Date:         Fri, 22 Oct 1999 17:39:21 -0400
Reply-To:     "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Subject:      Redline MT-90 gearbox oil
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Yesterday I swapped out the standard GL-4 gearbox oil that we had put in the
rebuilt transmission upon installation in August.

I used the 17mm tool from the Bus Depot.  I know there are plenty of ways to
fabricate such a tool, but for $4 it was worth it to me.  You can use a ratchet
with a wobbler or put a box wrench right on it.

Anyway, I drained the old stuff as well as I could, realizing that there would
be some left in the tranny.  The Redline MT-90 is GL-4 and thus compatible with
the remaining fluid.  The magnetic drain plug had a few fine shavings on it
consistent with the break-in period.  I stuck my finger in the drain hole but
felt no evidence of larger chunks in the pan.  Drain plug was cleaned and
reseated.

Refilling was done with a Sta-Lube pump and hose, which makes things a bit
easier than trying to rig up a funnel and hose system.  The only complaint is
that the pump intake doesn't go all the way down into the container, which
means you have to refill every 3/4 quart.

I reseated the fill plug and took it for a test drive.  The shifting does
indeed seem smoother, although it's always difficult to quantify these things.
The real test was upon startup this morning when it was just above freezing.
MUCH easier shifting into first and second gears; third and fourth were never a
problem anyway.

IMHO, it was a worthwhile swap, particularly since the tranny was pretty new.
The long-term effects remain to be seen, of course.

I bought a case of 12 quarts for $95.40 directly from Redline
(http://www.redlineoil.com/) since a few friends were interested in trying the
stuff.  That works out to about $8/quart.  Not cheap, but neither is Autobahn
coolant.

-Karl

Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 189K miles
VW Mechanic list: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/vwshops
PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/pavanagon