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Any thoughts?
I've been thinking of running a 10w40 or 20w50 motor oil in my trans, instead of the usual Pennzoil Synchromesh oil I normally put in. Mostly because it's easier to find than an actual GL4 gear oil. Cheaper too.
They would be roughly the same viscosity, both are yellow metal safe, and a lot of manufacturers still recommend a motor oil for their manual transmissions.
the gear oil should be around 75w90
I personally like the gooie rotten banana smelling stuff. I really liked it when I was in highschool when I had a hippy mop and would get it in my hair.
At least once a year I have a transmission or somthing in my trunk oozing the crap on to my pristeen parking spot at work through the drain plug in my tire well. This year it's a Ford 8.8 IRS center section, last year it was a Mazda turbo 2 transmission.
I'd just stick with the viscosity the manufacturer recommends. Atleast untill after a few years of tribology studies.
Nissan recommends GL4 80W90 NOT motor oil. Newer cars may be designed to get away with this but not yours or it would say so. Ive never heard that motor oil was 'yellow metal' safe, it may well be, but I've never heard this. It's cheaper???? In the long run isn't it cheaper to use the correct oil and change every 30K miles. If it was $15 a quart that's still only $10 a year to properly protect your transmission vs. how much to rebuild? Replace with a used one? Even a free one... you still have to take the old one out and new one in. Plus the tranny could fail and leave you stranded. $30 is cheap. NAPA had some for $20 a gallon, enough for 60K miles. Ask Shucks, NAPA ,Pep Boys, Lordco and try gas stations and places that repair vehicles. Try places that cater to transport trucks. Maybe they'll sell you a gallon.
Be absolutely sure it says GL-4. Second best is GL4 compatible or 'yellow metal safe', but don't take some minimum wage dick's word that GL5 is 'just as good' or 'supersedes GL4'
Newer cars? Honda did it since the early 80's! (maybe longer?)
Mazda appearently did too on a few models.
It's a difference of $8/quart vs. $5/quart, that's quite a difference. And like I said, it's getting harder and harder to find a true GL4 oil with out special ordering (which usually takes 2+ weeks here).
Depending on if our local stores has any of my usual Pennzoil, I may try motor oil. We'll see, I'm not too worried about hurting the trans.
Personally I would rather use a motor oil, if I can't find a GL4.
Oh, and the GL5 oils around here are all labeled as "GL4 compatible", so yea, you can't trust what the bottle says, and you can't trust the people at the store.
That's why I went researching this topic, and it seems that a lot of people use heavy motor oils in their trans, even in trucks they tow stuff with!
deadpiratethe gear oil should be around 75w90On the viscosity scales of motor vs. gear oil, they are close.
Hmm, I suppose. Though I'd really expect shear life to be a lot less compared to gear oriented oils. If you were to really use motor oil, I'd suggest you change it more often. GL4 also has sulphur additives in it whereas motor oils do not so just be weary.
Hell, even some corvettes spec out an ATF for their manual trans.
Yeah, the shear isn't as good, though I usually change my trans oil every third or fourth engine oil change. (year and a half to two years?)
But isn't sulfur what causes GL5 oil to eat brass?
Don't see much of a difference between 10w30 and syncromesh anyway. As for me, until there is a definitive answer on other alternative oils, I'll stick with my GL-4. I've seen some marine gearlubes at walmart fairly cheap that are yellow safe. Many people are trying new and different approaches, thats the great thing about this community. If it works for you, great!!!
P.S. I'm still using my $15 a quart royal purple
the inside of a honda trans (89 crx) doesnt look any different from our C trans materials wise. maybe the syncros are a diff kind of brass or something but doesnt seem like it. i wonder what the honda service interval for the trans fluid is compared to nissan's interval
seishukuNewer cars? Honda did it since the early 80's! (maybe longer?)
Mazda appearently did too on a few models.
It's a difference of $8/quart vs. $5/quart, that's quite a difference. And like I said, it's getting harder and harder to find a true GL4 oil with out special ordering (which usually takes 2+ weeks here).
Depending on if our local stores has any of my usual Pennzoil, I may try motor oil. We'll see, I'm not too worried about hurting the trans.
Personally I would rather use a motor oil, if I can't find a GL4.
Oh, and the GL5 oils around here are all labeled as "GL4 compatible", so yea, you can't trust what the bottle says, and you can't trust the people at the store.
That's why I went researching this topic, and it seems that a lot of people use heavy motor oils in their trans, even in trucks they tow stuff with!
On the viscosity scales of motor vs. gear oil, they are close.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
IggyEGuanathe inside of a honda trans (89 crx) doesnt look any different from our C trans materials wise. maybe the syncros are a diff kind of brass or something but doesnt seem like it. i wonder what the honda service interval for the trans fluid is compared to nissan's interval
I use the redline shit....seems ok to me.....
although I noticed the other day after an hour+ of driving straight the shaft of the shifter is pretty damn hot....not sure I like that
KustamogenI use the redline shit....seems ok to me.....
although I noticed the other day after an hour+ of driving straight the shaft of the shifter is pretty damn hot....not sure I like that
Jaynormal, actually
Redline Shockproof lightWeight in my Box similar to : SAE 75W140
My Rb transmission gets hot to even when I was running Amsoil oil
I just need to change mine......
it's been about 4 years since I changed my tranny oil and about 10 years since I changed the diff oil
I've been using Lucas GL-5 75-90 in my white se. Its cheap and has never given me any issues. I put about 100,000 miles on the car since I bought it.
$5 vs. $8????? That's it? The GL-4 is good for 30K so if you change the motor oil you put in oftener you have just spent more for less protection.(plus the bother)If GL-4 was $20 a liter it would be cheaper in the long run.