Quick Saturday Question -- Gear Oil

[piscator]

Gentlemen,

Would it be objectionable and offensive to put Valvoline gear oil in my transmission?

I am, at this moment, putting my engine and rebuilt transmission back in my 1979 SC. The gearbox needs oil, which is easy to do now, with the transmission on the floor. In my shop inventory, I have four (4) unbroken bottles of GL-5 rated transmission fluid -- 1 liter of Valvoline 90, 2 liters of Valvoline 85-140 and 1 liter of Swepco 201.

When it comes to gear oil, this board has made me paranoid. Should I use what I have? Interrupt the project to make a Saturday FLAPS run for Kendall? Put in the 1 liter of Swepco and top it off later?

So close... and yet...

[Danimal16]

You have a 915 transmission with Porsche type synchros. There are many musings on this forum regarding the right Trans Oil. First off, do you have a limited slip?

My 901/911 gearbox shares the same TYPE of synchros that you have. I Initially used Swepco 201 but when I switched to the Kendall with LS additives, the box has performed much better.

Others will chime in but if you do a search on 915 gear oil you should get a well rounded discussion on the pros and cons and experiences of others.

[adias]

Make sure the oi you use is fresh. I went from Swepco to Kendall.

[walt]

I've used both Swepco 201 and Kendall 80W-90 GL-5 in my 915. Found both to perform similarly and don't really have a preference. Kendall costs less.

[Rodsrsr]

I switched to Kendall some time ago and the gearbox performs noticeably better.

[piscator]

Thanks gentlemen,

I just returned from braving Saturday traffic to visit the five autoparts stores in my area -- NAPA, Advanced Auto, Autozone, and two local speed shops -- NO ONE carried Kendall oil of any kind. My choices locally are, Valvoline, Lucas, Napa, Cam4, Purple, and Redline. To use anything else, I'd have to order it shipped in.

I've never had much preference for any oil over another, but the Swepco -- Kendall wars at Pelican have infected my psyche. Frankly, I was enjoying my ignorance and still find it hard to fathom that Kendall could be so much better than any other nationally reputed seller of oil, such as Valvoline or Lucas. Does it really make that much difference?

But I do trust and value the opinions here, so if it does make a difference, I'll order some.

[Rodsrsr]

see post #5

[walt]

If it were me, I would order either the Swepco or Kendall. They seem to be the gear oils of choice from most on this board. I couldn't find the Kendall locally either.

[Bigtoe32067]

I have swepco in mine with an lsd and it doesn't shift like I think it should so I just bought Kendall LSD get oil and imagonna swap it.
I was going to do it today because I had an autocross tomorrow but I'm not going tomorrow so I'll change it later.
Tony

[Bill Douglas]

Hi Robert, I'd but any correctly rated oil in then drive it for some time, then swap it out for the Swepco. Get rid of any metal fragments from the rebuild as soon as possible.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by piscator

I've never had much preference for any oil over another, but the Swepco -- Kendall wars at Pelican have infected my psyche. Frankly, I was enjoying my ignorance and still find it hard to fathom that Kendall could be so much better than any other nationally reputed seller of oil, such as Valvoline or Lucas. Does it really make that much difference?

Given there are at least two anointed makers of 915 oil, I say your suspicion there are other equivalents is sound, hardly an industrial secret known only to a select few. Swepco is an odd one because it seems there are no other applications that I am aware of or perhaps no others except the 915 crowd are willing to pay the 2-3x cost of other oils.

But as I have said before, you would be tempting the wrath of the 915 gods if you don't use the "magic stuff".

Good luck w/the 915 !

[piscator]

Thanks Guys!

Since I have to locate the 'lost wire' I posted about in another thread, I've have a little more time to consider the gear oil question. I like Bill's suggestion to use what I have, let it flush the gearbox, and then replace it with the ULTIMATE gear oil -- whatever that might be -- and paying close attention to Pmax's admonition not to offend the 915 gods!

[patkeefe]

Robert, when my trans got rebuilt and LSD added, the rebuilder said Swepo, so I bit the bullet and anted up for Swepco.

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by patkeefe

Robert, when my trans got rebuilt and LSD added, the rebuilder said Swepo, so I bit the bullet and anted up for Swepco.

They all tell you to use Swepco. I had my gearbox rebuilt and used the Swepco at first but after reading tons of threads decided to try the Kendall and like I said the gearbox is "noticeably" smoother with the Kendall so I've been using it ever sense.

[Matt Monson]

Put the Valvolune in the car, as long as it’s not synthetic. People worry WAY too much about this.

[piscator]

Thanks Matt,

No it's not synthetic. I don't use synthetic oils anywhere. Being an ol' dinosaur myself, dino-oil has always been my preference! ;-)

I'm sure you're right that folks worry too much over this, but it's always seemed that fussing and battling over diminutia is one of the things we do best around here!

As you and Bill suggest, I'll start with the Valvoline.

[Matt Monson]

The oil wars, both engine and gear, are the most asinine thing to ever happen to car forums.

As for Max’s comments about Swepco, I encourage some research into how it came about and why it is used by Porsche people. It’s no accident.

[dwelle]

any links matt? curiosity killed the cat. i haven’t read too much on any of the oil wars, always reckoned it was a bunch of, um, yeah....

[pmax]

Heard of the stories from days past of the track prowess.

Piscator,
Please do confirm if this is a street application.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by dwelle

any links matt? curiosity killed the cat. i haven’t read too much on any of the oil wars, always reckoned it was a bunch of, um, yeah....

just do a search here start with Swepco + racing