Redline MTL in BMW 5-speed

[Jimbo]

I just changed the oil in my BMW's Getrag transmission from Valvoline Type F to Redline MTL. Shifing is identical but there seems to be less noise.

The owners manual calls for GL-4 gear oil or SAE 20/30/40 HD motor oil, but the sticker on the transmission says ATF OIL. Redline claims an SAE 10w30 motor oil viscosity for MTL.

The rear axle will get Redline 80W-140 next weekend. Thanks to the site sponsor for low prices on Redline.

 

[UNC069]

What model BMW is it? I put redline MTL in my Getrag 5-speed and it was better than Mobil 1 ATF. Then I tried redline D4 ATF, which was even better. The MTL was much notchier in the morning even at only 50F, and in the winter was almost unbearable for the first few minutes. The D4 ATF fixed all that.

Why do you want to put such a thick oil in the rear diff? It calls for 75W-90 doesn't it? Is there a whine or something that you're trying to quiet with the 140 wt? Mobil 1 or redline 75W-90 would be excellent if not.

 

[MolaKule]

I recommend for people insisting on ATF in manual transmissions, they go with Redline DexIII Racing or the Ford Type-F racing fluids (both 10 cSt fluids), since they provide a thicker oil film for high temps.

 

[Jimbo]

quote:

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Originally posted by BMW318tiCS:
What model BMW is it? I put redline MTL in my Getrag 5-speed and it was better than Mobil 1 ATF. Then I tried redline D4 ATF, which was even better. The MTL was much notchier in the morning even at only 50F, and in the winter was almost unbearable for the first few minutes. The D4 ATF fixed all that.

Why do you want to put such a thick oil in the rear diff? It calls for 75W-90 doesn't it? Is there a whine or something that you're trying to quiet with the 140 wt? Mobil 1 or redline 75W-90 would be excellent if not.

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I have a very early production e36 325i (5/91 build date). I will find out if it gets notchy in the "winter" here (50F lows). There is confusion as to the proper transmission fluid for those early cars.

I currently have M1 75W-90 in there and there seems to be some chatter from the limited slip unit. I found out that BMW currently uses 140 in L/S axles. 80W-140 is overkill, but the only 75W-140 that was available at the time I ordered was the N/S version, without the L/S additive.

 

[Dominic]

The Redline High Temp ATF is what I run in my manual, which calls for ATF, and it's great. It has the same film thickness as the MTL.

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by BMW318tiCS:
I put redline MTL in my Getrag 5-speed and it was better than Mobil 1 ATF. Then I tried redline D4 ATF, which was even better. The MTL was much notchier in the morning even at only 50F, and in the winter was almost unbearable for the first few minutes. The D4 ATF fixed all that.

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Interesting! I was running Mobil 1 ATF in my Ford pickup with the Mazda 5 speed manual transmission. I went to Redline D4 and it does not seem significantly better. I shied away from MTL because it is thicker and the Redline tech said it would make cold weather shifting worse. Your experience confirms that the D4 is better for me with Michigan winters, but I suspect it would shift better otherwise with the MTL.

 

[Jimbo]

Reline is now in the differential. It seems quieter, but that may be a "placebo" effect. The chatter is gone. It is interesting to note that when the Mobil came out there was no "shimmer" of metallic particles that I normally see when draining gear oils.