TheAllusionist

I have a question on the Porsche 944 Turbo LSD transmission (yes I have searched and read up on them here and abroad). Bit of background on my car, it is a 1986 Turbo with 47,000+ original miles. The mileage seems to check out from the past trail of paperwork on maintenance and carfax type checks spanning a decade or more. The add for the car in Excellence and Ebay when the previous owner bought it stated how it had been restored to concourse condition and listed features including LSD transmission, factory escort qualifying chip racing software, etc.. The option code on the car doesn't list an LSD it list a 5P, but it also doesn't list the full leather sports seats, etc. that car has so someone did seem to do some upgrades, but it seemed weird if the car only had 40,000 miles on it.....

In any event, last fall squirreling around I seemed to snap an axle and the car didn't really go on it's own, just the sound of the shaft turning in the boot, and I just coasted to a parking lot and called a tow truck as soon as it happened, so I don't know 100% what all was going on. Well I parked it in garage ordered two new axles to put in and then ended up having double knee surgery and didn't get to it until this weekend. Prior to the axle failing there was a sound it seems in the rear that at high speeds if you let off the gas it stops and comes back if you apply gas, so I assumed it was the rear wheel bearing. When the axle failed I had hoped that it had been the problem. Unfortunately after replacing what turned out to be a shattered bearing cage in the CV joint I still have that sound.....

When I was working on it and got the axle in I can turn one wheel and the other turns in the same direction, but I can wedge a foot under one wheel and turn the other wheel real hard stretched out under the car and turn it. I know it is a 40% lockup but this seems a lot less than that so either it is worn out if it is an LSD unit or something else.....

Where I am going is it seems like maybe they put an LSD transaxle in the car that may have had a lot of miles or someone has ran the hell out of the car as with only 47,000+ miles I wouldn't think a wheel bearing would be out, the transaxle CV shatter (maybe it would I read a lot of people doing this and I shouldn't have launched from full stop and burned them off through 3 gears, but once in a while a guy has to have a little fun, now after fixing it I probably won't do that again!) and the clutch shutters on compression braking downhill. The clutch item, not a big deal, I will use the brakes and it isn't an issue taking off and I have read that some people have the issue with the 944. In any event, is there a suggestion on what type of transaxle gear oil I should use with this transaxle that may be wearing out?

I just want to take care of it the car as best I can and sometimes an ounce of prevention...... I have been going through and trying to replace or repair items now working right and the wheel bearing like sound and replacing the AC condenser and dryer are the two major items before I do any more performance mods, but it is a 28 year old car and I would like to make sure I am using the right gear oil to take care of it as best I can for now. Thanks in advance, always get good advice hear and appreciate it, I run a big board that focuses on architectural visualization and know how hard it is to nurture a community that doesn't bicker and back stab too much, seems like a great community here and I enjoy lurking and reading.

Dougs951S

Mobil 1 delvac is what you should put in it, you wont find it in any store on the shelf though. The regular m1 gear oil attacks brass synchros.

URG8RB8

Swepco 201 is the correct way to go. You will get many replies and responses though. Most new lubricants will work just fine. I just did this fluid change two weeks ago. I went with Chris White's recommendation and stuck with the 201.

gruhsy

I think you mean swepco 201

I have 201 and 203 jugs in my garage right now

TheAllusionist

OK, so they are both in the $75.00 range for a gallon, can be found even cheaper on eBay. The 80-90 weight is the appropriate it would seem and nothing particularly mentioned for aging LSD? Just curious as I didn't know if any particular brand or weight to aid the units clutch bands in gripping?

Thank you for your responses and knowledge.

Regards,

Russell

URG8RB8

Oops!!!! Yes, my bad 201!!! Thank you! I got mine from Paragon Products in Texas. A bit hungover from the Holiday weekend

http://www.paragon-products.com/Swep...swepco-201.htm

KevinGross

A heavily worn front pinion bearing in the transmission will produce a noise under decel, ie when you lift off the gas. If you separate the gear carrier from the diff carrier, you'll find the heaviest pitting at 5 o'clock on the pinion bearing outer race. Can't say this is your problem, there are other possibilities.

Mobil 1 75W90 does not attack the syncros. I have used it for, geez, like 20 years in my own car, and have recommended it to my clients for almost as long. Yes there are people who will tell you that in theory and in general the additives in GL5 spec gear oil are in the long term somewhat incompatible with brass or bronze syncros. That's the theory written by lawyers to cover worst case, never-change-the-fluid type scenarios. In practice, there is no problem for the 944 transmissions.

Swepco makes fine products, but my experience has been that if you drive your 944-series car in cool or cold weather New England weather, you will find it hard to shift until the gearbox has been truly and properly warmed up. I found their stuff unusable driving my 944S in New England winter weather. If you live in San Diego, different story.

I wouldn't use Delvac. Stick to 75W90 weight oils, there are lots of good ones to choose from.

Kevin
Catellus Engineering

944Phil

I concur with Kevin. I have swepco in the transmission and it works great and runs well, unless it's a cold Montreal morning. I don't drive the car in the winter so I can't comment on very very cold weather.

That said after a couple blocks it warms up enough to shift well.

I took the car on the track a few times and it works very well when super hot too.

URG8RB8

I have one car in Sunny California and the other in Sunny Florida so can't comment on cold weather. Chris is upstate NY though so should be pretty cold there. I was surprised to see that the Swepco is not synthetic. I run Redline MTL in my Japanese turbo cars and I love the way it shifts in those cars. I have no idea what was in my 951 previously, but there was zero difference after putting in the new Swepco. If feels very nice to me. Just my two cents worth.

fejjj

+1 for Swepco 201

944Phil

Slightly OT. My wife has a 2011 Subaru. It is a lot harder to get in gear when it's cold that my 944. Even when it was brand new.

theedge

Ive always used Redline.

Swepco smells like dead goat intestines that have been in the sun for a while, then got squirted by a skunk which then died and started rotting as well.

Redline smells much nicer and I think shifts nicer.

admiralkhole

I also have a 5P box with an lsd. I have ran redline mt90 and now mobil delvac 75w90, so far so good!

URG8RB8

I agree with you about the nasty smell of the Swepco! Of course, this has nothing to do with function, but yes it is quite nasty.

One issue with the Redline on my other vehicles is that I noticed small leaks. Has anybody had any leak issues using Redline, Mobile 1, or Royal Purple Synthetics in the transaxle? I also had to add a friction modifier to get the chatter to go away in my LSD on the Nissan. The Swepco did not require a friction modifier and is very quiet actually.

Darwantae951

LMFAO!