100K?) and how much time (2 years?) on a car, you're going to start second guessing the engineers who specified the transmission oil?

To "save" how much money?

Really?

As I mentioned in the previous post, it was NOT about the cost. Do you buy your engine oil from the dealer?
 
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