Date:         Fri, 3 Dec 2010 11:00:30 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Gear Oil: Opinion/subjective experience
Comments: cc: "Vanagons and VW Buses (Bays) with VW inline gas engines"
          <vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines@googlegroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

   Manual transmission, 5sp  hooked up to a 2.0liter ABA Jetta motor putting
out (guessing) maybe 140hp.  In a low top van with a partial Westie interior
and 14" wheels.

  I recently reworked the driveline of this van, building a more powerful
motor with a custom exhaust, replacing the clutch, doing the CV joints,
trans mount,  etc.   When I re-installed the tranny the second time around
(don't ask)...I went with Redline MT 40.  I have used this before, but I had
been running Swepco 201 right up to the engine swap.   I put about 1000
miles on the van(and the MT-90) so far, and after my exhaust system was
finished and the mountings finalized to make everything real nice and
smooth, I could really notice the difference in the gear noise.  Using the
Redline, the shifting was a little less smooth, but the lever moves easier.
 The Redline feels like what it is....much thinner than the Swepco, not so
"slick" feeling.

   So I drained it again (into a nice clean pan, then put it back in the
bottles for later use somewhere) the Redline MT-90 and re-filled with Swepco
201.   What with my quieter exhaust system (significantly quieter and
smoother than the one I had before the new motor) I can certainly feel and
hear the difference...It just feels 'happier' back there, less
'stressed'...less "busy".   And while it has only been down to about 20f so
far, I have not felt the expected 'stiff-stick' with a cold gearbox.  I also
don't feel the slight hesitation that I did as the syncros worked, like was
the case with that MT-90
.
   I will be interested to see how my gas mileage is affected, there should
be some difference...I have been getting 23.5 with the MT-90 and the new
2.0/1.8l hybrid motor.   I expect more from the Swepco, especially on
sustained high speed driving.  It seems much 'slicker'...

  We'll probably have some comments from the Peanut Gallery now,
 saying...."Oh, you can't use Swepco..it will ______________ your
gearbox"...but I ran it all last year and the inside of the gearbox looked
immaculate when I had it apart recently...with no deterioration on the
bronze or any ill effects.

  Just saying, as my subjective opinion....All those Porsche guys are onto
sumpthin, running that high dollar dino oil in the gearbox..

  Don Hanson