Originally Posted By: chrisri
Popsy, you are right, FIAT changed specification on those gearboxes few times (C514 as well).
There were some modifications on c510 depending on applications, and linkages are different. Alfa Romeo has more refined ones which is no surprise since they are more expensive cars.
Nonetheless I'm surprised 300V didn't do it's "magic" in your FIAT. It worked well in my AR. Currently I have none of c510, but I have c514 filled with Syntrans Transaxle. Previous fill was ZC75 Synth. I had exactly the same problem with Tutela as your with Motul; very smooth on coldest mornings (4-5*C), but as soon as at temp. very notchi with difficult first gear engaging.
Castrol cured most of the problem, but not all. Way better though, I'm satisfied for a 250k, 17 years old car.
I believe ZC 75 has massive amounts of additives, and it is on the thinner side. Old synchros simply don't work as well as new with these oil.
Most current spec is Car Technyx 75w85, a GL4+ lubricant. DO NOT use plain GL4 if you don't want to see your diff OUTSIDE of your gearbox casing.
Edit; I'm using ZC75 in Getrag in my Stilo. It works brilliant even though it was never specified for GL5 MTF.
You mentioned OP's is a manual transaxle gearbox, which presumably comes with hypoid bevel gears.
It makes perfect sense for a typical manufacturer like Fiat to upgrade from GL4 to GL4+ and/or GL5 that comes with enhanced EP additives for improved components protection ,an oil specs as preferred by hypoid gear application in Europe ....... unlike a typical NA manufacturer.
Besides OP, you too encounter notchy gearbox shift when oil is warm ...... it's baffling ....