Wrong manual trans/differential oil?

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My OM recommends 75w90 GL-4 or GL-5 for the manual transaxle. My dealer replaced the oil at 40k with Mobil 80w90. Car now has 46k.

Should I change the oil right away to the correct viscosity, or wait until 80k to change it and use the correct 75w90?

Available 75w90 here are the following. Which would you recommend?:

Pennzoil Synthetic 75w90 GL-5

Valvoline Synthetic 75w20 GL-5

THANKS!
 
As long as the 80w-90 was the right spec, you'll be fine. I doubt it will ever get cold enough in Nicaragua to matter.
 
On the next change I would recommend looking at ford motorcraft full synthetic transmission fluid. It is gl-4 75w90 and is and impressive manual transmission oil I'm transmissions calling for 75w90 Gl-4 fluids.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: donnyj08
On the next change I would recommend looking at ford motorcraft full synthetic transmission fluid. It is gl-4 75w90 and is and impressive manual transmission oil I'm transmissions calling for 75w90 Gl-4 fluids.


I'll swing by the ford dealer here to see if they carry it. Thanks for your recommendation!
 
You should be able to get Pennzoil 75w-90 GL-4 shortly in Nicaragua. They just announced it in Mexico, I would think it is on the way to you guys as well. It is designed exclusively for manual transmissions, it should give you a little bit better shifting quality over a GL-5 or dual rated GL-4/GL-5.

The 80w-90 is probably fine until the next scheduled service interval, but if it were me I would definitely put 75w-90 in. It will shift better, even at your tropical ambient temperature.
 
Originally Posted By: Cardenio327
You should be able to get Pennzoil 75w-90 GL-4 shortly in Nicaragua. They just announced it in Mexico, I would think it is on the way to you guys as well. It is designed exclusively for manual transmissions, it should give you a little bit better shifting quality over a GL-5 or dual rated GL-4/GL-5.

The 80w-90 is probably fine until the next scheduled service interval, but if it were me I would definitely put 75w-90 in. It will shift better, even at your tropical ambient temperature.


All the 75w90 I've seen here is GL-5 (including the Pennzoil synthetic), which is ok according to OM as it specifies GL-4 or 5.

I'll do the next change at 80k km and will use the 75w90 and probably the GL-4 will be out by then. The Toyota dealers here only have the TGMO 80w90, and when I ask if they can order TGMO 75w90 they just say "it uses 80w90" and don't even check in the system.
 
My only concern is whether the 80W90 was some "low-rent" oil that is common in Central and South America... per out resident expert Richard Widman in Bolivia, wjo runs a lubricant distribution warehouse and a line of service shops there. Zeolua, I would recommend your finding Widman's latest post (he goes by "Widman") and PM him, telling him what brand of oil was used and what it was used in. More than likely, he will know whether you are OK or not. I agree that an 80W90 grade will likely be fine in your climate, you just need to know whether what was installed was a quality brand with the right additives. Widman has commented often on the low quality oil foisted off in that part of the world. You can find his business site (in English and Spanish) at Widman
 
Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
My only concern is whether the 80W90 was some "low-rent" oil that is common in Central and South America... per out resident expert Richard Widman in Bolivia, wjo runs a lubricant distribution warehouse and a line of service shops there. Zeolua, I would recommend your finding Widman's latest post (he goes by "Widman") and PM him, telling him what brand of oil was used and what it was used in. More than likely, he will know whether you are OK or not. I agree that an 80W90 grade will likely be fine in your climate, you just need to know whether what was installed was a quality brand with the right additives. Widman has commented often on the low quality oil foisted off in that part of the world. You can find his business site (in English and Spanish) at Widman


Thanks for your advice. Mobil Mobilube HD 80W-90 GL-5 is what the Toyota dealer used.
 
Originally Posted By: zeuloa
Originally Posted By: donnyj08
On the next change I would recommend looking at ford motorcraft full synthetic transmission fluid. It is gl-4 75w90 and is and impressive manual transmission oil I'm transmissions calling for 75w90 Gl-4 fluids.


I'll swing by the ford dealer here to see if they carry it. Thanks for your recommendation!


I went by the Ford dealer and they did not have the GL-4, and the parts guy was not familiar with it. They did have the GL-5 for about $40/qt. I'll have to get the part number of the GL-4 and see if they can order it.
 
I don't see any problem with what they put in and at 40.00 quart see no reason to put in the m/c stuff. if you want synthetic try a regular brand in your area like Castrol or something that should be way cheapoer than 40.00
 
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