dual gl4 and gl5 when requirement gl4 (manual trans)

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My saab 9-3 2008 manual transmission calls for GL4.

I could only find a Lucas product here locally.

It's GL4 AND GL5 rated.

Specifically the Lucas synthetic, which is for "trans and diff", this one:

lucas.jpeg

Would there be any issues using this?
 
Some transmissions can be picky about their lube. Probably won't hurt anything, but might cause yuck shift quality. I never had good luck using a gear oil in my MT car, always went back to a MT lube.

Of course, lots of different cars, lots of different transmissions, might work just fine. Shouldn't hurt anything.
 
Do yourself a favor and also save time and effort and go to the local GM dealer and buy the proper 75W85 GL-4 gearbox oil. This oil is P/N 88862472 (superseded by 19351859) and is relatively affordable. I believe your capacity is 4.5 pints or thereabouts so it won't hurt too badly.

The viscosity requirements for the 75W-85 are minimum cSt of 11.0 and maximum of 13.5 cSt. The product that you're showing is 18.4 cSt and very far from the specific requirements of your vehicles gearbox.
 
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Ditto for a GL4 only. Red Line has a few MT offerings that will suit your application. Probably hard to find at a local retailer, but Amazon can have it to your door in a couple days. GL4 is brass friendly, which your Saab likely has in the gearbox.
 
Probably it calls for MTF 0063. It's 75w85 GL4 classic ZDDP.
GL4/GL5 will work, but it's not the same. First visco is different, second formulation will be different too.
I'd buy original or MTF 75w85 or 75w90 GL4 ZDDP as:

75w85
Redline MT-85
Castrol BOT 402
-Hyundai MTF 75w85
-KIA MTF 75w85
-Castrol Syntrans 75w85

75w90
BMW LT-4
Castrol BOT 328
- Castrol 130M
- Ford 75w90 BO
- Motorcraft XT-M5-QS
- Castrol Multivehicle
- Volvo 1161723
 
If your car calls for a GL4 specifically, stick with that spec. A good MT fluid usually has to be ordered or bought at a dealership. I recommend Redline MT90 for your Saab if it specs a 75W-90 GL4 fluid. If you use a dual rated GL4/5, you car's gears will probably grind and crunch with every shift, especially the 1>2 shift.
 
I'm going to do a bit of trial and error with my Nissan Frontier before the cold weather sets in. My Frontier specifies a GL-4 75W-85 lubricant for the manual gearbox. I have used the OEM Nissan fluid as first fill, Ravenol 75W-85 MTF and Redline MT-85. None of these fluids made any appreciable difference in the way my transmission shifted (horribly) or in the amount of gear whine experienced (completely acceptable).

I am going to experiment next month with Amsoil's Manual Synchromesh Fluid. It is published to be a 10.1 cSt fluid which is below the minimum for a 75W-85 product but far above other synchromesh fluids.

After a winter of using this product, and if the shifting quality is not better than with the OEM fluid, I intend to try Royal Purple HPS 10W-40 or their Euro 5W-40 motor oil.

If any of these products make an improvement to shift quality or cause any negative sounds or detectable actions I'll certainly poke out a comment on here.

TO THE OP: please let us know what route you take and how the transmission feels after your fluid change.
 
I'm going to do a bit of trial and error with my Nissan Frontier before the cold weather sets in. My Frontier specifies a GL-4 75W-85 lubricant for the manual gearbox. I have used the OEM Nissan fluid as first fill, Ravenol 75W-85 MTF and Redline MT-85. None of these fluids made any appreciable difference in the way my transmission shifted (horribly) or in the amount of gear whine experienced (completely acceptable).

I am going to experiment next month with Amsoil's Manual Synchromesh Fluid. It is published to be a 10.1 cSt fluid which is below the minimum for a 75W-85 product but far above other synchromesh fluids.

After a winter of using this product, and if the shifting quality is not better than with the OEM fluid, I intend to try Royal Purple HPS 10W-40 or their Euro 5W-40 motor oil.

If any of these products make an improvement to shift quality or cause any negative sounds or detectable actions I'll certainly poke out a comment on here.

TO THE OP: please let us know what route you take and how the transmission feels after your fluid change.

Thanks. I'll get back to what I used.
 
I'm going to do a bit of trial and error with my Nissan Frontier before the cold weather sets in. My Frontier specifies a GL-4 75W-85 lubricant for the manual gearbox. I have used the OEM Nissan fluid as first fill, Ravenol 75W-85 MTF and Redline MT-85. None of these fluids made any appreciable difference in the way my transmission shifted (horribly) or in the amount of gear whine experienced (completely acceptable).

I am going to experiment next month with Amsoil's Manual Synchromesh Fluid. It is published to be a 10.1 cSt fluid which is below the minimum for a 75W-85 product but far above other synchromesh fluids.

After a winter of using this product, and if the shifting quality is not better than with the OEM fluid, I intend to try Royal Purple HPS 10W-40 or their Euro 5W-40 motor oil.

If any of these products make an improvement to shift quality or cause any negative sounds or detectable actions I'll certainly poke out a comment on here.

TO THE OP: please let us know what route you take and how the transmission feels after your fluid change.
Once upon a time, the magic go-to elixer for the Miata world was the Motorcraft XT-M5-QS. Apparently it was made of unicorn tears and most people loved it in their manual boxes. I never got around to trying it as I sold the car, but I had always intended to. From memory it was some made in Germany lube that was designed to deal with some balky shifting Ford transmissions.
 
That Motorcraft fluid is a 75W90 product with a viscosity of 15.4cSt@100ºC. This is a bit viscous for my application and I'd prefer to stay within the 75W85 range or slightly under. I don't see a benefit to using a more viscous fluid than what is prescribed.
 
My saab 9-3 2008 manual transmission calls for GL4.
could only find a Lucas product here locally.
It's GL4 AND GL5 rated.
Specifically the Lucas synthetic, which is for "trans and diff", this one:

Would there be any issues using this?

Probably yes. If the manufacturer specifies API GL-4 I'd prefer using GL-4.


Probably won't hurt anything, but might cause yuck shift quality.
................... Shouldn't hurt anything.

If shift quality suffers synchro wear WILL increase.

Personally I'd give Redline MT-85 a try when living in the US. In a more northern climate
Castrol Syntrans V-FE 75W-80 and Ravenol MTF-2 are worthwhile options. All GL-4 only.
.
 
Probably yes. If the manufacturer specifies API GL-4 I'd prefer using GL-4.




If shift quality suffers synchro wear WILL increase.

Personally I'd give Redline MT-85 a try when living in the US. In a more northern climate
Castrol Syntrans V-FE 75W-80 and Ravenol MTF-2 are worthwhile options. All GL-4 only.
.
Yea, should have been more specific. I was more thinking yellow metal damage when I typed that, but yea, yuck shifting will wear the synchros more.
 
That Motorcraft fluid is a 75W90 product with a viscosity of 15.4cSt@100ºC. This is a bit viscous for my application and I'd prefer to stay within the 75W85 range or slightly under. I don't see a benefit to using a more viscous fluid than what is prescribed.
Try Motul Gl4 75w85. Has worked very well in my cars/pickups with synchro trans.
 
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