Time for GEAR oil...

Discussion in 'U-shift em' started by yachtsmanbill, Mar 23, 2019.

  1. yachtsmanbill

    yachtsmanbill Well-Known Member

    I wanted to fill up the Super T-10 with oil before it goes in, and was disappointed not to get some oil today for synchromesh service because of viscosity issues. I have a bunch of 80-90 and 90-140 stuff here thats good for GL4 and GL5 service. Where does that stand on the synchro ring issue? The Valvoline stuff I have is good for synchro and non-syncro gear boxes.

    The stuff thats GL4 at the parts store was like 40W on a cool day. I didnt buy it but was told thats what all the good ol' boys up here are running. Is the skinny stuff what is to be expected?? Bill

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  2. Golden Oldie 65

    Golden Oldie 65 Well-Known Member

    I read an article a while back that mentioned that GL5 had some additives in it that were harmful to the brass in our old transmissions. I can't find that article now but it was convincing enough for me to stick with GL4. I use Redline MT90 in the Super T10 in my El Camino.
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2019
  3. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

  4. yachtsmanbill

    yachtsmanbill Well-Known Member

    Went to NAPA yesterday and the owner mustve been there. He owns 3 stores and is a nice guy, but all the store monkeys were scurrying around. Game boy was pissed that he had to fill the oil racks with quarts of oil. How dare the owner interrupt my all time high score on Ms Pacman????

    So as I am looking past him, he asked me what I need. I asked him (like the a$$hole I am) for some gear lube. Uhhhhh, Got 5 gallon buckets in the back... WHAT??? I need a quart for a 4 speed. That prompted a walk with GB down 3 aisles to find trans juice. I guess thats WHY he makes the big money. Want fries with that???

    So even though I dismissed him, he stayed and helped me read the bottles. All of a sudden he was a lubrication engineer. Knew all about GL4s and 5s! Just didnt know the "why's" of it. I clued him in. Absolutely every bottle was a GL5 OEM recommended oil, Suitable for use with a GL4 recommendation. YGBSM! Nothing like Greek spelled in a Roman alphabet.

    ONE brand was labeled "SYNCHROMESH" lube. Great! It still feels like 40W in the bottle.

    Why the hell do we, as consumers, need to blend our own oils? That includes adding ZDDP to engine oil. Techno-college kid engineers give me the Hershey Squirts. As a kid we were out in the country with a Model T Ford and realized ol' Bessie was outa oil. We stopped at the only store for miles and tossed a gallon of Mazola Corn Oil in there and made it home. The car smelled like fried chicken but thats all good.
    Those old fords used a 600W (!!) Well thats what it was called anyways, for the diff and trans'. It was "steam engine cylinder oil" that needed to get heated to flow. It was also paraffin based and used on any kind of spur cut gears. Just a step away from being a "solid".

    https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_model_t/differential-oil-600w-quart-bottle.html

    https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SLRSL24229 GameBoy probably cant/dont get it...

    Looks like Harley/Pennzoil 70W aircraft oil mixed with a pound of lubriplate... "Its the film"... ws
     
  5. yachtsmanbill

    yachtsmanbill Well-Known Member

    Ordered two quarts yesterday from KRAPA (NAPA)... The Dork Fork behind the counter never heard of this before. I asked about 90-140 availability and got the eye roll as he had to put down the crack phone and actually pick up a book. This POS is about 50 and probably cant read.

    The whole bummer about this store is that Gary, the part owner and shop machinist is retiring this week and theres nowhere else to go. He was a Chevy line mechanic for 25 years and was pretty sharp. He knew U-joint numbers/compatibility off the top of his head and could do a complete Q-Jet overhaul for 30.00 including the kit! ws

    https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SLRSL24229
     
  6. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Bill, for what its worth, Jeff at Midwest Muncie was adamant that I use nothing but 80w-90 GL4 (and NOT GL5) in my Autogear M23 Muncie he built for me. There were a few brands in particular he spec'd, but highly recommended Brad Penn. So much so in fact that he just ended up tossing a quart of it in the crate with the transmission when he shipped it to me.
     
  7. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    That synchromesh fluid is no good for an old school trans. You need Gl4 only stuff.
     
  8. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    I use Driven 04530 Conventional 80W-90 GL-4 in my T-10.
     
  9. yachtsmanbill

    yachtsmanbill Well-Known Member

    The Sta-Lube I linked is a GL4 rated lube. Nothing "compatible" with it. Picked up two quarts. Seems to be the correct stuff as well... ws
     
  10. 1969BSGS

    1969BSGS Well-Known Member

    I use GM Part # 12346190 Synthetic GL4 in the Gear Vendors, Little Pricey but good stuff.....
     
  11. David Hemker

    David Hemker Well-Known Member

    I have been racing and street driving a 70 4 speed BBB for 28 + years. I have used the shelf brand GL-4/GL-5, AMSOIL and other shelf brand gear lubes.
    I have broken 4 Muncies using the above mentioned gear lubes. When warmed up the shifting would become very cumbersome and no longer smooth.
    GL-5 is missing additives that protect the brass in the older transmission. If it says GL-5 on the bottle I suggest putting it back on the shelf and walk away.
    I know several of the Pure Stock Racers who have had shifting issues with their 4 speed cars using the shelf GL-4/GL5.

    PennGrade formerly Brad Penn makes a GL-4 gear oil specifically for the older transmissions.
    I have used the PennGrade gear lube for 10 + years with no issues.
    The Pure Stock racers who I suggested switching to the PennGrade have had no issues since switching.

    This gear lube may appear expensive on the surface but I see it as cheap insurance. 2 quarts of this lube ($20 maybe) is cheap compared to a rebuild with gears, countershafts and other parts.
     
    Bigpig455 likes this.

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