Manual Trans Oil for my 97 Pathfinder

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dgp123

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Hey Guys,

I'm looking to change my manual transmission oil in my 97 3.3L nissan pathfinder. It specs a 75w-85 GL-4 oil. Being that this is nearly impossible to find off the shelf anywhere, even from the dealer, I'm looking at the Napa 80w85w90 gear oil. I'm also going to put this in the rear diff.

I'm not that worried about the viscosity, mainly about the GL-4 thing, as I know GL-5 will destroy the synchros. This Napa stuff specs right on the bottle for GL-3, GL-4, and GL-5 applications.

Thoughts?
 
LOL! GL5 will not distroy the synchros...it's all urban legend.

Get GL-5 so long as they are proper viscosity grading (for proper shift qualities).

Q.
 
Don't use a GL5 gear oil in your manual transmission. It should be GL4 only for best shift quality. I recommend Redline MT90, MT85, and Amsoil MTG. And yes, I would worry about the synchros if you use a generic branded fluid. Does it say use for synch'd manual transmission fluids? or for LSD diffs?

Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, GM, Ford, Chrysler... dealers stock GL4 manual transmission fluids. Shop around. If not in stock, they'll order it for you.

Its not like you change the gear oil or manual transmission fluid often. So, don't cut corners with cheap store brand fluids.

The other option, for the manual transmission, is a non-LSD, safe for synchros.... GL5 gear oil. Redline 75w90NS and Motul Gear300 are the 2 common ones.

For the rear-end, front-end, transfer case..... Mobil1, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Castrol..... have full synthetic 75w90 gear oils. Napa will also sometimes have Motul, Penstosin, and Lubro(liqui)moly. And, there is no shortage of Amsoil/Redline.... on the internet.
 
Put some Amsoil MTG in there. It's GL-4 and its awesome.
I had MTG and MT-90 in my Nissan 6 speed, and the MTG was hands down better feeling shifty quality than the MT-90.

These are both GL-4 spec'd only, synthetics.
 
Originally Posted By: Quest
LOL! GL5 will not distroy the synchros...it's all urban legend.

Get GL-5 so long as they are proper viscosity grading (for proper shift qualities).

Q.


sorry, but that is incorrect on both counts. while the sulphuric acid problems are resolved on oils bearing the MT-1 rating, the problems with the excess EP additives still are present.

read this and learn..

http://www.widman.biz/Corvair/English/Links/Transaxle.html
 
My 07 Nissan versa specs out for the same grade, I used Red Line MTL, which is 75w85 GL-4. Have 65000 miles on it right now and couldn't be happier with it. The factory fill was an Elf product, but the Red Line shifts smoother and the transaxle is very quiet. Yes my car is a manual tranny.....
 
Originally Posted By: cheetahdriver

sorry, but that is incorrect on both counts. while the sulphuric acid problems are resolved on oils bearing the MT-1 rating, the problems with the excess EP additives still are present.

read this and learn..

http://www.widman.biz/Corvair/English/Links/Transaxle.html


Here's the posting from our most authoritative BITOG poster MoloKule RE: subject on the GL4/GL5 lube and syncho corrosion part:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1415164/

Also: From Lubrizol:

http://www.lubrizol.com/DrivelineAdditives/AutomotiveGearOil/GL5.html

The way I understand this hubbub:

(a) GL5 spec'ed lube does not exhibit any worse kind of syncho brass alloy ring corrosion as GL4 (urban myth), as confirmed by Molakule and Lubrizol.

(b) GL4 may possess certain friction modifying qualities best suited for certain auto manufacturer's syncho'ed transmission, which GL5 may not.

As quoted per Mola's posting above URL:

"...While the GL-4 specification is obsolete , the synchromesh manual transmission lubes are formulated to the GL-4 protection level in terms of EP additives, with the addition of specific friction modifiers for proper synchro engagement. Since the gearing and bearings in a synchromesh transmission are not as highly loaded as in a hypoid-design differential, the EP additive level is necessarily lower. Just because a GL-4 specification is obsolete, that doesn't mean we cannot use the protection rating for specialty applications such as synchromesh transmissions.

The GL-5 rated differential lubricants do NOT have the specialized friction modifiers built into them. Yes, they have friction modifiers, but these are very different friction modifier compounds for the benefit of limited slip mechanisms, and contain about twice the EP additives (as compared to GL-4 rated synchromesh lubes) for the highly loaded hypoid, highly offset pinion drives.

The dual rating of GL5/MT-1 means a fluid can be used in differentials as well as heavy duty truck transmissions, but I do NOT recommend these fluids for passenger car and light truck synchromesh Manual Transmissions. Different fluid, different application..."


**************************************************************
My response is specifically targeting OP's :" ...I'm not that worried about the viscosity, mainly about the GL-4 thing, as I know GL-5 will destroy the synchros...."


Q.

p.s. who else can you trust in this whole wide world if you cannot trust the most authoritative lubricant tribologist/engineer/additive on BITOG?
 
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did you read the rest of that thread?

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
There is technical obsolescence and functional obsolescence.


While the GL-4 has become technically obsolete due to the testing equipment no longer being available, the functional part of the GL-4 spec has not. So for GL-4 MT lubes and GL-3 worm gear lubes, the "functional" part of the spec is NOT obsolete.


also i suggest you read widman as well.

and in addition i might add that the GL4 spec does not show inactive on the lubrizol website either...
 
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I have had good luck with both the Redline MTL and the MT90 in different vehicles. I would bet the Amsoil would give good results as well and which ever is easier to buy or has a lower price would do.
 
Thanks for all the input. I'll probably still throw the napa stuff in the rear diff since I have it. It says good for limited slip or not, not "safe for top off".

It looks like I'll be ordering the Amsoil or Redline for the trans.

What's the deal with the Pennzoil Synchromesh stuff? And why GL-4 stuff so hard to come by in stores? I realize it's probably been superceeded by GL-5 but there's gotta be lots of cars out there that still use it. Oh well... and the nissan dealers in the area only have GL-5 in small quantities... all the GL-4 is in huge drums and they don't sell it OTC.
 
Why stock a fluid that is 'lifetime' and often forgotten when it isn't???

Synchromesh is too thin. Its a 75w80 and maybe a 70w80. Its definitely overused in transmission that require 85 or 90 weight GL4 gar oil.

GL-4 hasn't been superseded by GL-5.

Napa sells Stalube/Crc 85w90 GL4. It'll work fine in your transmission. Its a little thick for NE winters so you can thin it out a little with a bottle of Lubegard Gear Fluid Supplement, which is available at Napa too.

GL4 and manual transmission gear oils are not hard to come by. There is an unlimited supply of them online, at higher end stores, and at your dealerships.
 
dgp 123 -
Modern GL5s are usually buffered comncerning sulfur.. They are not immediately corrosive anymore.
But a layer still builds up on the brass synchros which will tear away and cause wear and erratic action.

Redline makes a 70 or 75-85 which should be a perfect fit for your tranny.
 
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