TheSamba.com :: View topic - ATF / Gear Oil Comparrison and Feedback Please!

Sun May 03, 2009 11:44 pm

I am about to change my Auto Transmission fluid and Gear oil, just
wondering what people are using in their high mileage/ rebuilt auto transmission vanagon's.

What product/viscosity you are using?

How many quarts are needed for the ATF and then for the Gear Oil?

What products are best for long drives, high temperatures, long driving for hours at a time?
i.e cross country travel East coast to West Coast?

I am looking at:

Royal Purple
Gear Oil
- Max Gear Synthetic Oil
(not sure which viscosity is best thought of summer and moderate temps)
75w/140,
75w/90,
85w/140
Which one is right for the automatic transmission on a van in high
heat long driving conditions?

Red Line
ATF
- High Temp Synthetic ATF
http://www.redlineoil.com/products_gearlubricants....tegoryID=8

Gear Oil ( Red Line)
- 75w/90 Gear Oil? Not sure which is what I am suppose to use?
http://www.redlineoil.com/products_gearlubricants....tegoryID=6

Lucas Oil
Gear Oil
- 75w/90
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/display_products....Gear%20Oil

Amsoil
Gear Oil
-75W-90 Long Life Synthetic Gear Lube
Product Code: FGRQT-EA
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/fgr.aspx?zo=1132530
ATF
- Automatic Synthetic Transmission Fluid
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx

Here is an interesting test and white paper done by Amsoil so it could
be biased but it does show how the their product after some tests does
beat out the others.
http://www.amsoil.com/products/gearlubes/WhitePaper.aspx ( you can
read it here without downloading)
It can be downloaded with this link:
http://www.modernoils.com/g2457GearOilWhitePaper.pdf

Can someone knowledgeable about gear oils read this and see if it's BS
or makes sense. From what I could see it states the Royal Purple and
Lucas oils have very high viscosity at high temperatures after a KRL
20Hr test but they claim that is not desirable to be compliant to the
SAE J306 requirements for SAE90 Gear oil. I am a little lost and needs
someone to please interpret this data.

I am just trying to make an educated decision here.

Thank in advance.

Robert
NY 88 Auto Wolfsburg With freshly rebuilt engine.
Tranny Rebuilt 3 yrs ago.

Sun May 03, 2009 11:55 pm

This units don't give much problems. I would change the filter and then just run what the owner's manual and Bentley suggest.

About the only thing that might give you an edge would be to run a GL-4 rated ATF in the final drive and auto section. This way if you got a leak between the two sections the damage might be less as both would be running the same oil. The negative would be that your are running a GL-4 oil where a GL-5 oil is spec'd.

Mon May 04, 2009 3:23 am

No such animal as GL-4 rated ATF.

ATF, is ATF- and gear oil is gear oil.

GL-4 Gear oil is too heavy to run as a hydraulic fluid, and is not compatible at all and can't be run as ATF.

The heaviest autamatic trans oil I know of in any automatic trans is 30 wieght oil in a D-6, D-8 Caterpillar, and not to be confused with GL-4 gear oil.

Mon May 04, 2009 9:56 am

Terry Kay wrote: No such animal as GL-4 rated ATF.

ATF, is ATF- and gear oil is gear oil.

GL-4 Gear oil is too heavy to run as a hydraulic fluid, and is not compatible at all and can't be run as ATF.

The heaviest autamatic trans oil I know of in any automatic trans is 30 wieght oil in a D-6, D-8 Caterpillar, and not to be confused with GL-4 gear oil.

You are behind the times Terry, you need to update yourself a bit. You might start by just searching Redline, there are several others as well.

http://www.synlubes.com/redline/atf.html

Mon May 04, 2009 10:54 am

I don't know where in the heck they came up with all that humbug.

How in the hell can ATF satisfy a GL-4 gear oil lubricant rating?
It can't.
No way-No how.

In a matter of fact tomorrow at lunch I'm going to call Redline and get to the bottom of this one.

They do make some good products.

I don't have any time to sit all day in front of a computer, reading all the bogus, BS propaganda oil manufacture's publish.

I use what works.

Dino 90 weight gear oil in the rear end, and Ford ATF in any pre 2000 transmission.

According to Amzoil--it the best stuff since Aunt Jemima's pancake surup.

I would'nt use the junk in a Brigg's and Stratton.

Read all the tech sheets ya want, and be updated and current on the garbage they have to offer.

I'll take a pass, and stay behind the times.

Tue May 05, 2009 10:58 am

Okay...
Terry is very passionate and opinionated and I appreciate that input, but does anyone know any information on the products I listed?

Thanks,

Robert
NY

Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

I couldn't tell you the brand of gear oil that I use, its in a blue five gallon pail. Probably Chevron, but maybe something else. For the ATF I use stuff that I buy from my local farm supply or from Wal-Mart. I don't think you are going to gain much by going to high priced lubes in one of these boxes.

Tue May 05, 2009 2:44 pm

Creativemind wrote: Okay...
Terry is very passionate and opinionated and I appreciate that input, but does anyone know any information on the products I listed?

Thanks,

Robert
NY

Terry is a good man, no BS...... :lol:......... and he IS right

Tue May 05, 2009 2:58 pm

Yes I know Terry I great, I have purchased his products and had them running for years on my van.

Tue May 05, 2009 5:47 pm

I run synthetic gear oil in the diff and Trick shift in the automatic gear box.
This has worked the best for me. :D
Good luck!
1984 Auto GL

Tue May 05, 2009 8:52 pm

B&M Trick Shift is an excellent ATF--Blue and expensive.

I used it for years in Pontiac 4 speed Hydro's--crips shifts, and no clucth pack slip.
Power glides , turbo 400's, and 700-R-4's all like the type f.

I was turned on Ford ATF in the late 60's by Andy Granetelli.

The Ford type F is a quarter of the price, not blue, and has the same amount of grabber's as the B&M product.

Works well.

I do have Redline in 2 of my 3 Vanagon Rear ends, and in my 325 BMW.

No problems with that product either.

Amzoil I would shy away from.
I've seen a bunch of engine internals that went to hell using that stuff.

Not impresed with the Amzoil products.

You really can't go wrong with straight or multi grade Dino gear oil.

You don't have a posi, and your not doing 5000 rpm lauches off the light's.

Wed May 06, 2009 7:01 am

One of the highly respected VW transaxle rebuilders posted on this topic many months ago. Quoting roughly, he said " change the goo once in a while, and it will be fine".

I interpreted this comment to mean that correct quantity and cleanliness is more important than what product you use. My opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it, is to use a name brand product and spend no more than necessary. And, every few years, change the goo. Same applies for the ATF section. Use the fluid types that Volkswagen specified.