M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: mikesjo on June 03, 2006, 08:43:14 PM
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Thought I might get these fluilds changed some time soon. I've been reading redline fluids are good and to use Redline D4ATF for the tranny and 75w90 for the diff. Is this correct?
Also, what is the capacity of both? How many quarts do I need?
TIA!
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no you need mt-90 for the tranny, and make it 2 quarts. But you only need 1.5ish.
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Has anyone reached a concensus on this. My transmission says "Fill with ATF only" on it. What are we supposed to run in these things? Gear oil or ATF?
What's the deal?
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trust me use redline mt-90 in your tranny.
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2 quarts for the tranny, how about for the diff.?
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2 quarts for the tranny, how about for the diff.?
2 quarts for the diff, and what kind of fluid you use depends on whether or not its limited slip.
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THe 75w90 says it works in both the limited slip and non limited slip.
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some BMW's made between 1986 and 1992 had "labeled" gearboxes with a red or green label on the passenger side of the bellhousing. These had 17mm EXTERNAL wrenching oil plugs. If the label is green, use Redline MT90. If the label is red, use Redline D4 ATF. If there was no label, the gearbox will have 17mm INTERNAL wrench oil plugs, and should use Redline MTL GL-4 70W-80.
LINK (http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=articles&report=view&ID=00106&Section=11)
Oddly enough I didn't see any labels on my tranny while replacing the fluid so I went with redline mtl. However, I later found out that I needed an ATF based fluid since the old fluid had a red tone to it.
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for LSD you should use only for LSD designed oil..
like valvoline
HP Gear Oil GL-5 LS
Applicable where an API GL-5 limited slip gear oil is specified
Available in a 80W-90 viscosity grade
motul
Gear Competition
100% Synthetic
Specially formulated for gearboxes and limited-slip differential of racing cars. Excellent stability at high temperatures.
MOTUL exclusive technology approved in extreme endurance racing conditions : 24H du Mans, japanese GT Championship, on HEWLAND and X-TRAC gearboxes.
API GL-5
Hypo BM LS
A lubricant specially designed for BMW limited slip differentials up to 31/12/93.
Extremely high lubricating power to reduce friction.
Extreme pressure resistance, anti-wear, anti-corrosion, anti-froth.
API GL4 and GL5/MIL-L-2105D/BMW
castrol
Castrol Hypoy LS
Mineral based, SAE 90 extreme pressure gear oil designed to cope with the special friction characteristics of limited slip differentials fitted to road going cars
Castrol B373
Mineral based extreme pressure gear oil which combines limited slip performance with excellent load carrying ability.
It is particularly suitable for use in limited slip differentials fitted to Race or Rally competition vehicles
Castrol SAF-XJ
Fully synthetic SAE 75W-140 hypoid gear oil, formulated for use in both conventional and limited slip differentials
and so on..
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Off of redline's site it says the 75w90 gear oil can be used in "both conventional and limited-slip" units. Should be ok right? I don't know if I have a limited slip or not.
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check steel plate on dif cover, and I think yes redline will be fine too.
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if you go to BavAuto's website and put in your car model and year, then go to the "tools, manuals, and fluids" section, it will show you the recomended products and quantities for your car. As far as diff and tranny oils go, their recs are spot on.
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Off of redline's site it says the 75w90 gear oil can be used in "both conventional and limited-slip" units. Should be ok right? I don't know if I have a limited slip or not.
Yeah, you can use that grade in either diff. If you want to find out if you have an LSD and that plate is rusted beyone recognition (like mine is) you can jack up your rear wheels and give one a spin. If the opposite wheel spins in the same direction it is a LSD, if it spins in the opposite direction, it isn't.
Incidentally, I am experiencing running the wrong grad oil in the tranny. Made the mistake of trying to find what I needed at the local autozone and just got some high grade gear oil. I figured "its higher than recomended so it's gotta be OK right?" Wrong. The thing shifts like crap. Synchros don't work right, and if its cold out its really hard to get it in gear. I've got some MTL waiting for me at my dads shop; can't wait to get the right stuff in.
