300 Tdi Sythetic Motor Oil

[MinniTheMoocha]

Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone has used fully synthetic oil in their 300Tdi's?

Fuchs have recommended Titan SuperSyn

Interesting that they recommend ATF3000 for the R380 gearbox....especially with so much talk on this site about MTF fluid being superior to ATF for wear characteristics.

Thanks in advance.

[B92 8NW]

I use a fully synthetic, Mobil Delvac 1. I bought a few drums last time I ordered for a few members here.

I could write a book on my experiences with ATF and MTF in the manual gearboxes. I got so sick of it I bought an auto:D

The success I found in my LT77 was to use an oil with a KV between the two... combining the EP additives protection of an MTF with the smooth shifts of an ATF. Worked like a treat!

[rick130]

Hmm, Titan SuperSyn is really a petrol engine oil, in the Fuchs range I'd rather use the mineral Titan UltraLube 15W-40 (currently in my tractor) or the synthetic Titan Ultra MC. (which is actually a Group III Hydrocracked oil, hence the MC moniker, which in Fuchs parlance is 'Molecularly Converted')

Mobil Delvac 1 is the synthetic diesel oil all others seem to be measured against and the one I've used for years.

[MinniTheMoocha]

Hmm, Titan SuperSyn is really a petrol engine oil, in the Fuchs range I'd rather use the mineral Titan UltraLube 15W-40 (currently in my tractor) or the synthetic Titan Ultra MC. (which is actually a Group III Hydrocracked oil, hence the MC moniker, which in Fuchs parlance is 'Molecularly Converted')

Mobil Delvac 1 is the synthetic diesel oil all others seem to be measured against and the one I've used for years.

Thanks for your comments.

This is the actual information from the FUCHS website and I confirmed this with the sales manager that this was a very suitable Diesel oil.

TITAN
SUPERSYN
SAE 5W-40

• One of the most advanced fully synthetic engine lubricants on the market.

• High quality.

• Technically superior.

• Race-bred high performance.

• Developed for the harshest conditions.

• Designed for increased fuel economy, optimum wear protection & enhanced engine cleanliness.

API SM/CF
ACEA A3/B3/B4
MB 229.3
VW 502 00
VW 505 00
BMW LONGLIFE
PORSCHE
RENAULT

Anyway for the moment I will use up all my Penrite HPR Diesel and then look at choices again.

Where do you buy the Mobil Delvac 1 from?

Thanks

[MinniTheMoocha]

I use a fully synthetic, Mobil Delvac 1. I bought a few drums last time I ordered for a few members here.

I could write a book on my experiences with ATF and MTF in the manual gearboxes. I got so sick of it I bought an auto:D

The success I found in my LT77 was to use an oil with a KV between the two... combining the EP additives protection of an MTF with the smooth shifts of an ATF. Worked like a treat!

I have been having a real pain with my gearbox also. Tried Synthetic ATF (Penrite) which was OK but am now trying the Penrite Light gear oil 75 but it is so far woeful. Rick130 has suggested giving a little time which I will try but not being able to select 2nd is frustrating. I have bought Castrol Syntrans and will put this in for another attempt to get the right compromise of gear change and protection.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[B92 8NW]

You need to get Delvac 1 at a Mobil distributor. Repco or Supercheap etc will charge to buggery. If you are in Melbourne, you could wait until I do another bulk buy.

[MinniTheMoocha]

You need to get Delvac 1 at a Mobil distributor. Repco or Supercheap etc will charge to buggery. If you are in Melbourne, you could wait until I do another bulk buy.

Please keep me in the loop.

Thanks

[B92 8NW]

No probs... Are you in Melbourne?

Last time I offered it across metropolitan Melbourne and meetings anywhere along the Hume as far as Wodonga.

It might be a few weeks as last time I did it, it cost me $1,281 out of my own pocket as only one person paid up front:D. I haven't got $1,281 to risk at the time of writing!

[MinniTheMoocha]

I live in Ringwood and work in Hawthorn but make regular trips to the western side of the city.

So there would be no problem picking it up.

