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NE Ohio Transmission Oil Prices....

1.6K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  chingon  
#1 ·
I did some quick calls on 75W-90 prices in NE Ohio. Here is what I found...

QT Oil Prices: 75W-90. All oils were GL5 with most specifying GL4 compatibility.

GL5 Oils at O’Reilly's
Purple $21
Lucas $15
Valvoline $13

GL5 Oils at Advanced Auto
Mobil 1 $10.99 (auto zone says it didn’t specify gl4 compatibility)
Lucas $14.99
Valvoline $9.99
Advanced Brand $8.99

GL5 Oils at Autozone
Valvoline 6.99
Royal Purple 20.99
Lucas 14.99
Castrol (didn’t specify gl4)


Looks like Lucas is middle of the road. Autozone says the Mobil 1 didn't not specify GL4 compatibility.

Anyone have any recommendations?

thanks,
John
 
#2 · (Edited)
#4 ·
Chingon,

I spoke to the Valvoline Technical hotline this morning. Here is what they had to say...(800) 832-6825.

1. DO NOT USE VALVOLINE SYN POWER OILS WITH GL5 RATING. It has additives that will eat the tranny. He said that oil is good for the rear end and transfer cases etc, but not the tranny.

2. They make a special oil for transmissions like ours. It's part number 811095 and called Synchromesh.

fyi,
John
 
#10 ·
Chingon,

I spoke to the Valvoline Technical hotline this morning. Here is what they had to say...(800) 832-6825.

1. DO NOT USE VALVOLINE SYN POWER OILS WITH GL5 RATING. It has additives that will eat the tranny. He said that oil is good for the rear end and transfer cases etc, but not the tranny.

2. They make a special oil for transmissions like ours. It's part number 811095 and called Synchromesh.


fyi,
John

that's what I said
 
#6 ·
GL5 is gear oil that is rated for the differential - there is no 'yellow metal' in the differential. But there is, in the tranny, which is why GL-5 is not appropriate for it. Some oils now say rated for GL3/4/5, which are ok. If the oil does not specify GL4 (which is safe for our trannies), it must say safe for yellow metals.
The transfer case and the tranny use the same oil.
GL5 is for the differentials.
 
#7 ·
Bex,

I'm reading in the 1995 service manual on page OB-7. It says under the recommended fluids and lubricants section for MT and Transfer Case...

"SAE 75w90 GL4 Lubricant or SAE 75W90 GL-5 GEAR LUBRICANT"

Is your recommendation that the label says "for yellow metals" for older Trackers? Or, have people found that the GL-5 gear lubricant was eating away parts inside the tranny of later model trackers?

http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae59/johnhovan/oilrecommendations_zpsee0564d7.jpg

John
 
#8 ·
Gear oils are classified by the American Petroleum Institute using GL ratings. For example, most modern gearboxes require a GL-4 oil, and separate differentials (where fitted) require a GL-5 oil. It is important that purchasers check the oil against the vehicle manufacturer's specification to ensure it does not contain any aggressive chemicals that may attack yellow metal gear components, such as phosphor bronze.
Gear oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Treat your transfer case as a "gearbox" cause that is what it is.

If you notice almost all gl-4/5 gear oils are synthetics. as they can get the lube ratings needed for the sliding of hyphid gears without the corrosive additives. Sulphur is the big one and it makes the gear oil stink.

Do not put stinky oil in "the middle" of yout TracKick... it is for the ends. ;)
 
#9 ·
The GL4 is basically for 'syncromesh' - some transfer cases have them, some do not. I have read that the early Trackicks do not, the later ones do, so GL5 would be ok for the transfer case - as long as there is no syncromesh. I have read here that after 1999 the transfer cases do have syncromesh, so GL5 would not be appropriate for them. In any event, its easy for me to find GL4 here, so I use it. If you search the forum, this has been an ongoing question. One example here:
http://www.suzuki-forums.com/suzuki...uki-sidekick-escudo-vitara-geo-tracker/82937-gl5-synthetic-75-90-ok-manual.html