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Yeah, you can use that grade in either diff. If you want to find out if you have an LSD and that plate is rusted beyone recognition (like mine is) you can jack up your rear wheels and give one a spin. If the opposite wheel spins in the same direction it is a LSD, if it spins in the opposite direction, it isn't.
My diff tag looked and a lot of the underside of my car looked like it came off the S.S. Titanic. Even griinding it down with the dremel, I could not read it. I did exactly this to check to be sure it was or wasn't a limited slip. It wasn't.
Another way, is if you can scrape through the years of caked on road grime, you should find an "S" stamped into the casing.
I did eventually find a 4.10 ltd slip out of a '90 325i. Here's the new differential.
After a good cleaning I could find the elusive paint marking. "S" marks the spot! :cool:
(http://www.s-cars.org/postnuke/modules/gallery/albums/danh/IMG_4524.jpg)
The dremel got it polished up nice. :D
(http://www.s-cars.org/postnuke/modules/gallery/albums/danh/IMG_4526_001.jpg)
Just an fyi.
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Why does bavauto say I need 3.2 quarts for the tranny when most of you one here said 2 quarts?! Which is correct?
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I just did mine like 2 weeks ago, go ahead and buy 4 quarts from Bav if they can con you into it. You only need about 1.5
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Thanks asu, so 2 bottles should do it for the tranny :).
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more oil is better? better LSD cooling?
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Make sure you can get your fill plug out BEFORE you take out your drain plug ;)
Also make sure your car is warmed up so most of the old fluid will come out. Then take out the fill plug, THEN the drain. Once its all out put the drain plug back in and you will need to pump the new fluid into the fill plug hole. I didn't have a pump handy so I used a fuel syfoner (or however you spell it :p )
Mine were regular bolts not the allen type like most e30s have. So I assume all 318is's use the 17mm socket on their tannys like mine. The diff is still the allen socket though IIRC.
Hope that helps some.
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more oil is better? better LSD cooling?
I think it can only take that much amount, not more.
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I think it can only take that much amount, not more.
exactly, you can't overfil the tranny b/c it just poors out onto the ground if you put to much in.
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Any objections on using AMSOIL?
Can't get Redline down here :mad:
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my advise is have it shipped to you, redline is used at Korman for a reason ;)
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can't ship that stuff via air
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I have Amsoil in mine, and it's great!
I used to have Redline, but I find Amsoil makes the shifts a little smoother...maybe it's all in my mind, but I like it. I have since put Amsoil through out the car; motor, trans, diff. Really I think it's just a matter of preference.
As for ATF or MT, talking with Mike Miller, he says, ATF if you are hard on your trans (read mis-shift, grind etc.) while it's cold. MT if you're not hard on your trans during warm up. Basically the ATF will help with the synchros as warming up will be quicker, but MT will take longer to warm up, but is better for synchros.
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Basically the ATF will help with the synchros as warming up will be quicker, but MT will take longer to warm up, but is better for synchros.
How does that work?!
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Mike didn't give an explanation why, but I'll ask.
I believe it might be because the ATF is thinner not sure.
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Here's an old email on the topic I got from Mike. This was just prior to the new 6 series coming out.
Aloha,
I am in North Carolina, covering the 6 Series Delivery Experience. It's not Hawaii, but it's a far sight warmer than Pennsylvania. I'll be flying home tonight.
I recommend Red Line 20W-50 for the S52, and as always, MTL in the gearbox and 75W-90 in the differential. I only use Red Line D4 ATF in manual gearboxes where I cannot trust the driver to properly baby the shifter when it is cold. The D4 ATF shifts really nice when it is cold, but MTL is getter for the bearings.
Sounds like a hot M coupe!
I'm thinking about ordering a new 325Ci.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Mike
I hope this helps to answer you question
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wow old topic but I just heard about the atf vs mtl debate and am paranoid now. I've been running mtl for the past few years without issues. Havent paid attention to if I have a red or green label or the plugs. Have to check that now. Oh also I drive my 318 pretty hard. currently at around 300k on original tranny.