manual gearbox leaks- cheaper alternative to redline MTL

[GoldMember]

This is an old thread, I know, but it is interesting to me that no one has mentioned GL4 vs GL5. In my experience, it is very difficult to find a GL4 gear oil these days. So if you get 75w-90, I'll bet it's a GL5 oil which, I have read, could be harmful to our trannys.

I have been using this for years and it seems to work okay. http://www.crcindustries.com/ei/prod...spx?id=SL24239

That said, I've been looking for alternatives lately. I tried Redline once and it all leaked out and ruined my tranny. I got another one out of the junk yard and replaced the seals but am not ready to go back to Redline. It's def thinner than the CRC stuff I'm using and I live in So Cal so it works fine.

[jeffnhiscars]

Maybe, but learning to double clutch downshift will work even better.

It would be more like remembering rather than learning how to double clutch since syncros were a luxury when I learned to drive :-)

Either way its a work around until I properly address the problem and I think I prefer the passive option (gear oil) rather than changing by driving style.

[dnick]

well this is good to know!! i was wondering what to fill that box with ahah.

[jlevie]

I use MTL in my G240 but the 3rd gear syncro has always been slow on downshift (upshifts flawlessly..go figure).

Would 75-90 help ?

Maybe, but learning to double clutch downshift will work even better.

[jeffnhiscars]

I use MTL in my G240 but the 3rd gear syncro has always been slow on downshift (upshifts flawlessly..go figure).

Would 75-90 help ?

[clydesdale]

My ZF 6spd in my truck uses ATF. My wife's 6spd e46 uses atf. I want to just top off the redline, but I am not sure what to use to top it off. I am going to look at the spec sheet that MR325 linked to.

[jlevie]

75w90 is okay in the transmission and as MR 325 states it may make a worn transmission a little quieter. However, in colder climates shifting may be difficult until the transmission warms up a good bit. ATF is a bit thinner and it has less change in viscosity with temperature. As far as its lubricating properties, remember that an automatic transmission has about as many gears to lubricate as a manual.

[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.

[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.

[clydesdale]

How about in an 87 325is?

[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.

[bmwstephen]

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

[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.

[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 MTL is 75w90?