gear oil

[WolvenGoth]

ok, over on the samba someone said that gl5 gear oil is bad for vw trans. cause it eats the yellow metals in them, and you should only use gl4.  someone else on that thread said it's a myth.  i figured i'd ask here, since mine is an autostick and may be a little different, tho probably not.  that thread was updated apparently after i started draining my gear oil out.  the stuff i have is  gl 5, but i can get some gl 4 tomorrow after work if it is best.  it however is more expensive than gl5.  but if it saves my car, it's worth it.  my first thought on this is that it should be ok for a short while, and to go ahead and put the gl 5 in it, and then as i get closer to it being legal and used as a daily driver, switch it again to the gl4.  that way i wouldn't have to spend the extra money on the gl4 now.  i know it isn't that expensive to most people, but i need to save what i can where i can.  if it is just a myth, then i can just put the gl5 i have now in, and be done with it.  
the thread on the samba can be viewed here:  

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=192010

thanks in advance!

--Drew

[1302LS auto]

You realy should not use GL5.

[bookwus]

Hiya Goth,

Truth be told, the thread you referenced is not the first or only to discuss this subject.  It seems that passions run high on both sides of the GL4 vrs GL5 debate.

I run GL4 in my trannies (I also have a 70 Bus).  I do this because this is the gear oil specified by VW.  It may well be that GL5 or one of its variants is OK for use in a VW transaxle, but inasmuch as I'm an OEM kinda guy, I'll stick with the recommeded stuff and not worry about the issue.  And for what's it worth........Yes, I also use SAE 30 in the engine.

[68AutoBug]

Hi Mike,
Yes, I like to stick to OEM usually with a lot of things, as You see many people get into trouble because they go to the local or nearest Auto shop
and take their advice, and what parts they are sold...
I only use these shops for Oil, as the closest VW shops are at least 330kms from Me...

[I'd like to know how many people don't have the rubber sealing grommets on their spark plug leads, because they have bought from the  local auto shop...]

Back to the Transaxle Oil... Yes, all My Books on aircooled VWs say to use GL4 Hypoid Oil...  It wasn't available locally, so I used GL5 and have to replace My transaxle for My Autostick because of the corrosion inside..

Most of My VW manuals [up to 1979] say that GL4 is also corrosive and NOT to leave it in a gearbox if the car is stored for the winter... etc..
to use a Non Corrosive mineral oil...

I have been told that the first GL5 Hypoid oils were very corrosive...
but that they were modified after finding how corrosive it was..
so its Now OK to Use it...
I was quoted a number that should be on the container or at least on the oil specifications on the internet... I haven't checked this out as yet...
I also have to find some GL4 oil... as I only recently refilled My gearbox with GL5 plus a few tubes of Molyd- Disulpide gearbox/diff additive..
but the damage is done, and the gearbox is very noisy...
but works OK....

I have never used SAE 30 engine oil...   I do think engine oil has progressed so the later Multigrade detergent versions are quite good...
but the newer oils for late model cars is very thin IMHO...
and not suited for aircooled engines... plus most of these oils have written on the containers, not to be used on cars made after 1985...
they are usually 10W40 multigrades...

Castrol [in Australia] recommends its GTX 2 engine oil which is a 20w/50 multigrade oil...   I know many VW owners in Australia use this oil...

A local who has owned air cooled VWs since 1970 and is particular with what goes into His engines etc.. He tried a new [to Australia] SAE 30 engine oil which is sold for VWs, but found it to be too thin for Our climate
with 100F+ temps during summer.. and over 85F for many months...
20w/60 engine oil is being sold here for older cars too...
My Son runs it in one of His beetles...


Lee  -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug



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