MT90 Redline

[Wayupnorth]

I just purchased 3 quarts of Redline MT90 for my Tacoma manual transmission in our 2023 Tacoma.
After emptying two bottles and setting them on top of each other to drain I noticed it was lumpy.
I shook the third bottle and was pouring it in the transmission to top it off and out plopped a couple more lumps.
it holds about 2.5 quarts .
I called Redline this morning, they recommended not to use the oil as they thought it might have separated.
The tech person asked what the numbers were and they traced it to a batch made in 2024.which shouldn’t be an issue at all he said .
Evidently I was the second person who had contacted them with an issue with this gear line being “lumpy”.
The previous person had contacted them last week and he had bought the gear oil from the same place which was Amazon through ZIC sales .
Redline is not available at all where I live hence the Amazon purchase.
They are shipping me three replacement quarts via FedEx Express to be here tomorrow.
I asked them if they wanted the partial quart I had left to analyze what was going on but they felt they knew so I didn’t need to.
Customer service couldn’t have been nicer and I’m relieved that no potential damage will have been done as I didn’t drive it .
The bottle number was EAC 74812 on all three of my bottles and the tech guy said the other person had the same bottle numbers .

 

[edyvw]

But why MT90?

 

[Jetronic]

I like viscous transmission fluids, and use 75W-90 myself, but MT90 wouldn't be my oil of choice way up north, in a 4wd transmission. I might use it in a transfer case, but I'd likely use rear diff oil in that, as the transfer cases I've had to deal with shed a lot of metal on the factory fill.

MT90 is quite thick when extremely cold, it might cause more difficult shifting in winter.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up on the possible bad batch

 

[02SE]

I found the shifting to be great in the R150F Transmission I had in a 3rd gen 4Runner. Below 0°F it could have been considered as feeling slightly too viscous for the first shift or two, but nothing that caused any issue like grinding.

 

[Jetronic]

I found the shifting to be great in the R150F Transmission I had in a 3rd gen 4Runner. Below 0°F it could have been considered as feeling slightly too viscous for the first shift or two, but nothing that caused any issue like grinding.

Way up north where redline isn't available, I suspect 0°F to be balmy 3 months of the year? Regardless, I'd have gone down 1 grade when choosing Red Line.

The 75W90 Castrol I use (also ester based) has a brookfield viscosity of 200 Poise vs 320 for MT90. But 0°F is about as cold as I'll ever see (I hope). MT85 has 160.

 

[02SE]

Way up north where redline isn't available, I suspect 0°F to be balmy 3 months of the year? Regardless, I'd have gone down 1 grade when choosing Red Line.

The 75W90 Castrol I use (also ester based) has a brookfield viscosity of 200 Poise vs 320 for MT90. But 0°F is about as cold as I'll ever see (I hope). MT85 has 160.

Well, I did experience temps down to -35 to -40 with the same vehicle, with MT90 in the transmission. For about a week while on a snowmobiling trip. A bit sluggish movement of the shifter for a bit, but still no issues with grinding, or being unable to move the shifter. The MT90 was acceptable at those temps.

I don't know where the OP is located, but I would probably also be inclined to go with MT85 if he's at 0° F or colder for long periods of time.

 

[ceecbtg]

The 75W90 Castrol I use (also ester based) has a brookfield viscosity of 200 Poise vs 320 for MT90.

Top oil too, 100% true syn + plenty of ester. Really its behaviour is 75w85'ish = Syntrans 75w85.

 

[Jetronic]

Well, I did experience temps down to -35 to -40 with the same vehicle, with MT90 in the transmission. For about a week while on a snowmobiling trip. A bit sluggish movement of the shifter for a bit, but still no issues with grinding, or being unable to move the shifter. The MT90 was acceptable at those temps.

I don't know where the OP is located, but I would probably also be inclined to go with MT85 if he's at 0° F or colder for long periods of time.

I think we are in agreement. Down south, MT90 is an excellent choice.

 

[Wayupnorth]

Good news , the replacement gear oil showed up today just like Redline promised!
Now to answer your questions.
Why Redline MT90?
I use it in our newer Tacoma because I used it my older Tacoma and it worked great.
I live in northern Wisconsin literally in the most northern town so we do see very hot temps and very cold temps .
This years range was a high of 98 and last winter we saw 31 below .
Winter time you just deal with a stiff transmission and if you don’t force things they work ok.
Anyway it’s worked for me in the past and I’m sure it’ll be fine now too.
Cheers all