Red Line Gear Oils

[bmgm3]

It seems the gear synchronizers in my manual box are a little worn. I was advised that using Red Line gear oil would help a little. While I don't expect miracles, I thought I may as well give it a try and a oil change is due. The car is a BMW 5 series with a 6 speed manul box. BMW oil spec is ATF fluid. Red Line sell several different grades, and reading the blurb on their site, it sounds as if the 75W140NS is what's needed.So does anyone have any thoughts before I buy ?

Thanks

[stevesingo]

Brian,

I'd use MTL. It is closer to what is required and made a difference to my box when I swapped from 75/90. What oil is in the box at the moment?

Steve

[bmgm3]

Thanks Steve. I'm not sure what is in there at the mo.The last time it was changed it got ATF, of what brand I don't know. I've used MTL in the M3 box before and it was fine,but then the M3 box was freshly rebuilt and good.The 5 series box is more worn and isn't going to get a rebuild until the M3 is complete. And that could be some time ....
The 5 series doesn't get the abuse the M3 does,so I'm looking to use the Red Line oil which would have maximum effect on the worn synchro's, given that are pretty much the same price.

Cheers

[taffyracer]

Redline is good stuff but not as good as the Royal Purple maxgear, by far the best stuff I have ever come across for gearboxes, silky smooth and hugely reduced the wear rates when we swapped to it

[stevesingo]

Taffy,

How did you measure the wear on your transmissions and what transmission are you using and for what purpose?

Steve

[SprintV8]

I used Redline Oil's when I was racing Kart's.

I would never use there Oil in anything ever again.

That's just my opinion.

[taffyracer]

stevesingo said:

Taffy,

How did you measure the wear on your transmissions and what transmission are you using and for what purpose?

Steve

Oil sampling, we use modified diffs and modified 5 speed synchro box, nothing fancy really but IMO the Royal Purple fluids have helped enormously to longevity

[M3 Mitch]

You can email Redline via their website and their tech guy will recommend a grade for your application.

I have had good experience with MTL in 3-series and in the Scirocco gearboxes - better shifting feel than what was there before (and I don't know what was there, probably ordinary petroleum-based GL-4-5). I don't have oil analysis data to verify any change in wear rates.

Here in the States, a lot of BMWCCA people use Redline. As I understand it both Redline and Royal Purple are ester-oil based, group 5 lubes and as such are about as good as you can get for film strength.

You might ask Opieoilman for an opinion. .