Shifting gets harder after manual tranny fluid change with Swepco

bimmer1527 · 06:57 AM

After I changed my manual tranny and differential fluids with Swepco 201 multi purpose gear oil last week, instead of getting improvement in shifting, it gets harder especially in cold. The original fluid looks like regular ATF in red color and was filled over the fill plug level as I saw a lot came out as soon as I opened the fill plug. When I refilled it with Swepco I can only fill it up to the fill plug level where it starts to spill out.

Any idea with the shifting problem? Is Swepco appropriate since it's thicker than the regular ATF or I should somehow pump more fluid in the tranny? Thanks.

Beaums · 11-20-2006, 05:53 PM

based on the color is sounds like you might have had Red Line MTL in there.

i don't know what to say about the original overfill or harder shifting with Swepco, but in my experience Red Line is great.

bimmer1527 · 07:28 AM

I bought the car new and I don't remember ever had it changed. So it should be whatever the original factory fluid BMW use. I chose Swepco 201 under the influence of Wayne's 101 project book where it is touted as the gold standard. Maybe, I should've used redline MTL since it definitely is the No. 1 recommendation on this board. BTW, where can I get redline MTL? Is it availble online only?

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

The Porsche has a conjoined tranny and diff so it needs different gear oil with limited slip modifiers.

The BMW tranny needs a different, less slippery, additive set for the syncros to operate properly. ATF weight oil is what you need.

I have used Royal Purple ATF, and RP Syncromax and they both worked fine and better then the factory fill.

I would recommend RP Syncromax or Redline MTL but if they aren't convenient I would just go the auto parts store and buy a synthetic MTF with syncro modifiers.

bimmer1527 · 11-21-2006, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the clarification. But I was referring to "101 projects for BMW 3 series" book. My question now is: should I switch now or give it a little more time?. Also, I am wondering if anybody else who has tried swepco for his manual tranny can speak up and share the experience.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

I'd like to hear what Wayne has to say about recommending Swepco in Project 46 too.

I'm currently running Amsoil MTG in my tranny. I switched to it to quiet gear lash from my lightweight solid flywheel. It is 75w-90 but it is GL-4 not GL-5 and designed specifically for manual trannys with syncros.
http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/mtg.aspx

The lightest grade of Swepco 201 listed is 80w-90.

Even the 75w-90 I run now is far thicker than ATF. Cold ATF is in the low 30's cST@40c whereas 75w-90 is low 80's cST@40c. So you are going to experience difficulty shifting when cold just as I do. But Swepco 201 is also a GL-5 fluid and from what I remember in my research earlier this summer the GL-5 additives are not going to let the syncros in our manual trannys function properly.

luke7200 · 11-22-2006, 11:55 PM

I'm in the middle of a clutch replacement on my '87 E30 Convertible, and I am confused about the Tranny fluid info. My owners manual specifically calls for 80W "non-hypoid, GL4". When I look at all the oils at the auto parts stores, most don't say if they are non-hypoid, and most say they meet or exceed GL-5, while not indicating anything about GL-4. So what I bought was Royal Purple Synchromax. Anyway, I'd like to know if someone can explain what is the right oil/type and how to recognize it... please?

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

I'm not familiar with the E30 tranny.

GL5 oils are for hypoid gears in differentials and usually have limited slip modifiers. Hypoid gears have high shear forces so the oils are very slippery.

80w is thicker than ATF a la Syncromax. Syncromax will probably work fine but I would use Redline MTL or Amsoil MTG.

bimmer1527 · 11-29-2006, 08:21 AM

I switched to Redline MTL and it's much smoother now. So lesson learned: "Don't use swepco 201 as suggested by 101 projects book". Of course, I don't want to speak to all BMWs. Mine is 1997 328i manual.

R111S · R111S's Garage

I also switched out from Mobil Synthetic Trans Oil in my '84 318i. The previous owner had put in the Mobil thinking it could only be great...it wasn't...stiff shifting, missed shifts, etc. I switch to Redline MTL and she's as slick as butter for the last 10K Miles.

donstevens · donstevens's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeron
I'm not familiar with the E30 tranny.

GL5 oils are for hypoid gears in differentials and usually have limited slip modifiers. Hypoid gears have high shear forces so the oils are very slippery.

80w is thicker than ATF a la Syncromax. Syncromax will probably work fine but I would use Redline MTL or Amsoil MTG.

I agree with Jeron here. I have had several E30s and several Porsche 911s with the 915 box. While 911s love the Swepco, I have found that BMWs like Redline and Amsoil gear lubes much better.

I don't know much about the Synchromax but if it says it meets or exceeds GL-5 it means that it has a higher load of EP additives designed for Hypoid gears. Does it say that it "will not harm soft metals in transmissions" or "safe for use in manual transmissions"? If not, you'd be wise to save that for your diff and buy some GL-4 MTL or MTG for the transmission.

Don