Transaxle Lube Friday, 02-Mar-01 14:16:35 24.184.128.112 writes: I just had my Berg 5 tranny rebuilt. I am finding it very confusion on what lube to use. I've been told to not use anything that says GL5. Some say to use synthetic, other say to stay away from them. What do you recommend?? Glenn

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After doing a lot of research and talking to different people I got Redline MT90 that you used before. It is a GL4. Redline told me not to use the additive until I test drove the car to see how the LSD is working. Amsoil is another good choice. (n/t) (Alex) (02-Mar-01 16:11:04) Who told you not to use GL-5? (Bruce Tweddle) (02-Mar-01 23:05:34) Re: Transaxle Lube, When the VW Trans was designed and the cone type syncros were the order of the day what was required was an oil that was tacky, had a cling to it, thats how GL-4 is formulated, weather it's your VWs trans or a old fprd those cone type syncros require the GL-4 type oil, some of the others like GL-5 are too slippery as are the Amsoils and other synthetics, or run the others and feel the grind of those syncros going away, and in 3/4 months drain the trans and ask why you listened to boneheads that told you that GL-5 was OK, Better yet call german transaxel and ask them what gear oil to use in this trans and why !! (Rudi the Trans Guy ) (02-Mar-01 23:36:51) Re: Re: Transaxle Lube, When the VW Trans was designed and the cone type syncros were the order of the day what was required was an oil that was tacky, had a cling to it, thats how GL-4 is formulated, weather it's your VWs trans or a old fprd those cone type syncros require the GL-4 type oil, some of the others like GL-5 are too slippery as are the Amsoils and other synthetics, or run the others and feel the grind of those syncros going away, and in 3/4 months drain the trans and ask why you listened to boneheads that told you that GL-5 was OK, Better yet call german transaxel and ask them what gear oil to use in this trans and why !! (Glenn) (03-Mar-01 00:06:10) Most new cars use brass cone type syncros just like a Bug, so I guess they can't use GL-5 either Rudi. (Bruce Tweddle) (03-Mar-01 00:28:55) Re: Transaxle Lube (Glenn) (03-Mar-01 00:15:46)

I would like to talk to the person that has had his syncros totally eaten by GL-5 gear oil. Has anyone actually seen damage to syncros due to GL-5 oil?

This whole fear of GL-5 is a big fat myth. Why would the oil companies create a product that would eat your trans? I posed this question to the Amsoil tech guy, and here's his response:

""A GL-4 or, to a greater extent GL-5, lubricants can, if not properly

formulated, become corrosive to yellow metals if the lubricant temperature

exceeds 250 degrees F. The API recently came out with a new specification to

address this possibility. It's called MT-1. You'll find that AMSOIL gear

lubes all meet this new spec. therefore do not attack yellow metals. Two

things work in your favor if AMSOIL Synthetic gear lube is used. 1. AMSOIL

will run cooler, reducing the possible high temperature situation. 2. AMSOIL

gear lubes meet MT-1, therefore will not attack yellow metal even if the

temperature does climb to this extremely high 250 degree mark.""

If you think you can get your gear oil to 250 F in a street car, you're dreaming. Most cars can't get their engine oil to that temp, even with combustion temps in the thousands of deg. on the other side of the pistons and heads. Still think you can? Take your car on a long drive. Pull over and grab the trans case. It'll be warm, but you'll still be able to hold onto it.

Bruce Tweddle

: Transaxle Lube, When the VW Trans was designed and cone type syncros were the order of the day, what was required was an oil that was tacky, had a cling to it, thats how GL-4 is formulated, wheather it's your VWs trans or a old ford those cone type syncros require the GL-4 type oil, some of the others like GL-5 are too slippery as are the Amsoils and other synthetics, or run the others and feel the grind of those syncros going away, and in 3/4 months drain the trans and ask why you listened to boneheads that told you that GL-5 was OK, Better yet call German Transaxel and ask them what gear oil to use in this trans and why !!

Rudi the Trans Guy

I spoke to German Transaxle and they told me Red Line MT90 was their perfered lube. The also said to never use GL5.

I've done some research and found that added a MT-1 specification to GL5. The MT-1 adds compatability to GL5 for "yellow metals", so a GL5 seems to be OK it it also meets MT-1 spec.

Gary Berg and Harold Carter recommend Valvoline 80-90W gear lube. It meets GL5 and MT-1 specs. Rancho said that Swepco 201 is what they recomend.

It seems that everyone had their own opinion. I'll probibly go with Gary and Harolds recomendation.

Glenn

Well i called a number of transaxle builders. German Transaxle was one of them. They recomend Red Line MT90 and they said to NEVER use a GL5 lube. Gary Berg and Harold Carter said to use Valvoline 80-90W and Rancho said to sue Swepco 201. Here's what I found... GL5 is NOT compatable with brass syncros. But they added a MT-1 spec that DOES make GL5 compatable with "yellow metal". Valvoline, Mobile 1 and Swepco meet both GL5 and MT-1 specs.

I'll probibly use either Valvoline or Swepco.

Glenn