Thread: oils aint oils

While ATF may not do them any harm, I don't think that LR moved away from it for no reason. MTF94 for me.

The story goes that when the R380 was developed there was no suitable manual gearbox oil available on the market so they chose ATF as a near enough alternative.

It was found that while ATF was good for changes it was not a very good lubricant in the box and as soon as MTF 94 came on the market, Land Rover changed the specs for the R380 to MTF 94.

I know Landrover can do some silly things but they would not have changed from the ATF to MTF if they did not have concerns about it.

Garry

Originally Posted by slug_burner

While ATF may not do them any harm, I don't think that LR moved away from it for no reason. MTF94 for me.

Considering it hasn't been made for over 12 months and won't ever be again it won't be for you any longer. Pat

Originally Posted by Leo109

Hi Rick,

Have I been doing something wrong? Ive been using ordinary old Castrol VMX 80 (75W80??) in my R380 for the last couple of 40-ish K km changes. The cold shifting is quite OK (except for the very first 1 - 2 change on really cold Tassie mornings - and then I just double de-clutch and it slides in fine) and the amount of 'fluff' on the magnet has not been anything out of the ordinary.

Am I living on borrowed time by not using a mega-buck synthetic?

I've always used pretty ordinary mineral oils (mosty Castrol) but been particular to change them at least at the recommended intervals, often a bit sooner, especially if I've been 'playing' in axle-deep or deeper water.

Ian

Good mineral oils are fine IMO Ian, and there are some that show up better in testing than a number of synthetics. Lubrication Engineers gear oils come to mind.
These days it comes down to the additives used rather than the base fluids a lot of times, but mostly the oil companies use the best add package with their most exxy bases which are generallya syn or syn blend base.

The other thing is that I prefer the shift characteristics of Syntrans over VMX80 in my R380, and in theory it shouldn't shear as quickly as it uses a pretty trick chemistry, or at least used to. However, I've had Syntrans 'go off' in 20,000km or so where the shifting has dropped in quality. Change it out and it was as good as new again.
As JC has often said, R380's can be idiosyncratic in shift behaviour, what fluid one box likes, another doesn't shift near as well, and my box appears to prefer slightly 'thicker' fluids, relatively speaking.

When I was using Redline MTL I ended up mixing MT90 with it at a 2:3 ratio to reduce the gear rattle on very hot days and heavy work. Shift quality would deteriorate as the ambient climbed towards 40*C with MTL and Syntans, so as an experiment I've been running Torco RTF for the last 18 months, which is a 75W-90 syn racing gearbox flluid. (14.3 cSt @ 100*, VI = 181 which is a little heavier than Syntrans and a little lighter than MT90)

Pat,

Simply pointing out that MTFs have been developed and as has been pointed out LR released a service bulletin about the change and while Texaco MTF94 may not be available, there are others here is just one.

Penrite

MANUAL GEAR OIL 75

New Generation technology, synthetic fortified gear oil suitable for use in many modern manual gearboxes where originally an automatic transmission fluid was specified. Can be used where SAE 75W-80 or 80W grades are specified in the handbook. Provides superior cold shift characteristics compared to conventional oils. SAE 75W-80, API GL-4 Plus, Honda MTF 7389, Land Rover MTF94, MB 235.10


This forum has many threads dealing with the topic of the change from ATF for the R380. Rick130 has provided a number of alternatives which have been subsequently developed.

cavet emptor

My 95 130 has run 80/90 for over 45000km and since I put the R380 back in (last week) I changed to Castrol Transmax M as per Castrol chart (and my L.R workshop manual). Have to admit I had reservations but the shift is a lot better. The Penrite might be a better option though? (the oil pump seems to have survived the 80/90 as it still works)

Originally Posted by slug_burner

Pat,

Simply pointing out that MTFs have been developed and as has been pointed out LR released a service bulletin about the change and while Texaco MTF94 may not be available, there are others here is just one.

Penrite

MANUAL GEAR OIL 75

New Generation technology, synthetic fortified gear oil suitable for use in many modern manual gearboxes where originally an automatic transmission fluid was specified. Can be used where SAE 75W-80 or 80W grades are specified in the handbook. Provides superior cold shift characteristics compared to conventional oils. SAE 75W-80, API GL-4 Plus, Honda MTF 7389, Land Rover MTF94, MB 235.10


This forum has many threads dealing with the topic of the change from ATF for the R380. Rick130 has provided a number of alternatives which have been subsequently developed.

cavet emptor

I know that,thats why I run MTL,but people will straight up bad mouth ATF but my R380 would be one of the highest milage ones on this forum and it has never given me an ounce of trouble running on it so I will defend ATF on that count. Pat

Originally Posted by 2stroke

My 95 130 has run 80/90 for over 45000km and since I put the R380 back in (last week) I changed to Castrol Transmax M as per Castrol chart (and my L.R workshop manual). Have to admit I had reservations but the shift is a lot better. The Penrite might be a better option though? (the oil pump seems to have survived the 80/90 as it still works)

Mine did 400,000k's on transmax M. Pat