Manual Transmission - what gear oil?

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It should be noted that GL4 is not an older grade to GL5. They have a different formulation in that the GL5 contains sulphur which can be hard on yellow metal (synchro rings). There are also other oils such as GL3 and GL2... they have different additives (less additives, generally) and are used in less wear prone applications.

GL4 is what I would prefer to use in the transmission, and GL5 in hypoid gears (diffs).


~John
 
Got 5 quarts of Redline MTL 70-80 from Lordco today. Went through a mechanic friend and got it for $13 a quart plus tax and enviro fees. Apparently their "retail" price is $32 a quart. Can't beleive anyone would ever pay that much when the Amsoil one can be had from the online store for just over $14 CAN a quart plus shipping. Or you can buy from the Redline store online for $11.49 US plus shipping.

Even with getting it at $13 a quart, it is a good motivator to extend the breathers before I put it in. Now I got to find some decent small diameter hose cheap. All Lordco had was vacuum hose in the diameter I need.
 
and its GL4 only?
 
Where are you guys getting your 20L pails of Chevron syn?
 
try any heavy truck dealer (parts and repair)
 
Can't say about the gear oil, but I found that Western Star sold the Delo 400 cheaper than the Chevron Cardlock. It was even cheaper if you brought in your own pail. It's best to phone and shop around. I checked one of the local commercial truck lube places and their prices were higher than the cardlock or Western Star.
 
CBS parts Ltd.

There's one in Burnaby, and one in Port Kells. Good price on Delo. Better than the truck dealers, and much better than the Chevron distributors.
 
canucksafari said:
If leaks are your problem or the power steering pump is whining away, try the Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak. On my wife's Tercel, it was constantly loosing fluided and the pump was whining away. I bought a bottle of this stuff and just started topping up the power steering with it. I went through half a bottle before the leak stopped. The power steeing pump whining stopped after the second top-up. Its been over two years since doing it and the power steering system is about the only thing that doesn't leak on the Tercel. Amazing stuff.
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My power steereng was hard a rock on start up last couple days, an it wasnt even that low (3 ounces) , thought I would top up with more of the lucus crap, but It has the consistansy of silicone at -10, I bet I couldn't get it out of the bottle at -20, wouldn't recoment this stuff to anyone living below zero for 8 months of the year... :doh:
 
jfc said:
My power steereng was hard a rock on start up last couple days, an it wasnt even that low (3 ounces) , thought I would top up with more of the lucus ****, but It has the consistansy of silicone at -10, I bet I couldn't get it out of the bottle at -20, wouldn't recoment this stuff to anyone living below zero for 8 months of the year... :doh:
Click to expand...

Nor would I recommend Castro Tection 15W40 for a motor oil in the winter. I went to top up my oil (got a RMB leak now :mad:) Saturday morning in Princeton. It was only -14C. The stuff flowed out of the bottle like heavy tar. Start-up oil pressure is quite a bit higher than normal. I'll have to switch to Delo 400 or something lighter before the real winter hits. I see that Tech Truck in Abby now has the Delo 400 going for $72 a bucket. Nice drop from $98.

On the flip side, the tranny is a dream to shift at cold start with that MTL in there.
 
ya co-op 0-40 was $105 on sale last year reg $115, bought one this year for reg $95, thought I sould buy ten I would save $100, but where would I put $1000 of oil...and I'd sure be pissed if the price droped again next year.
 
I bit the bullet the other day and decided to go Amsoil for the new truck.

MTG for the Transmission and Transfer Case
and severe 75w/90 for the diffs.

Dame that stuff is expensive.
John's told me the MTG will make the H55 run like a dream. I'll report back when I get it and put it in.
 
Ok so first point atf is not the same as ps fluid synth or non, extremely similar but ps fluid has a higher boiling temp good for people who make a lot of steering inputs at slow speeds (4x4ing) that is why if you run an aftermarket hi perf. Pump like me your warranty is void if you run atf. As for dodges leaking they are probably the most horribly built ps boxes I have seen used the cheapest seals they could find, and you have to run dodge fluid because it has a leak inhibiter built into it. When you take a dodge box apart its like gummy tar inside dirtiest things I've seen.
 
I know nothing about this stuff, but that has never stopped me from foisting off an opinion in the past.... After the epic southern Death Valley trip, Lance convinced me to go to Synthetic in the diffs. The front pinion instantly started leaking thereafter. Back to dino and no leak. One of the old Caterpillar guys (like started in the 50's) told me if you've run a certain brand and weight for a long time it is better to keep it the same. These are the same guys who have Delo 400 in their veins. Except the Detroit Diesel guy who has Delo 100. Best thing I ever did was going to Marlin seals and LX450 drive flanges in my front axle rebuild..
 
I had the same thing happen on the rear main when i tried synthetic one winter. Unlike your front pinion, my rear main kept leaking. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. I went with synthetic in the MT as it was the only GL4 oil I could find. The only gear oil available was all GL5. I suspect this is what was in it and the cause of some of the shifting problems.
 
I have heard horror stories of running synthetic.
Hopefully this won't be a big deal.
I can live with a pinion seal....
 
You wouldn't live very long with a leaky pinion on my father in laws' pristine driveway...
 
sailor said:
You wouldn't live very long with a leaky pinion on my father in laws' pristine driveway...
Click to expand...

I park in a gravel/sand spot across the street.:meh:
I think the only thing that would care would really be the feral cats the use it like a litter box.
 
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Reporting back:

I changed the transmission and transfer case fluid to Amsoil MTG earlier today during a sunny/terrential downpour, hailing mess of north coast weather.
I can say for sure after a couple of minutes of it getting in and a couple of drives later that its a noticible difference comparing to what was in there before. Transmission is quieter on the highway and shifting has gotten easier and quite smooth.

Tomorrow if its not a mess outside I will be extending breathers. Amsoil is freaking expensive and I don't want that stuff contaminated with water later on in the summer.
 
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