Avoiding Crunching First Gear - Is there a technique

[Tony Griffiths]

My gearbox gets EP90 and runs well after 87k miles of use.

Millers chemist recommended such use to me 30 years ago

It is incorrect, as I am sure most know to think that EP oils dissolve brass and bronze, this has been the case since the advent of GL4 and Gl5 spec oils (a long time).

The wear factor of such oils in gearboxes and back axles is much reduced.

As Nick correctly states, if an EP oil has an API rating of either GL-4 or GL-5 then the sulphur is inactive and safe to use in boxes with bronze bearings. Oddly, for use in many types of machine tool - including the geared headstocks and screwcutting gearboxes of lathes and milling machines - manufacturers from the 1940s onwards recommended a thin "anti-wear" Hydraulic oil such as Shell Tellus.

[Dave Mann]

Just engage second gear which you will find easier, then move to first gear.

[bob46320]

I find reverse a "cruncher",  but by selecting 1st then reverse,  the crunch is minimised.