Forums/Z31P/z31-performance-upgrade-forums driveline-aa/GL-5 = BAD; Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
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Jason84NA2T: (2011-04-02 15:19:49)
So… I would like to make a list of oils and retailers that sell GL4 gear oil. You probably already know GL5 gear oil contains additional EP additives that will oxidize and essentially 'eat away' components of the brass baulk rings in many late-model import transmissions. This 'incompatibility with yellow metals' eventually causes hard shifting, grinding and eventually people will need to either rebuild or replace the transmission.
It is a VERY common mistake which has cost owners countless millions of $ and causes uncertainty when buying a used transmission (because miles become a poor indicator of baulk ring wear if GL-5 oil was used)…
The other day I found that getting GL4 is getting to be more and more of a pain unless you order it online. Can anybody contribute to this list of known compatible oils, and retailers who sell them? I would eventually like to make this a full list, so please contribute.
Nissan dealerships - has been reported that they carry GL-4 gear oils.
GM/Pennzoil/other off-brand Synchromesh - Autozone, etc.
Redline MT90/MT85 - Summit racing, local speed shops, others
Redline Shockproof - Summit racing, local speed shops, others
Redline 75W90 - Summit racing, local speed shops, others
Royal Purple - Autozone, Murrays, etc.
Amsoil Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 - Amsoil sales rep, etc.
Also:
Careless: (2011-04-02 19:01:32)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
REDLINE Manual Transmission, Manual Transaxle Lubricant (MTL)
AMSOIL Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube (MTG)
I have 4 bottles of MT90 in my basement, ready for action if needed. It's are very hard to find a good GL4 only oil here, and they sure as hell don't sell any off-brand shit anywhere around here.
datsunzcar84: (2011-04-02 22:20:36)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
That reminds me I have to get some oil for my max.
Gregmatic: (2011-04-04 21:55:46)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
sticky perhaps?
SATAN: (2011-04-05 02:53:49)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
Shit… I just go to my local speed shop and drop my $11/qt for some RedLine they have sitting on the shelf and call it good. They mainly deal with the old hot rods and dragsters. Those guys aren't afraid of dropping serious money on their cars. That is why they can stock the full line of RedLine fluids.
ShamWow: (2011-04-05 02:58:19)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
About every store besides advance/autozone/Oreilly's in town can get redline and royal purple. Only 2 places I know actually stock it, but I just ask nicely everywhere else and they order it. Even Napa can get it.
I have never paid more that $9/qt for any of redlines products. I just ask before they order it.
datsunzcar84: (2011-04-05 03:22:04)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
While we are on the gear oil topic what brand do you guys think works well in colder weather?
The reason I ask is because I am looking for oil for my Maxima and it's known for it's cold shift "crunch".
Jason84NA2T: (2011-04-07 03:02:10)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
Redline MT90 "cured" the cold crunch in my very first NA transmission. If you are talking strictly synchro performance I think synchromesh is about the best, or so many people claim. Redline has other beneficial qualities though. My grind came back about 10-12K miles later though… when the baulk rings are worn that much, there's only so little a change to good fluid can do.
datsunzcar84: (2011-04-07 03:18:12)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
I was going to try Amsoil but I cannot find a source to get it by Friday .
I'm still not sure what I am going to use . :banghead Thanks For the info Jason!
300zxturboftw: (2011-04-07 04:31:11)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
And I've been paying over $12/qt for Redline at TF when I get damn good discounts are carquest…dammit!
dirty31: (2011-04-07 07:06:26)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
I've gotten Redline MT90 from Advance before. They ordered it or something. I think you just have to get a salesmen that is willing to help you out. Got it for a good price too if I remember correctly - less than 9 bucks.
- edit*
Went to get some Redline MT90 from advance today. They can get it, but charge $18.50/quart. I said no thanks.
Rick88ss: (2011-04-07 18:19:24)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
Which one is better for a 30A manual transmission....
Redline MT90 or Redline MTL?
I currently have Amsoil in the tranny but I had to buy it online. Redline is usually easier to find locally.
datsunzcar84: (2011-04-08 02:52:42)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
I hooked up with a Amsoil dealer today and got a decent deal on 3 qts of GL-4 . If any one is in need of Amsoil products I can source them though him .
dirty31: (2011-06-02 21:07:32)
Has anyone ever tried or have opinions on this gear oil from CRC? Napa sells it for $33/gallon.
http://www.crcindustries.com/auto/co…PN=SL24239&S=N
K_Scheeringa: (2011-06-05 01:24:38)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
Hey Raff, try Johnston Research and Performance @ 2344 So. Sheridan Way Mississauga, ON L5J 2M4 905-822-7223.. www.jrponline.com They keep it on the shelf and also carry royal purple and others… may not be the cheapest place, but it is reliable… I also run MT90 in my jeep AX-15 for the same reasons…
TO be honest, i just do a search on Redlines web site, they will tell you who carries what..
Careless: (2011-06-05 03:37:55)
Re: Finding GL-4 gear oils can be a pain
Yeah, JRP is ok. But a new race parts outfitter just opened up down the street, and magnus motorsports is down the street too, and my euro tuner guy has all the crazy additives and stuff always in stock and redline as well. he usually orders a case of redline for a rainy day… because I usually come in during the spring or the fall. haha
thnx though!
my friend called me today to tell me the radiator fans i bought were available at jrp, but they would be 80 bux a pop there. i got them for 80 shipped to my house- no duty.
Parts are expensive in Canada because everyone gets them from keystone network. Which is already expensive as it is.
I thought it was no longer within my reach, but magnus is cool with me now, and the euro guy moved to a location even closer to my house. hahah. his place was closed and i was sad for a bit.
