Author Topic: Transmission and Diff. oils. (Read 32392 times)

mikesjo · « **on:** June 03, 2006, 08:43:14 PM »

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!

asubimmer · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2006, 10:16:37 PM »

no you need mt-90 for the tranny, and make it 2 quarts. But you only need 1.5ish.

M42boy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2006, 10:18:44 PM »

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?

asubimmer · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2006, 10:20:12 PM »

trust me use redline mt-90 in your tranny.

mikesjo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2006, 11:00:29 PM »

2 quarts for the tranny, how about for the diff.?

kramerica5000 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2006, 11:06:41 PM »

Quote from: mikesjo

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.

mikesjo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2006, 11:39:18 PM »

THe 75w90 says it works in both the limited slip and non limited slip.

Eurospec · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2006, 12:21:33 AM »

Quote

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

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.

romkasponka · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2006, 02:19:40 AM »

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..

mikesjo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2006, 02:34:58 AM »

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.

romkasponka · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2006, 02:40:40 AM »

check steel plate on dif cover, and I think yes redline will be fine too.

kramerica5000 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2006, 07:51:15 AM »

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.

kramerica5000 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2006, 07:54:35 AM »

Quote from: mikesjo

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.

M42boy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 04, 2006, 11:03:36 AM »

Quote from: kramerica5000

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:

The dremel got it polished up nice.

Just an fyi.

mikesjo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2006, 04:38:18 PM »

Why does bavauto say I need 3.2 quarts for the tranny when most of you one here said 2 quarts?! Which is correct?