Hello,

Looking for some information from people regards gearbox oil for my mk3 GT. I am wanting to change the gear oil for piece of mind and wondered if there is something better to use than the standard VW oil. I have used fuchs gear oil in an 085 in the past but just for a freshen up.

Standard grade is 75w90 GL4 iirc. There are many different brands out ther and so would like anyone with experience of using different gear oils to share their findings.

Heard good things about redline gear oil but also that the correct grade 75w90 redline MT90 is not good for 085 boxes and that you should use redline MTL but that has a grade of 70w80?? So confused as to which to use. Also redline is expensive so is it worth the extra money?

Would any fully synthetic 75w90 in GL4 spec be better than the OE stuff?

I want my gearbox to last.

i bought some fully syn gl4 of the correct grade from opie oils..cant recall the brand but it made the gear change nicer and id say its worth the money

i use redline in box my golfs , its really nice stuff and again improves the gearchange

syn wont be so stiff on cold mornings , so makes it nicer

I'm running EP80/90 GL4 semi-synth in my 8P on my GT and have covered 5k without issues. Its just the stuff we buy in, from work made by Comma.

The MT90 is a really good oil and very popular in VW group gearboxes. I'd say it's a very good choice, but you can also use a 70w-80 or 75w-80, like the Redline MTL, Amsoil MTF or Fuchs Sintofluid.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-670-75w-80-75w-85-mtfs.aspx

Cheers

Tim

I thought that the oil had to be GL-4 not GL-5 for 085 boxes due to corrosion occuring in some of the metals if using GL-5? Fuchs sintofluid looks to be GL-5?

Also read that MT90 is good for all VW boxes apart from the 085 boxes?

As you can tell I'm pretty confused with what is safe to use what is the best to use.

I thought that the oil had to be GL-4 not GL-5 for 085 boxes due to corrosion occuring in some of the metals if using GL-5? Fuchs sintofluid looks to be GL-5?

Also read that MT90 is good for all VW boxes apart from the 085 boxes?

As you can tell I'm pretty confused with what is safe to use what is the best to use.

A lot of people have the wrong information about GL4 and GL5 oils. Less reputable companies will use a different additive blend in GL4 and GL5 oils and that makes the GL5 oils unsuitable for GL4 applications (brass synchros). Reputable companies use the same additives in GL4 and 5 oils, but at much higher levels in the GL5 oils, making GL5 oils from good companies 100% suitable for GL4 applications. A few people here have VW group cars that have GL4 oils recommended for them, but the guys here are using the Sintofluid GL5.

Cheers

Tim

I thought that the oil had to be GL-4 not GL-5 for 085 boxes due to corrosion occuring in some of the metals if using GL-5? Fuchs sintofluid looks to be GL-5?

Also read that MT90 is good for all VW boxes apart from the 085 boxes?

As you can tell I'm pretty confused with what is safe to use what is the best to use.

A lot of people have the wrong information about GL4 and GL5 oils. Less reputable companies will use a different additive blend in GL4 and GL5 oils and that makes the GL5 oils unsuitable for GL4 applications (brass synchros). Reputable companies use the same additives in GL4 and 5 oils, but at much higher levels in the GL5 oils, making GL5 oils from good companies 100% suitable for GL4 applications. A few people here have VW group cars that have GL4 oils recommended for them, but the guys here are using the Sintofluid GL5.

Cheers

Tim

Sorry not topic related but LOL Drives:Rx8 Did you buy one then realise you'd have to buy shares in a oil company? sorry.

My bosses old car (Jag XKR now) and it was kind of like that.

I thought that the oil had to be GL-4 not GL-5 for 085 boxes due to corrosion occuring in some of the metals if using GL-5? Fuchs sintofluid looks to be GL-5?

Also read that MT90 is good for all VW boxes apart from the 085 boxes?

As you can tell I'm pretty confused with what is safe to use what is the best to use.

A lot of people have the wrong information about GL4 and GL5 oils. Less reputable companies will use a different additive blend in GL4 and GL5 oils and that makes the GL5 oils unsuitable for GL4 applications (brass synchros). Reputable companies use the same additives in GL4 and 5 oils, but at much higher levels in the GL5 oils, making GL5 oils from good companies 100% suitable for GL4 applications. A few people here have VW group cars that have GL4 oils recommended for them, but the guys here are using the Sintofluid GL5.

Cheers

Tim

Good knowledgable reply. Thanks.

It was the GL-5 and the brass issue that had me scared. Fuchs sintofluid might be the way to go if it definately won't affect my gearbox internals. Is the MTL better for old 085 boxes than the MT90?

No one we have dealt with has had a problem with the Sintofluid and brass synchros.

If the car is getting normal use, go for the Sintofluid or MTL, MT90 if modified/track use.

Cheers

Tim

I've just cjanged my box oil to Motul gear 300 ester oil! Seems to be very slick and smooth tbh... 75w-90 weight

No one we have dealt with has had a problem with the Sintofluid and brass synchros.

If the car is getting normal use, go for the Sintofluid or MTL, MT90 if modified/track use.

Cheers

Tim

The original oil part number from VW is G 052726A2.

When i put this into a search engine it comes up with your OPIE OILS site with the floowoing product:

Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID FE SAE 75W synthetic manual transmission oil - 1 Litre

Would this be the most suitable? Am i missing something? Are these fluids much better tha the VW stuff?

The car gets normal day to day use and a bt of spirited driving but havne't used it on the track at all.

Edited 12 March, 201214 yr by demolover

You could use the Sintofluid FE, but there isn't a huge difference between the two fluids. I'd still go for the 75w-80, it's so well proven. If you're wondering about how good it is, there are some F1 cars that use it, you can't say that about the standard VW fluids.

Cheers

Tim

I'd still prefer to use the GL4 i think so might just opt for the sintofluid fe as it corresponds to the original spefication and so on. Probably being over cautious but anything to keep my paranoid mind at rest.

Wow the difference between my crappy polo GT and a formula one car :-) It will be like stepping out in sold gold shoes whilst wearing a shell suit.