Thin RP

[Thingfish]

These items came off the drain plug magnet on a '02 Subaru WRX I serviced today. Oil was Royal Purple of an unknown weight but drained like water. As did the RP in the 5sp / front diff. Unknown mileage on the fluid.
Just thought I would share.

 

[Pablo]

Did you acquire the vehicle from someone else? Just curious as to not knowing the viscosity.

Those look like bits of gear teeth!

Is it hard?

I'd run a short run of dino as a flush. And get some Amsoil Severe Gear Oil in there. Maybe even the new 75W-110.

 

[MonumentOiler]

Not good but if it runs fine now then it might go to 500k before they need to address the problem.

 

[Thingfish]

It's a buddies car that he brought to me because of my lube fetish...
The chunks are very rigid and cannot be easily scratched with a pick.
The car does not exibit any abnormalities during accel, decel or cornering. The car is modified and makes roughly 290whp.
I replaced it with Valvoline 85-140 that I had handy for a cushion and a flush, and will advise him to use the Severe Gear when I rebuild / replace it.

 

[badtlc]

I think he has other problems than his choice of lube. How does he drive his car?

 

[benjamming]

What's the size of the chunks?

 

[Titan]

They're "known" to have fragile second gears, I think. Maybe this is parts of second gear teeth?

 

[unDummy]

Is that from the transmission drainplug?

Get a UOA on it.

Its broken!

Find out what fluid was used. Maxgear 75w90 usually isn't considered thin. Synchromax is not an option for the transmission. Synchromax, like synchromesh, is commonly incorrectly used in manuals requiring gear oil.

 

[PT1]

I would tell him to floss those teeth daily......

 

[Thingfish]

It's from the rear diff, and I assume it was 75-90 as that is what the car calls for. Talking to him today, the fluid had approx. 20K miles. The car is driven 95% mild, 5% in anger. The transmission fluid came out " chunk free ".
I would not assume the damage came from fluid choice,but would guess it's being about as thick as grape kool-aid did not help.
Chunk sizes are approx. 7-8mm mm long.

 

[mechtech2]

Those look like spider gear/side gear pieces.
With fresh oil, and driving it easy, he'll have time on his side as he looks for a replacement transmission.

 

[Thingfish]

Quote:

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Those look like spider gear/side gear pieces.
With fresh oil, and driving it easy, he'll have time on his side as he looks for a replacement transmission.

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Agreed.

 

[Thingfish]

Pablo, do you feel that the SVG 110's protection outweigh the possible performance/mileage hit?
We are located in Vegas and routinely hit retarded temps in the summer.
I plan to continue using the 75/90 SVG in the manual trans/front diff, but wonder if the 110 might be the perfect choice for the rear diff.
I am asking in regards to my personal Subaru.

 

[Pablo]

It's the ideal fluid for LV. I doubt there would be a MPG hit.

 

[Thingfish]

Thank you sir. Going to the warehouse today.