SWEPCO 201 vs. 203

Hi Guys:

Have just got off the phone with Mr. Louis Fox, Technical Manager of SWEPCO, who advises of the following:

1. SWEPCO 201 is the product to us in our Porsches, for both the transmission and for the differntial, whether it is limited slip or not.
2. SWEPCO 203 is to be used for industrial applications, since it has a little bit more moly disulphides in suspension; but it has no benefits for the Porsche user, since it is more expensive, but yields no improvments in any manner. Thus stick to # 201.
3. Zim's is able to sell us the 201 at a considerable savings, since they buy in bulk from SWEPCO (they "live" right next door to SWEPCO), and they "re-package" it into gallon jugs with their own printed label, not SWEPCO's label.
4. Thus, if you MUST have the original SWEPCO label, you will pay $6-10 more for that gallon jug than if you buy from Zim's and their re-packaged jug with computer-printed label.

Hope this helps...........Andras

All right, I'm sold. I've got a new (old) 911 coming, and I want to get Swepco or the Zim's equivalent for it. Two questions:

What gear oil should I use to run for 200 miles to 'flush' the transaxle (per Warren's suggestion) before I put the good stuff in -- since I have no idea when the current gear oil was last changed.

Also, how do I get the Zim's, or the Swepco, at a decent price? Does someone have a phone number/web address for a good source for either?

Thanks for helping a newbie and his transaxle.

Jack Olsen
10 days away from his 73 911

I bought some 201 from Zim's and it does indeed come with a 'homemade' label. It certainly looks like the real thing (although I have no way to verify it) and I am pleased with the results...

ewr:

When speaking with Mr. Fox, he confirmed that Zim's buys in bulk, and they re-package. The blue color IS the real thing, there is no question about it. The reason you are getting it so inexpensively, is that their wholesale bulk price is far less than the retail price of those gallon jugs. This is true if you buy milk in pints, and multiply to get gallons. You're better off buying the gallons. Same concept with Zim's. Enjoy the REAL thing and pay less for it too. Such a bargain......Andras

ewr:

When speaking with Mr. Fox, he confirmed that Zim's buys in bulk, and they re-package. The blue color IS the real thing, there is no question about it. The reason you are getting it so inexpensively, is that their wholesale bulk price is far less than the retail price of those gallon jugs. This is true if you buy milk in pints, and multiply to get gallons. You're better off buying the gallons. Same concept with Zim's. Enjoy the REAL thing and pay less for it too. Such a bargain......Andras

I've done the homework on tranny fluids
and I got my Swepco from Zims. www.***********. They were VERY helpful
I also called and talked to them before
I actually ordered.I found info on other
Swepco fluids like the 203 and 210 in other
newsgroups ( Rennlist ) I went from Redline
to the 201 and the difference was amazing !
In reference to what to use to flush out the
old, the regular Porsche fluid should do ya.

Would anyone care to outline the procedure for draining and refilling the tranny? I'd *like* to, but I heard it involves suctioning the old fluid out first, and then refilling...that sounds like a lot of work, and with special tools. Anyone? Beuller?

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

No, changing the fluid is easy, you just drain it from the bottom plug, and refill it from the top plug!

You may need to use a pump type device to get the fluid in the top plug, because of limited room to work. You can get a pump and a couple feet of hose at any car parts place for a couple bucks.

I also agree that 201 is the way to go. I have tried lots of others, including Redline, and I think Swepco is the best. Its one of the rare products that just about everyone agrees on!

Thanks for the 201/203 research, Andras. I have always stuck with the 201, because its what I know, but its good to have confirmation.

[DonDavis]

So I'm bumping this from the basement b/c I was told by a local Porsche builder, that I should use 203 in my 915. I see above it says I should use 201.

I need some opinions!

Go!

[Cipotifoso]

I checked the Zim site and they don't seem to offer the bulk variety anymore. I would get the 201 as recommended by the past posters to this topic, as I'm sure that nothing has changed in a technical sense. Our host here also carries 201, which is a bit more expensive than Zim's. However, Zim's tacks on a $4.00 "handling fee," their postage costs are higher, which comes out to a small differential. I plan to get some as soon as I determine the quantities needed and I plan to get it from our host, as I look at the product and the advice that I get from this site as a package. The advice adds a lot of value.

[Fast Eddy]

How much fluid is needed for a 915 trans? Is 1 gallon plenty or not quite enough? I'll be re-freshing my tranmission fluid very soon and need to know how much to get.

Thanks,
Eddy

[VincentVega]

1 gal is enough, you should have a little left over.

[dentist90]

3litres, or just over 3 quarts.

[Fast Eddy]

Gent,
Thanks for the info. Pelican BBS is the best!

Eddy