Date:         Sat, 6 Nov 2004 10:18:14 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: gear oil - rebuilt tranny
Comments: To: wlail@ou.edu
In-Reply-To:  <7b5e74da31cc.418aba3f@ou.edu>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The GL ratings are performance ratings similar to letter ratings for
motor oil. Higher numbers mean increased temperature performance and
extreme pressure additives. Years ago, these additives consisted of
sulfur and or chlorine compounds. Add some water from condensation and
these compounds created acids that would corrode brass parts.

These additives are no longer used in great quantities, especially in
the synthetic oils and unless you plan on excessive condensation or
flooding the transmission in streams, the corrosion issue in mute. In
addition, unless cheap synchronizers are used, the wear surfaces are
Molybdenum coated which will not corrode. The other issue with improve
EP properties is the ability of the synchronizers to have enough
friction to synchronize. I have yet to experience this as an issue and
the better flow properties of the synthetics at low temps. Make this
another mute point in cold weather.

Your going for the synthetic for better protection. The parts that
really need it are the stressed bearings, the ring/pinion set, and 4th
gear. The final drive on VW automatics call for GL-5 and so does the
front diff. on Syncros. There must be a reason for the different spec.
Syncronizers are fairly cheap. The ring and pinion is not. I use the
better oil.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: wlail@ou.edu [mailto:wlail@ou.edu]
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 12:25 AM
To: Dennis Haynes
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: RE: gear oil - rebuilt tranny

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for your response.  I think Redline MT-90 is a GL-4 oil and
Bently suggests a GL-4, so I
am curious why you run GL-5.  Is it not supposed to be a bit corrosive
on something in there?

Always enjoy your posts.  Very informative.

Warren Lail

----- Original Message -----
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net>
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2004 10:51 pm
Subject: RE: gear oil - rebuilt tranny

> I also prefer to run the synthetic from the start. The reason for the
> suggested change after a short time is to get out the dirt that is
> stillin there after the repair and also the metal bits from the
> gears seating
> in. Since the lubricant sensitive parts are the ring/pinion set,($$$)
> the pinion bearing and the main shaft ball bearing, I use the GL-5
> oilsfor all the protection those parts can get. These trannies only
> wearsyncros when abused. Most other parts that fail are due to
> stress such
> as the 3-4 slider hub which won't be helped by different oil anyway.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Warren Lail
> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 11:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: gear oil - rebuilt tranny
>
> Mateys,
>
> Yesterday afternoon I dropped the tranny in Billy Bones (took one
> hour)and today took it to my rebuilder where
> I traded it in on a freshly rebuilt 091 with a .78 fourth gear.  My
> rebuilder told me to run cheap oil for about 300 miles,
> then drain it out, and then refill with Redline MT-90.  I am a big fan
> of MT-90, but do I really need to run the
> cheap GL-4 for the first 300 miles?
>
> My flywheel seal is leaking (after only 12,000 miles) so I will
> replacethat while the tranny is out, and then I expect
> to be on the road again tomorrow night.  And while I'm in there I will
> also install a new pilot bearing, even though the
> one in there only has 12,000 miles on it.  I can'f find one of those
> felt washers. Hope it is not critical.
>
> But I sure would like to go ahead and run the MT-90 from the outset.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Warren Lail
> 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
> Single speed bike "Black Dog" (Eric's Eccentric ENO conversion)
>
> "He drank rum very strong all day, lookin' up somethin' fierce when
> spoken to."
>
>
>