yes, another tranny fluid question!

[steviee7]

Well, I've done the search thing to death and still feel confused. I've heard SWEPCO is the stuff to get but there are those who say that another type is great.
I'd like to have SWEPCO but I don't want to wait for it to be shipped, I need something local. It seems that I'd have to pay shipping and wait weeks not days to get it. I can't even find it locally. Amsoil, Mobil.. etc are very available.
Can anyone recommend anything? I have a 915 tranny and it does the common things that the 915 is notorious for: shifting into 2nd and 4th are tough (no grinding though)

Before I rebuild I'm trying all the other options first. I don't have any real major problems, I'd just like to replace it since I don't know the last time it was done.

Also what weight should I look for. Florida can get very hot. I understand that it needs to be GL-5 (right?)

thanks and sorry to beat this topic to death.
se

[AirCooledExcellence]

Wait for the Swepco, it'll be worth it!

Cheers,

Tim.

[tobluforu]

Swepco out Valvoline 85-140 in

[Early_S_Man]

Change the gear oil now to Valvoline SAE 85W-140 ... and order a gallon of SWEPCO 212. In a month or two ... change the gear oil again to the SWEPCO. I call this procedure the 'cheap flush' ... it flushes out any remaining wear particles that tend to foul-up the Porsche-patent synchronizers!

[yelcab1]

I never did find that swepco did anything great for my 915 (on the previous car). On this SC, I am using redline MTL and so far it has been great. You can find that at NAPA.

[Wil Ferch]

Redline MTL is rated API GL-4.
Porsche boxes require GL-5.

--Wil Ferch

[steviee7]

where can I order swepco 212 (does pelican sell it?)

[Early_S_Man]

Yes, Pelican sells SAE 80W-140 Swepco 212, here:

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/shopcart/CARE/POR_CARE_swepco_pg4.htm

[Hugh R]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_tranny_pg1.htm#item1

[alan911sc]

Ran swepco in my 83 911sc from when I bought it with 60k till it was totaled with 150k. It was a LS 915 transmission. Never had any tranny problems other than the typical synco problem in first gear but lived with it. Salvage yard that bought the car said the transmission was in great shape considering the amount of mileage. My opinion is it's good stuff.

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

I'm using the Swepco 212 (with moly) in mine and it's gotten better. Early S Man recomended it to me 9 months ago and it's helped. My tranny is pretty rough though, so I'm planning on rebuilding her.

[993.986.]

What about G50 tranny's? Wayne's 101 book says that other more modern synthetic blends may be a better choice than Swepco for these later boxes. Anyone have any recommendations? thanks

[993.986.]

ooops! just noticed another current thread about G50 oil choices. As Roseann Rosanna Danna would say "never mind".

[curlesw]

What's the difference in 201 and 212 and why would you use one over the other?

v/r
Wayne C.
83 SC

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by curlesw
What's the difference in 201 and 212 and why would you use one over the other?

v/r
Wayne C.
83 SC

Not quite sure myself. I know the 212 is a multi-grade 80w with Mos2. Swepco has a 203 and a 210 that are GL-5 rated as well. It would be interesting to get (or start) comparison data on the whole Swepco gear oil line, as it pertains to Porsche gearbox performance.

[steviee7]

I went to my local auto parts store today and didn't know which to buy... I forgot to ask if the Valvoline 85W140 was the regular or the Durablend.
Please let me know.

se

[Early_S_Man]

The regular Valvoline is what I've always used for the 'flush.'

[steviee7]

OK, thanks Early_S_Man

se

[Jon Hile]

You could always call the nice folks down at Swepco in FW (although buying from our kind hosts is always the best plan).

Southwestern Petroleum Corporation
P.O. Box 961005 Fort Worth TX USA 76161-0005
Phone: (800) USSWEPCO (877-9372) FAX: (817) 877-4047

They can tell you who in your area orders the stuff. All I did was call one of them (Chris's German Auto in Bellevue) and he said "come on down with an empty plastic jug." Easy as can be (esp. since I had a gallon Valvoline container already, see below).

I took Warren's (Early S Man) advice and ran a flush of 85W-140 Valvoline and just swapped it out for the Swepco 201 last night (my pump broke and was a little messy but that's another story).

One thing I noticed right away was some of the mild backlash and bearing rumble when the clutch is let out came back. (Not the throw out bearing since ther clutch and TOB were replaced <1,000 miles ago).)
I suppose this is to be expected going from a 140 weight to a 90 but it sure was nice to have such a quiet 915 transmission for a couple of weeks!

Have fun (and don't break the pump in mid-process).

[Wil Ferch]

Ok...I'll bite since I recently did this on my Talon daily driver.

What's wrong with going 85W-140?....made a huge improvement in my Talon, shifted rather easy too...the cold weather operation was no worse than the 80W-90 stuff.

Any downsides?

---Wil Ferch