Cost of Redline Tranny Oil - Any More Affordable Options

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TLC4K2

TLC4K2

Joined
Feb 27, 2022
Threads
14
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101
Location
Western WA, USA
Hey everyone, haven't posted in awhile. Been dealing with multiple issues with the TLC, but the highest priority has become some kind of leak in the transmission which is spraying oil everywhere. Been working just to get the two fill plugs off so I can keep the trann well lubricated until we can find the problem. We got one plug off and may finally get the other off this week by using extraction sockets. Now the question - what brand oil to use to refill what is probably a very low level of tranny oil. I know that a lot of folks here recommend Redline, and that's what I was planning to use. But OMG I went to get some and it's $30 per quart????? SERIOUSLY???? I have no idea what brand is in there right now, but I'm pretty sure I'm running really low so I've gotta get something in there. Any suggestions on a more affordable brand of tranny oil? Or do I just get a quart at a time and spread out the pain? Thanks all!
 
Found this. A little bit less

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-50304-Transmission-Transaxle/dp/B000CPCBEQ/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=1335907191121861&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.evkVCMVM8o2WfG6TjUz_N_kZ3hN007_T0puKONkDKNa7YaM-kfEpmYS0PMoPFwyOQCb-G_yvCRyB0jVJIp1wvWu1xwaEaDUfpBCaQ2fPHqHgtWAw4mpR7TzlUh7uP4LDtjYyrl_Du4xxDoPC7znqdRt_wxKa-gcfAq_pouaQqBMKA5N0sTrdTkgF3g92ocAQXkNxgA0xy8reYvjs2NJRsJdwlpVCfVGhr3Oh9HCr9TQVcAo0-cXNldQ7EAwLgoKEb3qgkCxcF38ENJvUWlsT5wPGIv1kARMj8qZRJdGYrL0pWhzopBPkT832inumGXP7k6VfS2H7xp2UjmFvcjO32eRwMh4b_9q0JfFj9nRAiwy7Pcbfl5ZS-jbh_sZjwNVTqLVysFp32mWc_4Vz9gpkyqm6NDEcEmjTIVTY-VoYIK29InfGAku5YCifyyl6CVbA.uCXDscqC_2Fyta9jVZdj6cfwLyfbNi3k2ftf7ek9Lg0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83494447145449&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=95475&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83494541486090%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=6396_13218877&keywords=redline%2Bmt%2B90%2Bgear%2Boil&mcid=11a274be37cf3de4954fc3a1979d4ef3&qid=1741658489&sr=8-4&th=1
 
That's actually the source I was planning to use. By the time you add in tax, it's just shy of $30. By comparison, Pennzoil is going for $10-$15/qt.
 
Valvoline red bottle MV full syn

Or any dex/merc
Super tech etc is probably just fine
$8 per quart in gallon format
 
I can only saw that when I switched to the MT-90, it seemed as though there was a big change in the feel of the shifter… could be one of those psychological things but, I’m not really psychological

Honestly, I did notice the change and I wasn’t really expecting anything
 
I use Sta-lube brand gear oil for my diffs and to break in my trans - Id imagine anything that's rated for brass syncros will be fine. Redline stuff is pricey but also runs really smooth.....
 
What transmission? Apologies if I've missed it
 
AFAIK, I've got the standard 4speed manual for an FJ60. The whole reason I started wondering about the transmission oil is that I have noticed increasingly sticky/stiff shifts into 2nd on cold mornings, so that was issue #1. When I tried to check the tranny oil level, that's when I saw all the oil sprayed onto the undercarriage; that became issue #2. Getting the plugs off became issue #3. I have Rocketsockets arriving today from Amazon; I pray that works to get those plugs off. Then at least I can keep the thing topped off while I deal with the other two issues.
 
Highly recommend swapping the 24mm external hex plugs to 10mm internal hex plugs available from Valley Hybrids and others
IMG_4149.webp
 
I'll be the contrarian and say I didn't notice any change in the shifting of my H42 4spd when going to Redline MT90. Like none at all. Maybe my shifter arm isn't as sensitive as yalls. I use whatever GL-4 rated stuff I can get for the cheapest from NAPA in a 5 gallon bucket.

@TLC4K2 I'd check the transfer case fluid level too. There's a seal between the two that can go bad and the oil migrates from one to the other. I'd also have an oil catch bucket under the transmission FILL plug - the bad seal usually makes fluid go out of the transfer case and overfill the transmission, meaning it's above the level of the fill plug. That's always a nice surprise to have oil shooting out at you when you're not prepared.

My plug was stuck at one time too. 36" channel locks with LOTS of PB Blaster and heat did the job. I think I did rounds of heat/PB Blaster/heat/PB Blaster/etc for a week and then once again when attempting to remove it. Replace with the allen key style above. Available from Toyota or Cruiser Outfitters/CruiserTeq for cheap. They work for the transfer case and diffs too, that's 8 total if you want to swap them all.
 
X2 check the transfer case level
are you sure it is trans oil all over?
until the leak is figured out, I'd just run 80/90 gear oil, why use high $$ oil?
only time I found a issue shifting was in a 40 decades ago when it was -30F, it was a little stiff moving the lever until warmed up
 
I wouldn't run anything expensive until you're sure the leaks are fixed.

Sta-lube is fine. It's actually a very good value gear oil. You want the straight 90wt GL-4. The 85-90wt has been discontinued.

1741717657091.webp
 
3_puppies said:
X2 check the transfer case level
are you sure it is trans oil all over?
until the leak is figured out, I'd just run 80/90 gear oil, why use high $$ oil?
only time I found a issue shifting was in a 40 decades ago when it was -30F, it was a little stiff moving the lever until warmed up
Click to expand...
Mine gets a little hard to get in gear below about 5*F unless I smash the clutch as far as it will go, but yeah same thing. Nary an issue outside of that. And even when it's that cold it takes about 2 miles of the gears spinning to warm the oil up so shifting feels normal.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. Our local Napa has that Sta-Lube so I'm going to get a gallon of that today. And those replacement plugs look a lot nicer than the ones I currently have. I'll have to get a set of those too.

For the leakage problem, that seal between the transfer case and transmission is definitely a suspect. I may have multiple leaks though, because I'm getting splatter and drippage fore and aft, from the engine's oil pan all the way back to behind the transfer case. It's really a hideous mess under there. I did recently get an undercarriage cleaning foam that I'm going to use once I get the levels checked. Clean everything off, then start it up and drive it just up and down the driveway a bit (we've got a long dirt driveway), then park it and see where it's freshly filthy. That'll help give me some clues.

And just to clarify a vague prior post, I was finally able to get the transmission fill plug off, and yes oil came shooting out. I was parked on a very slight incline with the left side of the truck slightly lower than the right side, but it didn't seem like enough of a slope to explain that jet of oil shooting out. It definitely caught me off guard. It's the transfer case plug that I am fighting with now, and I've got a drainpan ready just in case that shoots out oil too.
 
Thanks for the alternative @zidaro, and everyone. I hate gong into a store and just guessing at what I pull off the shelf. A whole lot more comforting to know others have used it, and it worked well for them. I'll hopefully have a status update later in the week.
 
zidaro said:
been an MT90 user for a LONG time. but... recently last few years have found it expensive, as you are finding. Switched over to Amsoil for many of my fluid choices after researching lubes and their makeup/test results. Never been an amsoil guy till it hit my pocket harder.
Now using amsoil SD Gear lube with no noticeable differences. Manual trans and axles.

Click to expand...
Nice. I hadn’t even thought to check Amsoil since historically they’ve seemed to be expensive.
 
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