Is 90W OK in the differential and manual transmission on a MB? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lietuviai · #1 09-29-2004, 03:38 PM

I was checking the oil in the diff and tranny on my 230CE and I found they were filled with ATF. I know this often done in colder climates but I don't live in an area that has really cold temps. Would it be OK to use 90W as I've seen in all the rest of my cars?

Palangi · #2 09-29-2004, 03:55 PM

Gear oil does not belong in the MB manual transmissions. It is waaay to heavy. What's recommended is the old type A transmission fluid. Since that is hard to find nowdays, people are using other things of similar viscosity, such as Mobil 1 5w30, dexron ATF, etc. I use Redline MTL.

dieseldiehard · #3 09-29-2004, 04:29 PM

Redline MTL is the best way to go for that manual MB tranny

leathermang · #4 09-29-2004, 04:42 PM

Redline MTL is the way to go...
someday I will take mine out of my trunk and install it in my manual transmission... but I do Already have it.... so that counts for something, right ?

Old300D · #5 09-29-2004, 04:51 PM

I use Redline MTL as well. BTW, the Redline MTL is gear lube, just a synthetic version.

dieseldiehard · #6 09-29-2004, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Redline MTL is the way to go...
someday I will take mine out of my trunk and install it in my manual transmission... but I do Already have it.... so that counts for something, right ?

Don't feel like the lone ranger, I have been carrying a bottle of Redline Diesel Water Wetter around in my trunk for almost 6 months

Now that the summer is over I am flushing my radiator and putting in a bottle in my '87 300D turbo. I figure it will help on the drive to LA (up the Grapevine!) next month.
Redline is great stuff.

Palangi · #7 09-29-2004, 06:33 PM

Redline MTL is aproximately 70W80. They also make MT-90 which is heavier, I think 75W90. The MTL is what you want for RWD manual transmissions. The heaver stuff is more for FWD manual transaxles.

Actually, around here you can still find type A transmission fluid, but I know there are some places where it can't be found.

dieseldiehard · #8 09-29-2004, 06:56 PM

MTL pours almost like ATF, red liquid stuff, not heavy oil at all. I believe MB recommended ATF for the manual trans, last time I did some research I read something on that.
Here's what RedLine says about MTF viscosity: "Red Line MTL is classified as a 75W/80W gear lubricant satisfying the API Service requirements of GL-3 and GL-4. MTL also satisfies motor oil viscosities SAE 5W/10W/30, and the viscosity requirements for ATFs" so its really more like 5W30, isn't it?

The best thing about the synthetic MTF is that it allows synchros to spin up and match the gear rpm quickly because it has lighter viscosity, especially in cold weather where it doesn't thicken like dino fluids, so in winter shifts are reliable and quick.

md21722 · #9 09-29-2004, 07:04 PM

Manual transmission gets ATF. i.e. Mobil 1 ATF.

Differential gets GL-5 gera oil. i.e. Mobil 1 75w-90, Redline MT-90 (NOT MTL), or any 80w-90 mineral oil. Make sure its GL-5. GL-1 or GL-4 are NOT good enough.

-brian

Gurkha · #10 09-29-2004, 11:17 PM

I use Mobil-I ATF with very good results, my shifter is very smooth, you can shift with your fingers at high speed. I have had MB trannies last over 500,000 miles and that also includes rear diff, for rear diff, I use Mobil-I gear oil, if you cant find Mobil-I then any good non synthetic ATF would do, just make sure to change at no more than 12000Km and for the rear, depending on severity of service, a good GL-5 85-140 lasts a long time and keeps wear out. For cooler climate use 75-90 or minimum 85-90.

bhatt · #11 09-30-2004, 08:31 AM

Mazda recommended ATF for my Miata manual transmission. Most of the Miata guys told me to use Redline MTL so I did.

*HUGE* difference. Everyone I knew with a Miata had trouble shifting into 2nd gear when the car was cold. We assumed it was a "Miata thing" but it went away completely with the Redline MTL! Also the transmission acted like it was already warmed up even on cold winter mornings -- no notchy shifter, etc.

If it made that much of a difference in my Miata, I'd highly recommend it in any other application where it can be used.

Neal

md21722 · #12 09-30-2004, 09:18 AM

In Mercedes manual transmissions, the synchos life may be reduced by using gear oil. They were designed for ATF. That may/may not be the case with other makes.

gsxr · #13 09-30-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhatt

Mazda recommended ATF for my Miata manual transmission. Most of the Miata guys told me to use Redline MTL so I did.

*HUGE* difference. Everyone I knew with a Miata had trouble shifting into 2nd gear when the car was cold. We assumed it was a "Miata thing" but it went away completely with the Redline MTL! Also the transmission acted like it was already warmed up even on cold winter mornings -- no notchy shifter, etc.

Neal

Did you compare synthetic ATF to MTL, or dino ATF to MTL? Because if you had been using dino ATF before, just switching to synthetic ATF (like Mobil-1) might have had the same effect.