manual gearbox leaks- cheaper alternative to redline MTL

[clydesdale]

I am hoping to find something local and cheap to top off my transmission with. Thanks.

[nando]

you can replace the seal for about $20..

[clydesdale]

Too cold for labor. I am not even sure where it is leaking from. I imagine there is more than one seal. Tranny would have to come out, right?

[jlevie]

The transmission has to come out if the input shaft seal is leaking. But the output shaft seal and selector seal can be changed with the transmission in the car.

You can use ATF4 in the transmission. I don't think I'd want to mix that and MTL, but it works okay.

[MR 325]

Don't put ATF in the trans is it's originally a gear oil transmission.

You can buy generic store brand 75w90 gear oil for about $4 a quart at auto parts stores. I personally am not a fan of MTL in the 260 transmission. If you were to use Redline, I would recommend the Redline 75w90 gear oil.

[clydesdale]

What is redline MTL- Is it 75w90 gear oil? If you don't recommend MTL, what do you like in these trannies? Thanks

[MR 325]

What is redline MTL- Is it 75w90 gear oil? If you don't recommend MTL, what do you like in these trannies? Thanks

You can buy generic store brand 75w90 gear oil for about $4 a quart at auto parts stores. I personally am not a fan of MTL in the 260 transmission. If you were to use Redline, I would recommend the Redline 75w90 gear oil.

[clydesdale]

So MTL is 75w90?

[jlevie]

So MTL is 75w90?

No.

The folks at Drivegear, who are well known for their transmission rebuilds in the Spec E30 community recommend ATF4. I know that when I used MTL in a G260 I had problems with foaming and release of fluid from the vent in my Spec E30. I switched to ATF4 and the problem went away.

During the production life of the G260 transmission BMW went from a gear oil to ATF.

[clydesdale]

So what the heck is redline MTL? Unfortunately, I have now two experienced members with very differing opinions on what I should put in this thing.

[bmwstephen]

did I just read this right? manual transmission in e30's use Autotragic fluid?

[KenC]

did I just read this right? manual transmission in e30's use Autotragic fluid?

Some. Most new manuals do as well.

My old G240 was an ATF tranny.

[clydesdale]

How about in an 87 325is?

[jlevie]

All Getrag 260 transmissions are the same. Depending on when the car was produced it may have been tagged for gear oil or ATF, with earlier production using gear oil. But the tagging was mostly to indicate what fluid to use when topping up the transmission.

[MR 325]

So what the heck is redline MTL? Unfortunately, I have now two experienced members with very differing opinions on what I should put in this thing.

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

I am not saying jlevie is wrong but I have ALWAYS used standard 75w90 gear oil in ALL Getrag 260 transmissions I have touched. The only time I have ever bothered to use Redline stuff in my cars is when it was free from work. Otherwise cheap stuff is fine, just change it when it should be. It is my opinion that ATF is too thin for the 260 trans, it will also make it rattle a lot more than a 75w90 gear oil will.