specs on BMW MTF-LT-4

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Can't find specs on this fluid anywhere, so just sent in samples
to Blackstone for VOA and 35K UOA of BMW MTF LT-4
for routine analysis and added low temp viscosity (40C cSt)
on each to satisfy my curiosity.
Hope to report the findings back in a week or so.
This is for my 2009 MINI JCW Clubman R55 with 6-speed
Getrag manual transmission.
 
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As I recall it is another Low Viscosity MTF with a 100C vis of around 5.9 cSt, and similar to the BMW (Pentosin) MTF-LT-3.
 
Will post the full reports later, but
virgin LT-4 had a 100C viscosity of
14.8 and 40C viscosity of 70 cSt.

Interestingly, my 35K mile gear oil
which I assumed was LT-4 had a
100C viscosity of 7.7 and 100c was
40.3 cSt, so that must have been a
different fill than the current LT-4.
Ca, P and Zn were a bit different, too
at 3791, 1114, and 1187 for my LT-4
VOA and 3066, 1786, and 1575 for
the oil in my transaxle.


Anyone know what a 2009 MINI
JCW Clubman gets from the factory?
Current info from BMW and MINI
listed BMW MTF LT-4!?!
 
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That's the 'real' MTF, by engineers not by CAFE, though full of VII's.
 
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Originally Posted by cristo


Anyone know what a 2009 MINI
JCW Clubman gets from the factory?
Current info from BMW and MINI
listed BMW MTF LT-4!?!

If that car has the "French" engine, FF could be Total gear 8 75w80, wild guess (that's what many French car with the same engine suggest).
 
There may be a sticker on the housing
That tells me. I'll drive it up on ramps
And see if it's still there and legible
sometime soon.
It has the French Prince engine, but
the German Getrag transmission, and
I think the FF is a BMW product.
 
Here's pdf files for the VOA on BMW MTF LT-4 that I
sent to Blackstone labs and the sample from my 2009
MINI JCW Clubman with 6-speed manual Getrag

As the latter doesn't look like either LT-3 or LT-4;
anyone have a clue what it could be?

I bought the car used a year ago with only 28K miles,
so I assumed it was still factory fill fluid with LT-4, but
could be LT-3 topped off with some LT-4 or something
else altogether.

Also, LT-4 is much more viscous than I was expecting
compared to other fluids used in previous years with
MINIs with essentially the same 6-speed Getrag
(MTF 94, LT-3, LT-4, etc.).
 

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I thought of that, but what would
account for the drop in Ca from
3791 to 3066 and the rise in P
and Zn from 1114 and 1187 to
1786 and 1579?
 
Also, 14.8 to 7.7 cST is a
pretty huge drop for 35k miles.
Has the formulation of LT-4
by BMW changed significantly
between 2008 (August 08 build)
and 2019?
 
Originally Posted by cristo
Also, 14.8 to 7.7 cST is a
pretty huge drop for 35k miles.
Has the formulation of LT-4
by BMW changed significantly
between 2008 (August 08 build)
and 2019?

IMO, a typical multigrade MTF would have sheared some 25-35 % in a 35k miles use.
Your LT-4 sheared some 50 %. Am I surprised ?
Not quite, considering its super-high VI of 223 bloated with VII of low shear stability as evidenced with UOA.
 
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Well, at least 7.7 or even a bit lower
is a reasonable 100C viscosity for
this transmission.
When I change the fluid (probably in
a couple years), maybe I'll do it in springtime
so that the viscosity has a chance to
reduce a little before the next cold winter.
 
Just looked under the car.
Sticker does say LT-4.
Guess this a good reason to
change the fluid each 30-50K,
or maybe MINI/BMW went to
a thicker fluid so it would last
longer without thinning out
too much.
 
From components protection perspective, it makes sense to consider reducing shear prone LT-4 oci to 20-25k .
Alternatively relatively shear stable MTF 75W90 from Amsoil/Redline/Schaeffers may be considered.
 
What about Amsoil Manual Synchromesh
Transmission Fluid MTF (5W30) which is
what Amsoil recommends for my year and
model MINI (at least for the n14b16c JCW
engine; they don't have a recommendation
for the n14b16a S turbo or non-turbo).

Viscosity is 10 at 100C, 50 at 40C, VI 196,
PP -48C.
 
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Originally Posted by cristo
Redline MT-85 looks like a
reasonable choice as well to me.

MT-85 appears thicker than Amsoil Synchromesh 5W30, both at weaker KV100C levels than LT-4 . .
I would personally prefer MT-90 to either of above for full 'conformity' with LT-4 .
 
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Sorry to harp on this issue, but ...
My reason for shifting toward a more shear-resistant fluid with slightly less KV than virgin LT-4 oil is
that the same transmission with LSD* calls for BMW (Texaco) MTF 94 which has a 100C KV of 10.5,
40C = 53, and essentially the same transmission without LSD called for LT-3 before LT-4 came out
with viscosity of only 6.1 at 100C.
Also, as you pointed out, the KV of LT-4 apparently drops significantly with use.
I appreciate for your advice.

* (I don't have a mechanical LSD in my MINI)
 
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