Thread: don't believe the hype - gear oils

I am happy with the VMX80 in my R380 box.

Some discussion about this in relation to the LT77 box a little while ago:

http://www.aulro.com/modules.php?name=Foru...iewtopic&t=2008

Which Syntrans did you use? Syntrans 75W85 or SyntansM? The latter is 75W90. Both are slightly heavier viscosity than VMX80 (which is semi-synthetic not plain mineral BTW) and is rated at 75W80. All are considerably heavier viscosity than ATF (about double).

Usually the proper gear oils will prove vastly superior to ATF at any temp. Perhaps you have one of those gearboxes that like to defy the norm. That's the thing with Landrovers, they always keep you guessing. :roll:

If you've got money to burn, you could try the lightest of the synthetic gear oils, Redline MTL. It's rated at 70W80, but is worth around $30 per litre. 8O

Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

your situation plays a big part in this as well IMHO

external temp must play a part, same as load and driving style.

mtf is fine in tassie, but not to good in cairns in summer....

you need a lubricant to suit you and your environment. many of the gearbox recon guys wont warrant a landy box in qld if you dont use vmx80 but i have never heard anyone down south saying they had the same requirements.

anyone here know what they recommend?

You might also try Fuchs.... pronounced "Fooks" not "F....." as it appears.

Oh hang on we're on one of those series to new gen topics aren't we? Although syn fluid is sin fluid I guess.

Have Fuchs Titan 7590 in mine and noticed the difference when I changed over from VMX. Don't get the hot oil smell after a good blap down the highway or the good crunch from second to third when cold as it used to.

...Be worth a try .......

Hi All, i thought i might add my 2 cents worth on this one, i recently bought a 98 dico tdi manual, trying to save a cent or two and being mechanically minded i went in search of oils to use in the engine, diffs, transfer case and of course the G/box. I went to repco and they recomended castrol syntrans aswell but at 320 bucks for 20 litres i went elsewhere, I rang Clancy motors in bathurst (the landy dealer) and they told me that Caltex makes an oil especially formulated for landy manual g/boxes, it was only 136 bucks for 20 litres, it comes in a plain white drum with land rover on it, its called MTF 94, as for diff and transfer oil they recommend 80W/90 catlex gear oil. Motor oil they recommended semi-synthetic. Caltex is a reputable brand and if land rover ask them to formulate the oil for them they get my business and i bought 3 20 litre drums of oils to service everything and a twenty litre drum pump all for less than one 20ltr drum of castrol syntrans. I recommend you all do the same, everything runs silky smooth and not one single grind sound. Matt