Date:         Mon, 15 Mar 2004 22:40:03 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: manual tranny fluid
Comments: To: Jake Beaulieu <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20040316013859.87492.qmail@web11301.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Jake Beaulieu wrote:

>Last weekend I bolted the engine and transmission back into my 82 Westy.  It has been a long winter of repairs.  Hopefully this weekend I can get it back on the road.
>I drained the tranny fluid (manual 091 4-speed tranny) and need to fill it up with new stuff.  Has the group reached a concensus on what is the best fluid to use?
>
Jake, I drove my VW Loaf for years and later my 85 GL in Alaska for 4
years summer and winter using GL90 with no trouble. I later bought an 88
GL that also had GL 90 in it. It has a shifting problem and I switched
to Redline MT90 and found the problem disappeared. I have run nothing
but the MT90 ever since. It would surprise me if there is a viscosity
problem with the MT90, as it's viscosity range is very stable even with
substantial temperature variation.

My vote would be to go with the Redline MT90 from the getgot, if you are
servicing everything after work. The MT 90 mixes well with residual dino
oil so that is not a problem. Suggest changing the tranny oil about
every two years, inspite of what the book say.

Also, I would suggest you add Redline Water Wetter to the coolant if you
service the cooling system.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL dRiver