Gearbox Oil - Wiki error?

[Simon_P]

The recommended oils are all GL-4

The wiki says
"Bottom line: 75W-90 GL-5 full synthetic gear oil." which I believe is incorrect.

[GeoffSmith]

In 2011 it looks like Tigerdog added "GL4 (or GL5)" and later changed it to GL5. I've asked him to look in as it looks like GL5 may not be a good move: GL4 GL5 comparison.

[lotusflasherman]

The recommended oils are all GL-4

The wiki says
"Bottom line: 75W-90 GL-5 full synthetic gear oil." which I believe is incorrect.

After Mobil 1 RTS 9775 Fully Synthetic SAE5W/30 specified in SE Handbook & Service Manual disappeared Lotus specified Castrol TAF-X 75W/90 but that's also disappeared .
Reckon this is the current oil, and it's GL-4(+) so shouldn't eat phosphor bronze bushes and synchro hubs ..
www.opieoils.co.uk/p-6363-castrol-syntrans-transaxle-75w-90-formerly-taf-x-75w-90-synthetic-transmission-fluid.aspx

[tigerdog]

wiki updated; GL-4 is correct. Quaife web site once recommended GL-5; it's been updated to recommend GL-5 on when transaxle mfg recommends it, which for the M100, Lotus do not. Thanks to there's only on f in Geof Smith for details (also updated in wiki) and sincere apologies for those who went the GL-5 route based on the previous wiki entry.

[tb10]

Damn..... Jyst bought some GL-5 and it's now in the gearbox......do I drain it or leave it.....?



Regards


John

[lotusflasherman]

Damn..... Jyst bought some GL-5 and it's now in the gearbox......do I drain it or leave it.....?

Regards
John

I'd say for cost of wasting £30 and a couple of hours, drain it a.s.a.p.

All the extreme pressure Hypoid oils from Duckhams or Castrol that I've used in the past, EP80 in gearboxes and EP90 in diffs, complied with API GL4 and were perfectly satisfactory.
Reading up on GL-5, I see it has slightly better shear properties but mainly suited to differentials as some of the additives attack phosphor bronze... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_oil
(First paragraph under API Ratings is appropriate). Gearboxes frequently contain phosphor bronze layshaft bearings and synchro hubs so it would not be a good idea to use a GL-5 oil in those.
Think you owe Simon-P a for starting this thread. He might have saved you a gearbox rebuild in the future...

[HJ2]

Uh-oh!... Time to rush to the garage (It's one block away) to check whatever is left in my can

[Giniw]

...
...
(sent a sms to ask someone to check )

Reckon this is the current oil, and it's GL-4(+) so shouldn't eat phosphor bronze bushes and synchro hubs ..
www.opieoils.co.uk/p-6363-castrol-syntrans-transaxle-75w-90-formerly-taf-x-75w-90-synthetic-transmission-fluid.aspx

I am glad I put that Castrol GL4 oil in my gearbox a year ago ^^ (except that it's the GL-4 variant, not the GL-4+ as showed on your photo)
Actually I remembered I had read the bronze bushes issue but I was not sure what I had decided. Glad I did the right choice =)

[tb10]

Indeed, a big "THANK YOU" to Simon for pointing that error out and I also agree, £38.00 of oil drained out = £???.?? saving in repairs further down the line!



regards

John

[par]

Thanks from me also as I just filled the gearbox with GL5 after checking wiki, car hasnt turned a wheel yet so wont have done any harm (except to my wallet).

At least the gearbox will be well flushed!

[Simon_P]

I shouldn't think it does any harm in the short run otherwise there would be cars stopped everywhere and the internet would be awash with pictures of dead gearboxes. I can only find anecdotal evidence.

If you have clean 75W90 GL5 give it to someone who has a separate diff as GL5 is the spec for what we all used to refer to as EP (extreme pressure).

[tb10]

If you have clean 75W90 GL5 give it to someone who has a separate diff as GL5 is the spec for what we all used to refer to as EP (extreme pressure).

So will this work in the diffs on my RR L322?

regards

John

[tb10]

Edit..........

Just checked:

Front differential refill 0.75L (0.8 US quarts) from dry 0.8L (0.85 US quarts) Texaco S5 75W90 API GL5 or Castrol SAF X0 TYK500010 SX 75W90 synthetic

Rear differential refill 1.0L (1.1 US quarts) from dry 1.2L (1.3 US quarts) Texaco S5 75W90 API GL5 or Castrol Carbon 75W90 TYK500070 SX 75W90 synthetic

So that will be a yes then!

Fabulous

[Fredjohn]

Edit..........

Just checked:

Front differential refill 0.75L (0.8 US quarts) from dry 0.8L (0.85 US quarts) Texaco S5 75W90 API GL5 or Castrol SAF X0 TYK500010 SX 75W90 synthetic

Rear differential refill 1.0L (1.1 US quarts) from dry 1.2L (1.3 US quarts) Texaco S5 75W90 API GL5 or Castrol Carbon 75W90 TYK500070 SX 75W90 synthetic

So that will be a yes then!

Fabulous

Yaow ay wasted it then. Oil av a point next toime we meet

[tb10]

Yaow ay wasted it then. Oil av a point next toime we meet

I might have to buy you a pint (of beer) as I've got two diffs to care for on the RR, one obviously larger than the other!

regards

John

[Simon_P]

Geoff (or someone else) in the "wiki changeover" this has reverted to the previous version.
Please could you amend the recommendation again.

[rip]

Geoff (or someone else) in the "wiki changeover" this has reverted to the previous version.
Please could you amend the recommendation again.

Done.

[Simon_P]

Thank you!

[RonR]

I'm about to change my gearbox oil and it looks like Syntrans 75W90 is no more.

According to Opie Oils its replacement is "Castrol TRANSMAX Manual Multivehicle 75W-90 Fully Synthetic Transmission Fluid", which is a GL-4+ formulation.
Product Datasheet is Here.