Castrol TAF-21 (Porsche synthetic transaxle oil)

[ebaker]

Anyone heard of this? I have a 20 l. container of this European synthetic gear lube. I'd like to find out what to do with it. It was used in certain Porsche Boxters and possibly others. The closest info I could find was on Castrol TAF-X. It was OEM in certain Lotus and Aston Martin's. An internet search turned up the following:

"Castrol TAF-X 75W-90 GL-4 gear oil is made in the U.K. and sold only in Europe. However, the equivalent in the U.S. is Syntorq LT. Having said that, Syntorq LT SAE 75W-85, API GL -4 is a premium high performance, synthetic gear lubricant for synchronized manual transmissions. The all new "clean slate" approach enables Syntorq LT to provide consistent performance and durability under the most severe operating conditions due to its unique polymer free formula. It has been designed primarily as a problem solving gear lubricant for manual transmissions to provide reduced gearshift effort at low temperatures. Syntorq LT is available through General Motors (Part #12346190) and Chrysler (Part #4637579) dealerships. Please contact your local dealership."
Any suggestions on how to use it?

 

[tdi-rick]

Castrol have quite a number of specialty full snthetic gear lubes available in Europe and Australia.
It sounds like Syntorq LT is equivalent to, if not the same as what is called Syntrans here and in Europe, being a 75w-85 GL4 and recommended here for all competition synchro gear boxes, Mazda RX-7, some Isuzu's and MAN, Scannia, MB and Volvo truck synchro transmissions. They also have a Syntrans M which is 75w-90 GL4, and is used in MAN and Scannia truck transmissions.
They also have other full synth 75w-85 GL4's like SMX-O, which is used in certain Getrag's (used in mid '90's Holdens here)
For example, there are a number of SAF lubes, including SAF-XA (BMW 75w-140 LSD), XJ (75w-140), XO (BMW 75w-90) and XT (MAN, Scannia 75w-90)

I'd email either Castrol UK or Germany for specs. Here are some on TAF-X, and Syntrans (which really dose look like your Syntorq LT)

Synthetic Automotive Gear Oil
DESCRIPTION

Castrol TAF-X is a fully synthetic SAE 75W/90 multigrade gear oil. It is formulated with specially selected additives to combine extreme pressure qualities with synchro-cone compatibility.

APPLICATION

It is designed to help improve cold weather gear selection and keep transmission noise levels to a minimum at high operating temperatures.

Castrol TAF-X is recommended for use in manual gearboxes, transaxles, transfer boxes and final drives where an API GL4 lubricant is specified.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS API Service Level GL4
SAE Viscosity Rating 75W/90
Density @ 20ºC 0.860
Viscosity @ 40ºC, cSt 73
Viscosity @ 4100ºC, cSt 14.4
Viscosity Index 210
Flash Point, ºC 220
Pour Point, ºC -45

Syntrans

________________________________________________________________________________


Automotive Synthetic Gear Oil
DESCRIPTION

The most advanced lubricant in our range for manual transmissions, Syntrans is a fully synthetic 75W/85W fluid, recommended for all commercial vehicle gearboxes.

APPLICATION

DAF manual transmissions and non hypoid differentials
All ZF manual transmissions
Volvo manual transmissions
Scania manual transmissions
All Eaton/Fuller manual transmissions
All MB manual transmissions
All MAN manual transmissions

PERFORMANCE

MB 235.4 Approved
Volvo 1273.07 Approved
ZF TE-ML 01 (Page 2) Approved
ZF TE-ML 02 (Pages 2/3/4) Approved
Eaton/Europe (Sole approval for Eaton long drain)

FEATURES/BENEFITS

lOptimum performance at all times - even in extreme conditions
lLonger drain intervals reducing operating costs
lEasier gearshifts improve driver comfort
lSynthetic engineering improves fuel economy
lExcellent oil film retention prolongs gearbox life


________________________________________________________________________________


TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SAE 70W/85W

API Service Level GL-4

Viscosity at 40ºC cSt 63.2

Viscosity at 100ºC, cSt 11.6

Viscosity Index 181

Flash point (closed) ºC 185

Pour point ºC -51

Density at 20ºC 0.835

For UK Castrol PDS's, (which is where I pinched the two above) go here

Rick.

 

[Auto-Union]

http://no.servicebooking.net/castrol/lubetable/audi_retail.asp?lang=no

 

[G-MAN]

quote:

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Viscosity @ 4100ºC, cSt 14.4

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Holy cow!