Anyone using Redline MT-90 in their cars?

[81pumagtc]

Hey everybody:

I thought I would drain the transmission gearbox oil and put new oil in, since I have not done it, and I am getting close to owning the Pig of Plastic for 10 years. I have done quite a bit of research, and everybody says that you need a GL-4 lubricant, and don't use a GL-5 lubricant.

Most of the synthetic oils say works with both GL-4 and GL-5, but I have read about problems using the lubes in VW's.

I have read though that a lot of Porsche folks seem to like SWEPCO and Redline oils, but the SWEPCO is not a synthetic, and the Redline is. Most of the guys that use the Redline seem to really like it, better shifting, etc. and it looks like what I would like to use.

The Redline is also a true GL-4 oil as well.

Does anyone use this in their cars? Supposedly it's used with great success in Drag case.


Dave Riedle

[vanapplebomb]

The whole GL4 GL5 thing is a load of bull these days. ANY GL5 you can buy these days is more than safe with yellow metals in our transmissions. Back in the day when first introduced it was shown to have some corrosive effects on yellow metals when run at high temperatures. We are talking temperatures that a VW transmission should never ever hit. With modern GL5 oils, they are rated to be safe with yellow metals in our gearboxes. Nothing wrong with running GL5. The higher pressure rating is good. The GL4 is just the minimum you should use.

[81pumagtc]

Oh, I agree completely regarding synthetic oil. Now the issue seems to be that some of the synthetic oils seem to be actually too thin to make the synchronizers work correctly. Interestingly, the folks who seem to complain the most about it are Subaru and Evo guys. The Porsche guys seem to think the Redline is good stuff.

I'm just thinking that you get good stuff, and you don't have to worry about it.


Dave Riedle

[kurlhawk]

I'm working on a project buggy with a 2.4L GM Quad4 motor(150hp) and a 091 front-side shift trans. After the requisite nail biting research for what to use I was about to order the SWEPCO but then I noticed the Penzoil Synchromesh product. I'm not a Penzoil fan and would never run their motor oil, but research suggested it might be a good fit. It's definitely not cheap at $9-10/qt. but it's a whole heck of a lot easier to find at any local store than Swepco ever will be. I like the possibility of spur of the moment lube changes without having to order and wait.

We'll see how it does. But then again I have no reference to what good should feel like either, so...

[thatmacguy]

Definitely don't use the Swepco. I don't know how anybody recommends that stuff. I had that in my Porsche early during ownership despite it being a dino-oil because it's recommended by so many Porsche owners and many Porsche supply houses. I had to remove it as soon as the weather got cold. It thickened up so much I could barely shift until the trans got warm. I've never had a dino-oil thicken that much, ever, so it's got to be just about complete crap... I went Redline (although I have to use a specific one for my Porsche, which uses oddball syncros compared to most vehicles) in both the Porsche and the Beetle and it works great.