Trans fluid replace
 

I am in need of a transmission fluid change. I have a fair amount of glitter in the oil however the trans shifts like a dream. I am inclined to remain with the Swepco 201 that has been used for the last 5 years. I have also been told by a P mechanic that redline trans oil is as good, maybe better. I am skeptical. Set me straight on this.

If you have a 87 930 I suppose that is the 4 gear G50 based transmission. As I understand the 915 up to 86 is better of with the Swepco organic lube, like the 201, but the G50 versions (if that is what you have) also like the synthetic oils.

Better informed will be in soon. ;)

Changed out PO's lube in my '88 G50 coupe a couple of years ago....shifted so sweet with Swepco....

Sounds like it's your mechanic that needs to be set straight. No way is RedLine a better oil than Swepco. Better marketing, yes.

just wondering about your opinion of redline. why isn't it better? have you used both? are there some kind of test results that show one is better than the other? i was also thinking of using redline in my trans because i can get it free. i currently use it in my golfs engine. i'm happy with it, but i dont track it. just some spirited driving.

I got Rotella gear oil and a bottle of lucas oil stabilizer in my 901 and it shifts like a dream too. I paid like $15 for all that oil I believe.

"just wondering about your opinion of redline. why isn't it better? have you used both?"

As a major vendor of Porsche gears and differentials, we deal with dozens, if not hundreds, of Porsche transmission shops. We have never heard any horror stories involving Swepco, but quite a few involving RedLine and other synthetic gear oils. We have yet to find a synthetic with the same Extreme Pressure protection of Swepco (and other high quality mineral-based oils).

People tend to confuse slick shifting with "true" oil performance, which I would define as the optimal protection of R&P and gear faces. I'm sure your Golf will be fine with your free RedLine oil... but I won't use it.

PRTechnology charges $128 per gallon for Redline...thats about USD$115!

I will stick with the swepco. Why change ?

John ... the Rally teams in OZ use Castrol LSX90 for perhaps AU$20/gal. Great R&P and gear protection.

Doesn't the Shell Rotella GL-5 offer the same extreme pressure protection of Swepco, at a fraction of the cost? What about the Shell Helix that is sold at Pep-Boys? Not sure what the difference is between the Rotella and Helix. I used Swepco on the last change, but may try the Shell this time.

Could you explain a bit more? Are you saying that you use Swepco in the G50 cars (87+), because that would be contrary to everything that I've learned about this subject. IMO, the real debate would seem to be synthetic (Redline, Mobil 1, Amsoil) vs. dyno (Swepco), so aren't you comparing "apples to oranges". Swepco is without a doubt the preferred dyno gear lube for the 911s prior to '87, but for subsequent years, the consensus seems to be that the G50s prefer a synthetic lube. Redline, Valvoline, Mobil 1, Amsoil, etc. make EXCELLENT synthetic lubes, but they will not produce good results in the pre-87 cars. Although some praise Swepco in the G50s, they are definite minority. I'm not questioning you, just asking, as I've still have a G50 that's just a tad "notchy" (is that a word?) when cold and was considering trying some Royal Purple. Any opinions?

I realize what the consensus is for early & late Porsche transmissions and what the factory recommended lubricants are for later Porsche transmissions. What I am offering is an opinion that is contrary to the "party line". So... take it with a grain of salt, but continue reading. It may alter the way you choose your gear oil.

While we learned a long time ago that synthetics didn't do well with the early-style synchros, we didn't pay enough attention to what seemed somewhat premature R&P and gear wear in those same early transmissions, when synthetic gear oil was utilized in race conditions .... but I started paying closer attention about 5 years ago ... after years of merely passing along the factory recommendations for gear oil.

There's no question that synthetics provide superior shifting in some situations ... especially cold weather start-ups. But strong condemnation of synthetics in general (from a protection standpoint) by both Australia's finest gear manufacturer and one of the UK's finest gear manufacturers has bothered me for a some time. Specific horror stories involving Australian and European Rally teams involving numerous well known synthetics .... U.S. desert race teams independently arriving at the same oil choices .... eventually it all sinks in.

If I lived in an extremely cold climate, I'd be inclined to use a synthetic gear lube .... but I don't. I live in NorCal, where transmission oil takes a mere 3-5 minutes to warm up, even during the winter. And like many owners of high performance cars, I apply much of what I've seen work well in race cars to even my street cars. I don't equate "buttery shifting" to "maximum protection of internals". This is the "apples & oranges" that I see.

Anyhow... I can only offer opinions on oils that I've received strong and repeated feedback on. But I ran into this little blurb a couple months back on the U.S. consumers' perception of synthetic oils which I found quite interesting. You need to go to the bottom of the page to the last article:

http://www.le-inc.com/WriteUps

Thank you very much! I'm still a "novice" when it comes to these cars, and I rely on guys (like yourself) with real world experiences to keep me straight :). You have definitely give me something to consider, and I do appreciate it!

Just for clarification this is the 930 4 speed turbo gear box. The same one used from 78-88. The 5 speed G-50 was only offered the last year of the 930 1989. thanks for the responses. I am hearing stick with the swepco! I just ordered some from our host.