Specialty Formulations MTL-R 75W90 in Subaru Trans

[SubLGT]

Mileage on this oil is 35,406 and on the vehicle is 42,701. Oil was in use for about 7 years. Vehicle is 2005 Subaru Legacy GT with 5-speed transaxle. I believe the new 100C vis on the MTL-R was 14.7 cSt. Replaced with Motul Gear 300. Analysis is by Blackstone. I didn't bother with getting a TAN and TBN, because this lube is no longer available for purchase. There was a small amount of "iron paste" on my magnetic drain plug.

1st number is my car, 2nd number is universal average over 21,500 mi.

ALUMINUM 9/8
CHROMIUM 2/2
IRON 111/92
COPPER 16/19
LEAD 1/8
TIN 0/1
MOLYBDENUM 5/10
NICKEL 0/0
MANGANESE 5/5
SILVER 1/0
TITANIUM 0/0
POTASSIUM 8/2
BORON 77/87
SILICON 19/30
SODIUM 5/5
CALCIUM 1991/1145
MAGNESIUM 8/10
PHOSPHORUS 1239/1144
ZINC813/814
BARIUM 3/7

SUS viscosity @ 210 F 65.8
cSt viscosity @ 100 C 11.83
Flashpoint in F 390
Insolubles 0.2%
Water 0.0

 

[ABerns]

Not too bad. With only 35k miles in 7 years, did you just not drive the car very often, or did you take a lot of short trips?

 

[SubLGT]

I drive the car only 2 or 3 days out of each week.

 

[MolaKule]

Here is the batch analysis from 2005/6: MTL-R was dyed red.

Ca – 2200,
Mag – 9,
Z – 1110,
P – 1527,
Ba – 14,
Si - 10
Sb – 88,
So – 24,
Na - 19
Mo - 8
Bo - 88

Vis – 79.3 and 13.2
TBN 10

This MTL used a base oil mixture of PAO's and esters as did all of our gear oils.

We made our own additive packages back then.

We were one of the first to use a primary AW P-S additive with two secondary AW additives of Potassium Triborate and Antimony.

You're correct about raising the viscosity on the later formula. This was for the benefit of the VW transaxle users who found that a slightly higher viscosity shifted better in the summer.

 

[SubLGT]

MolaKule, thank you for the info!

 

[bluesubie]

Before I clicked on this thread, I was thinking either Specialty Formulations was back or SubLGT needs to drive more. I guess SubLGT needs to drive more. Darn it!

-Dennis