synthetic gear oil?
#1
Track Day
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Location: Portland OR
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synthetic gear oil?
Anybody tried synthetic gear oil? I've heard it's really great, and am considering switching over. Would I need to have my tranny flushed or something to do this? Also, how much oil does a 914 box hold?
#2
Drifting
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Originally posted by Brian K:
<STRONG>I think that the 901 and the 915 gearboxes don't take too well to synthetics. A lot of others feel the same way.
I've tried "regular" gear oil (like Castrol), Synthetic (Redline) and SWEPCO (a high quality NON-synthetic both in my 914 901 trans and my 911 915 trans. I have found that both shift best with SWEPCO. I thought they shifted worst with the synthetic.
I suggest sticking with SWEPCO.</STRONG>
<STRONG>I think that the 901 and the 915 gearboxes don't take too well to synthetics. A lot of others feel the same way.
I've tried "regular" gear oil (like Castrol), Synthetic (Redline) and SWEPCO (a high quality NON-synthetic both in my 914 901 trans and my 911 915 trans. I have found that both shift best with SWEPCO. I thought they shifted worst with the synthetic.
I suggest sticking with SWEPCO.</STRONG>
#3
Drifting
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The reason I ask is becuase Redline sells both a GL4 rated and a GL5 rated gear lube. I don't have a 914, and, as such I don't know that gear lube rating thier tranny takes. But, I do know that 944 owners have accidentally used the GL5 rated fluid in their tranny's and it destroys them (the 944 tranny was designed to take a GL4 rated transmission fluid).
I run redline MTL in my 944 tranny and it works gread (MTL is the GL4 rated stuff).
I run redline MTL in my 944 tranny and it works gread (MTL is the GL4 rated stuff).
#4
Drifting
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Brian K: Both the 75W90 and the 75W90NS are GL5 rated (I know because I purchased them, but thankfully noticed that they were GL5 rated before I put them in my car). I took it back and exchanged it for the "Redline MTL" which is a 75W90 rated GL4 rated gear lube. The way Redline marks their products is poor.
I am not saying that you should use Redline, I am just pointing out that your really shouldn't use the wrong gear lube rating in your tranny.
I am not saying that you should use Redline, I am just pointing out that your really shouldn't use the wrong gear lube rating in your tranny.
#5
Drifting
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One more thing of note that we have noticed in the 924/944 line: If the gear box is old, and has been using non-synthetic gear lube, it can degrade shifter performance to switch to synthetic.
Trivia: The 1979 924 and 1980 924 Turbo used a slightly modified 915 transmission.
Trivia: The 1979 924 and 1980 924 Turbo used a slightly modified 915 transmission.
#6
Personally, I've gotten much better shifting. I used the cheap stuff, Valvoline semi-synthetic. Shift effort was much easier. I've compared a lot of 914's to mine, and I've yet to find one that shifted as easily as mine (901 type tranny).
#7
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toman,
I found a big improvement in shifting when I put SWEPCO in the gearbox of my 71 914 1.7. However, after a few thousand miles, it seemed to be no better than the Castrol gear oil I replaced.
Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona
I found a big improvement in shifting when I put SWEPCO in the gearbox of my 71 914 1.7. However, after a few thousand miles, it seemed to be no better than the Castrol gear oil I replaced.
Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona