FRS/BRZ Manual Trans Fluid

[Sellout]

Doesn't it say GL3 or higher? It's a minimum rating IIRC.

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by Sellout

Doesn't it say GL3 or higher? It's a minimum rating IIRC.

Actually the GL ratings I believe are not incremental. GL5 isn't compatible with GL4, etc.


API GL-3. Oils for moderate conditions. Contain up to 2.7% anti-wear additives. Designed for lubricating bevel and other gears of truck transmissions. Not recommended for hypoid gears.
API GL-4. Oils for various conditions - light to heavy. They contain up to 4.0% effective anti-scuffing additives. Designed for bevel and hypoid gears which have small displacement of axes, the gearboxes of trucks, and axle units. These oils are standard for synchronized gearboxes, especially in Europe, and may also be recommended for non-synchronized gearboxes of US trucks, tractors and buses and for main and other gears of all vehicles. GL-4 oils may also be used in many limited-slip differentials.
API GL-5. Oils for severe conditions. They contain up to 6.5% effective anti-scuffing additives. The general application of oils in this class are for hypoid gears having significant displacement of axes, generally non limited-slip differentials. They are recommended as universal oils to all other units of mechanical transmission (except synchronized gearboxes specifying GL-4). Some GL-5 oils in this class, which have special approval of vehicle manufacturers, can be used in synchronized manual gearboxes. API GL-5 oils can be used in limited slip differentials only if they correspond to the requirements of specification MIL-L-2105D or ZF TE-ML-05. In this case the designation of class will be another, for example API GL-5+ or API GL-5 LS.
API GL-6 is not applied any more as it is considered that class API GL-5 well enough meets the most severe requirements. When API GL-6 was still in use, it denoted oils for very heavy conditions (high speeds of sliding and significant shock loadings). They contained up to 10% high performance anti-scuffing additives. They were designed for hypoid gears with significant displacement of axes. However, in 2011 at least one company offers new polyol ester based API GL-6 oil, mostly for racing applications. The application is limited to certain types of manual transmissions, but improvements in BSFC of about 5% in standard weather and driving conditions and up to 15-20% in cold extremes (arctic weather conditions) can be expected.


Some lubes like Motul are both GL4 and GL5. Not all GL5 are also GL4 though, so make sure to read the label.

-Mike Paisan


11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

[Sellout]

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

Actually the GL ratings I believe are not incremental. GL5 isn't compatible with GL4, etc.


API GL-3. Oils for moderate conditions. Contain up to 2.7% anti-wear additives. Designed for lubricating bevel and other gears of truck transmissions. Not recommended for hypoid gears.
API GL-4. Oils for various conditions - light to heavy. They contain up to 4.0% effective anti-scuffing additives. Designed for bevel and hypoid gears which have small displacement of axes, the gearboxes of trucks, and axle units. These oils are standard for synchronized gearboxes, especially in Europe, and may also be recommended for non-synchronized gearboxes of US trucks, tractors and buses and for main and other gears of all vehicles. GL-4 oils may also be used in many limited-slip differentials.
API GL-5. Oils for severe conditions. They contain up to 6.5% effective anti-scuffing additives. The general application of oils in this class are for hypoid gears having significant displacement of axes, generally non limited-slip differentials. They are recommended as universal oils to all other units of mechanical transmission (except synchronized gearboxes specifying GL-4). Some GL-5 oils in this class, which have special approval of vehicle manufacturers, can be used in synchronized manual gearboxes. API GL-5 oils can be used in limited slip differentials only if they correspond to the requirements of specification MIL-L-2105D or ZF TE-ML-05. In this case the designation of class will be another, for example API GL-5+ or API GL-5 LS.
API GL-6 is not applied any more as it is considered that class API GL-5 well enough meets the most severe requirements. When API GL-6 was still in use, it denoted oils for very heavy conditions (high speeds of sliding and significant shock loadings). They contained up to 10% high performance anti-scuffing additives. They were designed for hypoid gears with significant displacement of axes. However, in 2011 at least one company offers new polyol ester based API GL-6 oil, mostly for racing applications. The application is limited to certain types of manual transmissions, but improvements in BSFC of about 5% in standard weather and driving conditions and up to 15-20% in cold extremes (arctic weather conditions) can be expected.


Some lubes like Motul are both GL4 and GL5. Not all GL5 are also GL4 though, so make sure to read the label.

-Mike Paisan

I went and looked through my manual, it doesn't say GL-3 or higher. However, the API says:

Due to changes in manufacturers' recommended practices or due to the unavailability of testing hardware, the
Service Designations API GL-1, GL-2, GL-3, and GL-6 are not in current use. The designations listed in Section 3
replace all previous API gear lubricant designations.

So using a GL3 fluid is going to be tough if you aren't buying it from the OEM. GL4 is the replacement designation for GL1-3.

This publication from the API: http://api.org/certification-program...April-2013.pdf explains the designations. They were actually incremental designations but a change in gear type or duty was generally the reason for the next incremental designation, and ended up with GL3 not being intended for stuff that GL2 was designed for, etc. (So GL1 increments to GL3 and then GL4, GL5 incremented to GL6 and then they reversed that and removed the GL6 designation)

Cliffs: GL4 and GL5 is all the API gives us anymore. GL4 for synchro boxes, GL5 for hypoid gears. Toyota spec'd an outdated fluid for a reason, they want you to buy their fluid at a ridiculous markup I'm sure.

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by Sellout

I went and looked through my manual, it doesn't say GL-3 or higher. However, the API says: So using a GL3 fluid is going to be tough if you aren't buying it from the OEM. GL4 is the replacement designation for GL1-3.

Yeah I didn't think there was any GL3 left.

We carry Motul Gear 300 75w90 which is GL4 and GL5 however what we normally use for Subaru transmissions on our Amsoil side the Severe Gear 75w90 is GL5 only and doesn't work in the BRZ/FRS Transmissions, for those we use Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90 which is GL4.

-Mike Paisan


11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

[504]

Originally Posted by so26

I've put ~200mi on the Pentosin fill and I've got to say I'm not that crazy about it. It feels too thin ... wish I went with something a little thicker like Torco MTF or Amsoil MSTF.

Pentosin MTF2 is OEM equivilent fluid for a BMW E46 M3 which outputs nearly double the torque of the Stock FA20. Viscosity =/= Protection

Infact theres alot of debate as to whether or not it IS BMW MTF LT2 oil which is put in from factory.

[FRSGeek]

I can't find the thread, but wasn't there some Redline blurb documenting the benefits of their MTL blend for the MT?

[OICU812]

Originally Posted by FRSGeek

I can't find the thread, but wasn't there some Redline blurb documenting the benefits of their MTL blend for the MT?

Think you may be referring to this post..?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=366

[Sellout]

I've got Redline MTL in mine. Quite a bit better than the stock fluid, but it's certainly not a cure-all like the Pentosin apparently is.

[FRSGeek]

No that wasn't the one, but thank you for looking. I searched for "Redline MTL" and didn't even hit this posting. I wonder if the admins need to kick off a 2am re-indexing of the forums.

Originally Posted by OICU812

Think you may be referring to this post..?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=366

[FRSGeek]

I haven't read yet anyone talking of Pentosin, and is MTF-2 you are referring too I found on their website?

Originally Posted by Sellout

I've got Redline MTL in mine. Quite a bit better than the stock fluid, but it's certainly not a cure-all like the Pentosin apparently is.

[Sellout]

Originally Posted by FRSGeek

I haven't read yet anyone talking of Pentosin, and I from their site is it MTF-2 you are referring too?

Yes. There's an old thread around here somewhere that reads like the best commercial ever for the stuff. It not only cures your shifting woes, it makes sammiches and gives phenomenal BJs while you drive to work.

[roddy]

Originally Posted by Sellout

Yes. There's an old thread around here somewhere that reads like the best commercial ever for the stuff. It not only cures your shifting woes, it makes sammiches and gives phenomenal BJs while you drive to work.

LOL, it's not quite that good, but it did make a very noticeable difference in my car. I was hesitant to try it at first, but when I did, I was impressed.

[Ingen]

Originally Posted by Sellout

Yes. There's an old thread around here somewhere that reads like the best commercial ever for the stuff. It not only cures your shifting woes, it makes sammiches and gives phenomenal BJs while you drive to work.

Is there a less expensive oil that delivers on the promise of mediocre BJs on the way to work? It's a long drive to work, but it's a bad economy here.

[Sellout]

Originally Posted by Ingen

Is there a less expensive oil that delivers on the promise of mediocre BJs on the way to work? It's a long drive to work, but it's a bad economy here.

lol, I wouldn't know. I can tell you this, I'm using Redline MTL, and it's enough of an improvement over the factory fluid that I honestly don't care that it doesn't make me sammiches and provide BJs(of any quality)