Recommend trans fluid for 01 VW Passat

[Tight TL]

I did a brief search but came up empty. My wife has a 2001 VW Passat 1.8 turbo 5mt. It's time to change the transmission fluid. My wife drives her Passat like I drive my TL...runs it up through the gears, not afraid of redline, likes to ue the turbo (I know, my TL is NA). Here in the Washington DC area we get cold snowy winters and hot humid summers. Last time I used Amsoil, I can not remember the exact name but it has since been discontinued. I bought some Redline MT-90 but it's brother MTL has received only average reviews over on acura-tl.com and that makes me wonder about the MT-90. Do you guys like the new Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube? Would you run something else instead? Would you avoid certain products. Thanks in advance...I snoop around this site almost daily, although I rarely post. Your input is appreciated.
Fred

 

[Bobert]

MT-90 does fine in VW trannys. If you already shelled out the bucks for it, go ahead and use it without worry. I used it in my VW 02A tranny and the performance was very good. Cold shifting was a little notchy, but when warmed up shift quality is very nice.

 

[glxpassat]

Your 012 tranny has an itegral hpyoid gear and probably requires an oil that is dual rated GL-4/5 which implies that it protects like a 5 without damaging soft yellow metals like a 4. The stock fluid is Castrol TAF-X which is dual rated. So far in my 03, I've had stock which works pretty well when cold but gets notchy when hot. Royal Purple maxgear which is great when hot but is too thick and you can forget 2nd gear when cold. Right now I have Motul gear 300 which feels alot like stock to me but seems to be stiffer when cold. If I chage again I will probably go back to the stock fluid but it's not cheap.

 

[Bobert]

If this tranny requires a dual rated GL4/GL5, I would go with Specialty Formulations MTL-R which carries GL4/GL5.

 

[glxpassat]

The problem with SP is going to be the viscosity when cold. It's above 90 cst at 40c. The stock is around 72 and Motul is about 70 (not sure I believe it) cst at 40c. The stock is pretty stiff going into second when it's freezing out but works with a little pressure. I'm wating to see how the Motul is going to work in freezing weather. Second gear was a no-go when it was 80 degrees with the RP.

 

[unDummy]

What does the owners manual state?

 

[glxpassat]

The manual says nothing. VW considers it a life-time fill.

 

[99]

You can get the transaxle lube from the dealer. The factory VW lube is your safest bet in the long run.

 

[turbodevil]

The factory lube is also ~ $30 a quart/liter. Use the mt90 without worry. My indie audi/vw mechanic uses redline gear lubes for all manual tranny's. good luck

 

[FowVay]

I mix one quart of Redline MTL and one quart of MT-90 in my Golf. It works much better than either product alone.

It is still a bit stiff when cold but certainly isn't unuseable. I change at 50,000 mile intervals.