Caldina GT-T ST215 questions

[GT-T mod]

My first techy post

1. My old man's about to change all the diff and manual transmission oils this weekend on the car. I spoke with Toyota and they recommend 75W90 GL5 for both. Would it be a big issue if I just used a Fuchs 90 oil? Also what is the recommened service period for these changes, looks like mine has never been done and it's on 124,000 kms!

2. How many teeth on the timing belt, 177 or 178? I've got a Gates high performance belt lined up and it's 178 teeth but there was also a standard Gates belt option with only 177, anyone? And yes the belt has not been done either, way past the 100k mark

Cheers

[Silent Knight]

Yep, the GL5 from above sounds fine. Contact Mr Revhead and he'll get you some genuine Toyota stuff.

I would go as far as saying change your tranny/diff oil around the same time you would do a normal oil change. (5-10K)

[GT-T mod]

I'm using the Fuchs 90 oil because it's free

Any harm in going to 15k for oil change as that's all that is required from Autosure warranty? I'm running Mobil 1 5W50 in it.

[Silent Knight]

^^^ You don't change oil in a car just because the waranty says so... You change the oil to keep the engine in good condition and because you love your car.

You can probably last 7 days at a time without food, does that mean you'll eat every 7th day?

[touge rolla]

You can probably last 7 days at a time without food, does that mean you'll eat every 7th day?

change your oil and filter every 5k or 3 months (whichever is first) and do this religiously your car will go better, last longer and like you much much more.

[fivebob]

With Mobil-1 you could possibly extend your oil change interval to 10,000km, but that depends on the condition of your engine. To be safe I'd change it at 5000kms or at least get an oil analysis done at 5000kms to see what contaminants are present.

As for the gearbox oil, the transmissions are prone to being difficult to shift unless you use the right oil, you could try another oil other than the recommended one as long as it has the right API ratings, but be prepared to change it again when it doesn't work.

Get the cambelts from Mr Revhead, it'll cost you less and you'll get the right part

Overall it just sounds like you're trying to be cheap (with the exception of using Mobil-1), in which case the 3S-GTE is not the engine for you, sell it now before it costs you big money

[ollieboy]

Any harm in going to 15k for oil change as that's all that is required from Autosure warranty?

[GT-T mod]

Cool, so I'll stick with 5k or 3 month oil changes, good thing my sister works at REPCO

I'll see how the SAE 90 oil goes and can always dump it and grab some Castrol 75W90 multitrax or even go syntrax.

I got the Gates high performance belt (T125R) at staff price through REPCO, so all good there plus a new water pump, efi filter, idler and autotensioners and air con belt.

I'll spend the money where it's needed, but just making sure I wasn't wasting it. I just fitted some decent NGK iridiums and a K&N panel filter, plus gave it a good strong mix of EFI cleaner when I first got it and only running 98 octane

Thanks for your help guys

[bbq1988]

plus gave it a good strong mix of EFI cleaner when I first got it

I should probly do that too, 175,000kms :S

[Warren]

You can probably last 7 days at a time without food, does that mean you'll eat every 7th day?

change your oil and filter every 5k or 3 months (whichever is first) and do this religiously your car will go better, last longer and like you much much more.

I can understand changing oil every 5,000kms but 3 months seems a bit OTT to me. I've had my GTT for 7 months now and have just hit 4,500kms. Probably do an oil change before Xmas or just after new years.

[bbq1988]

You can probably last 7 days at a time without food, does that mean you'll eat every 7th day?

change your oil and filter every 5k or 3 months (whichever is first) and do this religiously your car will go better, last longer and like you much much more.

I can understand changing oil every 5,000kms but 3 months seems a bit OTT to me. I've had my GTT for 7 months now and have just hit 4,500kms. Probably do an oil change before Xmas or just after new years.

Turbo, that should explain why you do it sooner rather then later

[fivebob]

You can probably last 7 days at a time without food, does that mean you'll eat every 7th day?

change your oil and filter every 5k or 3 months (whichever is first) and do this religiously your car will go better, last longer and like you much much more.

I can understand changing oil every 5,000kms but 3 months seems a bit OTT to me. I've had my GTT for 7 months now and have just hit 4,500kms. Probably do an oil change before Xmas or just after new years.

Turbo, that should explain why you do it sooner rather then later

At that mileage changing every 3 months make no sense to me. Maybe every 6 months, but then again oil shouldn't deteriorate that quickly at that mileage. If I was using a good quality oil then 12 months is probably a more appropriate time limit.

The reason you change turbo oil more frequently is the contamination levels. If you don't use it, how does it become contaminated???

[touge rolla]

i've heard it from a few mitsi drivers. never worried about it myself as i take only 2 months to do 5000kms

[GT-T mod]

Went with the Castrol Edge Sport oil 10W60, seems to run dam good and should do for the price
For the trans and diffs I put in Mobil synthetic 75W90, now getting an extra 1km/litre on the open road, mind you I don't think the oils had ever been changed.
Timing belt all fitted with no issues, was fun watching my old man fit the thing, plenty of swearing and cursing about Jap cars when he's a Ford mechanic
So it's all pretty sweet now and getting an average 11km/litre open road and about 8.5 - 9 km/litre around town on 98 fuel.

Ollieboy nice pic, is that your old man when you crashed his car Kidding

[barryogen]

To be safe I'd change it at 5000kms or at least get an oil analysis done at 5000kms to see what contaminants are present.

Where do you get this sort of thing done?
Do they tell you what the results mean or just hand you a sheet of paper with a heap of chemicals/whatever listed?

[GT-T mod]

You can send a sample of oil to Air NZ in Christchurch where they do their aircraft maintenance, not sure who to contact there though. The oil recycling plant on Kaikourai Valley Road should know of other places where you can get the check done.
Just ask them to supply a description of what the results mean when you send them the oil sample.

Anyone know where you can get one of those magnets that clip on around your oil filter which stop metal particles flowing through? Dam good idea that

[barryogen]

Anyone know where you can get one of those magnets that clip on around your oil filter which stop metal particles flowing through? Dam good idea that

Thanks for that info on the analysis.

Repco or super cheap had them last time I was in there... I tend to visit one then the other, hence not sure which it was

[Dell'Orto]

i've heard it from a few mitsi drivers.

Theres the problem

[GT-T mod]

Repco or super cheap had them last time I was in there... I tend to visit one then the other, hence not sure which it was

Cheers Barry, I'll get one of those magnet clamps on the filter

[Mr Revhead]

Anyone know where you can get one of those magnets that clip on around your oil filter which stop metal particles flowing through? Dam good idea that

id have thought using a decent filter in the first place would be a better idea!!