Jason84NA2T: (2011-06-08 22:37:57)
PM guys… thread partially jacked already.
628sx: (2011-07-18 02:23:23)
F*CK! i thought i read the thread right the first time.... but i guess not cause i just put gl5 in this morning..... FML… i need gl4 right? just for further further clarification
kontera: (2011-07-19 05:33:49)
the advance auto here in Macon sells it for about 9 bucks a quart. not that any of you guys r gonna drive down here to humidity hell for some gear oil [archived image: biggrin.png]
Augustus Maximus: (2011-08-10 18:26:08)
http://www.crcindustries.com/ei/content … L24239&S=C
Napa has it.
862sik: (2011-10-22 10:21:02)
On KY last rebuilt granny, the idiot didn't know what to put in. He went to the store and bought gear oil. Obviously it was gl5. Did a drain after maybe 4k (didn't think of the fluid) and it came up glittery and sparkly.
Put new fluid in it but it was to late. Hard to get into first…bearing noises....ended up junking the 71c and replaced it with a t5....much better
If anyone is stuck and can't find redline gl4....its everywhere here…I can ship it.
midian: (2011-11-27 21:01:56)
as well as gl-5=bad, gl-4=good, what will be your opinion about transmission oils for 30a (GL4 is recommend):
Motul Gear 300 75W-90 (API GL4 and GL 5/MIL-L-2105C) - but this one is GL4 AND GL5
and this, which is GL4 firm, but
Motul Gear MB 80W
API GL-4
specified for heavy duty truck transmissions: Mercedes Benz, MAN or ZF (Ecolite, Ecomid, Ecosplit, Astronic 1&2 etc) but only for transmissions w/out hypoed gear.
Gregmatic: (2011-12-01 15:13:12)
I would stay away from anyhting that is marked GL-4 and GL-5. As said earlier, it is more like a GL-5 with a secondary GL-4 rating and will most certainly harm your synchros. Strictly GL-4.
Augustus Maximus: (2011-12-02 12:20:52)
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mtg.aspx
http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=7
I use 50% blend of this oil with Redline in my 92SE Maxima with VLSD 5SPD. Still smooth in below zero weather.
manrossdamn: (2012-04-16 18:10:21)
My buddy over here has a dealer who is opening up a shop soon.
He can get whatever oils and fluids I need, sweetness..
He got my friend Royal Purple street performance yadadada.
100$ For a 12Q box.
Friggin sweet.
I talked to him about getting me some Amsoil for my transmission/diff
Haven't talked about pricing just yet, but it'll be sweet to have a case of RP, just synthetic, nothing spectacular
862sik: (2012-04-16 20:59:55)
You can easilly sign up and be a amsoil rep to recieve the discount.
RocklinMike300zx: (2012-04-17 00:50:43)
Redline MT-90 has been great in my 71C. Haven't had to deal with the summer heat yet though so we will see how it holds up then.
862sik: (2012-04-17 15:54:07)
I used that with mtf 50/50 and it was awsome. All until I blew up that transmission.
Im probably never going to use mt90 again since I got my t5. Mike, if you want my extra mt90 bottle let me know. Its collecting dust.
88ZX: (2012-07-07 03:14:54)
BG Synchroshift II is a GL4 fluid that I have good luck with before. Haven't tried any in my z yet, however it works great in my Sentra Spec V's 6spd tranny.
redpino: (2012-07-16 23:19:54)
Have anyone of you tried pennzoil 80w-90?
ZSpeedPerformance: (2012-08-14 15:11:36)
Nissan MTF is the best for cold and recommended for most Nissan M/T , Not great for hard driving as it is pretty thin
Redline MT-90 good lube but a little thick on cold shifts
Redline MT-85 We have used this with good success in the newer RWD 6 Speeds, Can be used in older nissan trans also and will help with cold shifts over the MT-90
Motul Gear 300, 100% ester based synthetic gear lube, One of our favorites, Good cold viscosity (shifts easy cold) Will not harm Brass (yellow) metals, syncros ect. Very high hot film strength to protect gears under abusive use, Expensive but worth it to save your trans, Esp drag racing wear gear loads are very high.
We stock all these if anyone needs them, Ohio, KY, IL, IN and surrounded states are usually 1 day ship time.
amreboot: (2012-08-14 16:10:18)
My local performance shop had Redline MT-90 in stock and tons of it.
3 qts was roughly $45.
So people should check their local performance shops. Just a FYI [archived image: smile.png]
solost: (2012-08-14 17:43:53)
How long until the symptoms are noticed? Grinding?
I put Coastal Gl-4 / Gl-5 last time because there wasn't anything else at the store. I haven't noticed any grinding yet or anything unusual. But then again, I don't drive the Z much.
Damn, what a headache it'll be to find another transmission now :-?
amreboot: (2012-08-14 23:11:36)
[quote]solost wrote:
I would stay away from anyhting that is marked GL-4 and GL-5. As said earlier, it is more like a GL-5 with a secondary GL-4 rating and will most certainly harm your synchros. Strictly GL-4.How long until the symptoms are noticed? Grinding?
I put Coastal Gl-4 / Gl-5 last time because there wasn't anything else at the store. I haven't noticed any grinding yet or anything unusual. But then again, I don't drive the Z much.
Damn, what a headache it'll be to find another transmission now :-?
In my built 89 turbo, I use Royal Purple 75w90 which is advertises as gl4/gl5. I have ran this so far for 2 years or so without problems. My z31 currently has 548rwhp and with all that input going through the transmission, no problems, shifts great.
But honestly, I would still recommend the GL4.