When you need to purchase some oil let me know (hopefully in advance) so that I can help contribute to the purchase so that its not all up front for you.

Did you flush the system first before using the synthetic? Oh and what interval are you using now that you went synthetic?

[jik22]

I have bought Castrol Syntrans and will put this in for another attempt to get the right compromise of gear change and protection.



I used Syntrans (And Syntrax in the TC) on my first oil change shortly after buying the Defender. Could not believe the difference. Expensive, but so worth it. As it was hard to find, after a tip on here, I got the LR dealer to just sell me it out of their drum.

[MinniTheMoocha]

I used Syntrans (And Syntrax in the TC) on my first oil change shortly after buying the Defender. Could not believe the difference. Expensive, but so worth it. As it was hard to find, after a tip on here, I got the LR dealer to just sell me it out of their drum.

Hi there,

I will be putting in the oil today (Sat 5th Apr 2008) so will hopefully see the same improvement you did.

Thanks for your input.

[mcrover]

Thanks for your comments.

This is the actual information from the FUCHS website and I confirmed this with the sales manager that this was a very suitable Diesel oil.

TITAN
SUPERSYN
SAE 5W-40

• One of the most advanced fully synthetic engine lubricants on the market. If this is one of them then what are the others, they all say that....

• High quality.For the price I would hope so, isnt any decent oil High qaulity or am I kidding my self :o

• Technically superior.To what?...Not even worth writing that unless you are going to say what it is superior to, e.g.Mobil 1, other specific brand synths

• Race-bred high performance.Another thing they all say

• Developed for the harshest conditions.And another thing they all say

• Designed for increased fuel economy, optimum wear protection & enhanced engine cleanliness.

API SM/CF
ACEA A3/B3/B4
MB 229.3
VW 502 00
VW 505 00
BMW LONGLIFE
PORSCHE
RENAULT

Anyway for the moment I will use up all my Penrite HPR Diesel and then look at choices again.

Nothing wrong with that:D

Where do you buy the Mobil Delvac 1 from?

Thanks

There are plenty of high milage 300TDI's out there that have never seen synth oils and there are plenty of good semi synth oils around at a good price, I wont use synth oils in any of my diesel's as I dont see the need as they are not TD5 technology and dont need such a thin light weight oil which will be more likely to leak out.

Synth trans juice is a different story though, I would use it if I had the trans fully rebuilt but when there is 11 ltrs in a 4hp22 and the most you will dump out of the sump is 4.5ltrs, there is a lot of flushing to be done to get the mineral oil out.

Dont know about the R380 but I have read some horror stories about running ATF in them and LT77's.

[Ace]

I have been using Valvoline Super Diesel in the disco with good results, i was using Caltex Semi Synthetic first, then tries Dello 400 (i prefered the Semi synthetic) but the local caltex distributor closed as they moved all their operations to orange.

When i bought the disco i rang around a fair bit looking for manual transmission oils and after fainting at the price of Castrol Syntrans (320 for 20L) i rang the land rover dealer in bathurst (now closed) and they told me they used Caltex MTF94 for my model (1998 300tdi Manual disco) as it is specially developed by Caltex for Land rover, it even comes with land rover on the drum. It doesnt have the fancy label like the other lines caltex stock, its just a plain white drum with Land rover MTF94 on the drum, and it was great. After 3yrs i finally ran out of the stuff and have had to use Valvoline 75W/85 or something like that and the gearbox doesnt seem as happy so i am trying to find some more caltex stuff, it was great, i changed the oil every 20000km (to often i know but i am paranoid) and it came out as clear as it went in and the gearbox function was so smooth. I am fitting a new clutch soon and fixing a transfer case oil leak next week and MTF94 will be going back in, its great stuff.

[MinniTheMoocha]

As an update I have now switched to Syntrans after a short dabble with Penrite 75w-80 manual trans oil. It has improved the 2nd gear change out of sight.

Occasionally the change from 3rd to 2nd is a little stiff but still much better than before.

As a side note I found that when the oil is first put in the gear changes go from good to really bad and then start to improve again.

So far this is the best compromise for me after Penrite Synthetic ATF, Penrite 75W-80 MTF.