Thread: Oils - can we set up a definitive list

Originally Posted by rick130

Total fiction.
Buy the best oil you can afford that's readily available.
I prefer at a minimum an API CI-4+/ACEA C4/C6/C7 oil.

The R380 g/box can be a little finicky.
If you're happy with the shifting you can stick with a Dex III spec. ATF and change it every. 10,000km but...

The factory revised the oil spec in '96 to MTF94, which is a 75W-80 GL4 manual trans fluid.
Quite a few have found Castrol Sytrans 75W-85 to be a better/more suitable for Australia and much more available fluid, especially if you are getting notchy shifting and bearing/gear rattle at higher ambient temps.
I'd still change this at 20,000km even though it's a trick full synthetic. The R380 seems to be really hard on fluid.

My all time favourite is Motul Gear 300, but it is silly $$, and most people refuse to use it as it's a 75W-90, but it works really well in my experience.
Due to its crazy high viscosity index, it's actually thinner than Syntrans at 0°C....

Thanks. So in layman terms what Brand for the Engine do you recommend? What one do you use?

Whats peoples thought on Penrite HPR Diesel 20-60. This summer heat has shown i suffer from extremely poor oil pressure in 100c (engine temp) conditions like 7psi hot idle. I was thinking of running it in summer then switching back to 15-40 in winter. And yes, i have almost half a million k's on my 300tdi

Originally Posted by Pub247

Whats peoples thought on Penrite HPR Diesel 20-60. This summer heat has shown i suffer from extremely poor oil pressure in 100c (engine temp) conditions like 7psi hot idle. I was thinking of running it in summer then switching back to 15-40 in winter. And yes, i have almost half a million k's on my 300tdi

I'd replace your big ends.
Generally they need doing around 280,000km.

20W-60 is just miles too heavy unless the engine is really tired and loose.