Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2003, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 23 Aug 2003 12:44:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject:      gl4 vs. gl5 gear oils (fwd)
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

of possible interest to vanagon manual transmission owners.

jonathan

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2003 09:04:48 -0700 From: Daryl Christensen <aatransaxle@msn.com> To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@umich.edu> Subject: Re: gl4 vs. gl5 gear oils

Jonathan...Yes there has been a controversy about the differences for years, but mostly on the vanagon list...In the real world...Most shops put in GL5 and don't have any problems. I take apart many transmissions with the moly coated syncro's and see no real obvious issue other than normal wear. I use Laso moly coated syncros in the Vanagon and the Jetta boxes I build and have never been concerned about my customers using whatever oil they desire.

That being said...I do however see Redline as being the best oil out there in respect to its cold weather performance and overall wear properties. It is a GL4 oil and has solved some strange syncro problems thru the years that NO other oil could cure. I have always been kinda caught in the middle of the debate and not being an engineer type, can't offer any real definitive proof of the problem. Just real world experience. My big thing is getting people to actually change their oil once in a while, say every 30 K or so just to get some fresh stuff in there. Oil does break down thru use and new stuff is a plus for making them last longer. I use Redline just because of its ease of shifting in my own rigs. Pass this along if you want to as I am off the Vanagon list for awhile.

Daryl of AA Transaxle Duvall, WA. (Seattle area) (425-788-4070) 1-877-377-0773 aatransaxle.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Jonathan Farrugia To: aatransaxle@msn.com Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 12:25 PM Subject: gl4 vs. gl5 gear oils

Darrell

hi i'm on the vanagon and type 2 lists and i have a question concerning using gl-5 gear oil in a vanagon manual transmission. i saw the following come across the type 2 list and it peaked my interest. i had always heard that only gl-4 oil or synthetic such as redline should be used in vanagon transmissions. could you please clarify this for me. thanks in advance for your time.

--------------------------------------------

It had been mentioned to me that there is a rumor about GL-5 gear oil being potentially corrosive to VW trannys, and that GL-4 was the way to avoid this. Well, having already replaced my awful, rancid old gear oil with the only kind available to me at auto supply stores, GL-5, I took this matter up with my mechanic.

My mechanic was intrigued, but he didn't know. He called a local shop that does nothing but VW tansaxles, Ron's Transaxles, for research. Here is what they had to say...

Late Rabbits and Dashers have some sort of a molly-synchro unit in their second gear that is damaged by GL-5 formulations; it corrodes them. According to these folks, though, our T2 Volks have naught to worry from using any of the readily available GL-5 formulations (synthetic or otherwise) out there. GL-5 or something called RedLine are what are recommended for our old Dubbies.

I understand that oils and such have Fire potential on the List; I am not intending to start a flame war. But, I felt this was valuable information to pass along from people who do nothing but VW transaxles. I couldn't find GL-4 anywhere, and it was driving me nuts with worry. I actually had a nightmare about her gears corroding through last night. (Don't ask me how I wound up inside the transmission, but I did.) Now, I am unconcerned and will continue on with what's already in there. -----------------------------------------------

jonathan


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.