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Author Topic: What tranny fluid to use???  (Read 7263 times)

November 20, 2004, 10:41:46 am

Topherdiesel

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What tranny fluid to use???
« on: November 20, 2004, 10:41:46 am »
I had some tranny work done,a nd I think the guys actually boiled down dinosaurs,a nd poured the goo into my tranny!!!

What to get, thats a good fluid, something thats smooth all the time, winter and summer!!!



Reply #1November 20, 2004, 03:00:03 pm

fspGTD

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2004, 03:00:03 pm »
Can't help you without more information on what car it is you're talking about..  Please list your car's year, model, and engine in your signature, to avoid confusion folks!
Jake Russell
'81 VW Rabbit GTD Autocrosser 1.6lTD, SCCA FSP Class
Dieselicious Turbocharger Upgrade/Rebuild Kits

Reply #2November 21, 2004, 12:16:28 pm

mk1vdub

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2004, 12:16:28 pm »
I was recommended redline MTL oil, which is great, its even helped with the dreaded 'second gear crunch' syndrome.

1983 mk1 golf GTD
1980 mk1 scirocco Gli, in bits, in the garage, awaiting full restoration

Reply #3November 21, 2004, 12:40:35 pm

RAMMSTEIN

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2004, 12:40:35 pm »
I use Redline MTL in my Passat TDI's tranny.

Gained anywhere from 3% to 5% increase in fuel economy with it (70W80 vs 75W90). :twisted:
Rammstein

In abscence of light, darkness prevails.

Reply #4November 21, 2004, 08:14:01 pm

TDIMeister

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2004, 08:14:01 pm »
I've been using Redline MTL since 100k km (now 269k) and I love it!  I had the same experience, too, regarding the second-gear grind.  In cold climates, no question MTL is the favourite of many.

Reply #5November 21, 2004, 08:35:54 pm

srivett

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2004, 08:35:54 pm »
The only "decent" GL4 I could find was Canadian Tire SemiSynthetic 75w90.  I went everywhere and all the synthetic oil I saw was GL5.

Steve

EDIT:  -35C and this stuff felt really thick.  At first I thought it was my linkage but the thickness went away while driving so I don't think so anymore.  I've never run the stock oil at this temp but I imagine the semi-synthetic isn't a whole lot better because it felt really gooey when swinging the shifter around in a circle.
1992 1.6D Golf - 412K km
Mint except for chipped paint, no rust :)

Reply #6November 22, 2004, 12:08:58 am

Topherdiesel

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2004, 12:08:58 am »
I have a 93 golf 1.9 td

code ath tranny

what does gl4 and gl5 mean??

HELP!!!

Reply #7November 22, 2004, 07:11:23 am

Rat407

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2004, 07:11:23 am »
I installed AMSOIL's 80w-90 GL4 rated oil and it has made shifting way better.
Synthetic gear oil in general will help especially in the cold. If you stick with the reputable brands, Mobil 1, Redline (a favorite of many on here) AMSOIL and Royal Purple to name the most popular.

GL4 and GL5 are differences in the additives in the oil. Many will tell you not to use GL5 if you have an older transmission due to the additive in it will attack certain metals inside the tranny.  Mainly the bronze sincro rings in the older tranny's if I remmember correctly.  Some one else might have more info on this. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Here is some discussion on it here. http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?forumID=40&threadID=6465
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants & Filtration Systems, Click Here
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1991 Jetta  ECO TD

Reply #8November 22, 2004, 03:30:29 pm

ricosuave

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2004, 03:30:29 pm »
try the forums at

bobistheoilguy.com

rico
Now: 00 2dr Golf TDI, 03 Jetta Wagon TDI, 02 2500HD Duramax - :)
Then: 69 SC Transporter, 84 Rabbit GTI, 87 Fox GL, 91 Golf IDI, 96 Passat Wagon TDI, 97 Jetta IDI - :(
"Everything I save by driving diesel I put back due to poor German engineering and crappy Mexican workmanship!"   :P

Reply #9November 22, 2004, 05:04:46 pm

fspGTD

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2004, 05:04:46 pm »
Quote from: "Topherdiesel"
I have a 93 golf 1.9 td

code ath tranny

what does gl4 and gl5 mean??

HELP!!!


gl4 and gl5 are ratings of transmission fluids.

I would recommend for your application (020 family VW transmission) 2 quarts of Redline MTL.  It is synthetic and is great stuff, and also has the proper GL4 rating as required by your transmission.
Jake Russell
'81 VW Rabbit GTD Autocrosser 1.6lTD, SCCA FSP Class
Dieselicious Turbocharger Upgrade/Rebuild Kits

Reply #10December 04, 2004, 03:40:29 pm

Peter

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2004, 03:40:29 pm »
Redline has an ATF for manual trans.called..D4-ATF(not just ATF) also it is rated as a gear oil GL4 ,which I use in my older subaru ...in my vw diesel I run with Honda manual tranny oil...very thin and almost like ATF...excelent shifting and no grinding

Reply #11December 05, 2004, 01:51:43 pm

fatmobile

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trany fluid
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2004, 01:51:43 pm »
I've heard good things about syncromesh.
 Over on the vortex, several people were saying they had good luck solving their second gear grind with it.
 A cheap fix that worked great for them.
 Anyone over here tried it?
Tornado red, '91 Golf 4 door,
with a re-ringed, '84 quantum, turbo diesel, MD block

Reply #12December 12, 2004, 12:36:12 pm

Topherdiesel

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wrong place
« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2004, 12:36:12 pm »
wrong place

Reply #13December 12, 2004, 03:33:18 pm

fspGTD

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2004, 03:33:18 pm »
I know of one knowledgeable VW transmission builder who is pretty adamant on putting brass syncros into all his VW 020 transmission rebuilds.  The factory used brass syncros in most gears but moly coated steel in 2nd gear and sometimes 3rd gear as well.  This tranny builder was of the opinion that the brass syncros had more friction than the moly coated steel ones, so it cut down or cured completely the potential "2nd gear crunch" problem.  It's an interesting theory and "fix": http://www.qualityvwparts.com/trans.html
Jake Russell
'81 VW Rabbit GTD Autocrosser 1.6lTD, SCCA FSP Class
Dieselicious Turbocharger Upgrade/Rebuild Kits

Reply #14December 12, 2004, 11:08:36 pm

Dr. Diesel

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What tranny fluid to use???
« Reply #14 on: December 12, 2004, 11:08:36 pm »
here's a question Joe,
what oil should you use if you have a peloquin diff?
I repair, maintain and modify VW's and BMW's.
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