Gear oil for 915 trans

[motogman]

So there are lots of useful gear oil threads that I have researched but I have not found the specifics for my question... so another oil thread.

Is one of the three or four recommended gear oils preferred for a car that is mainly used for track days? If it matters - mated to a 3.2L in a light car.

[Peter Zimmermann]

I ran Kendall dino 80w/90 GL-5 with LSD additive in my PCA Club Race car, my SCCA E/P 914, and a large number of time trial/auto-x cars that I've driven/owned/maintained. Also used it exclusively in customer cars at my shop for 25 years. It's not just good; it's great.

[Matt Monson]

Same two gear oils that come up in all the other discussions, Swepco or Kendall. which one? Do you like ale or lager? Same sort of question, IMO.

If you run an LSD in a racecar I personally recommend that you do NOT run an LSD additive. Just makes it slip more which is counter to having an LSD lock. LSD additives are NVH items and not performance adders.

Lastly, the thing to remember on your racecar is up your service interval. No more than 4-6 race weekends between gear oil changes. That frequency is more important than which oil you actually choose. And given that frequency, if you want to experiment and see if you like the shift quality of one over the other, you're going to change it more than once a season and can see for yourself...

Regards,

Matt Monson
Guard Transmission llc

[motogman]

Originally Posted by Peter Zimmermann

I ran Kendall dino 80w/90 GL-5 with LSD additive in my PCA Club Race car..

Is this the same as Kendall NS MP Hypoid Gear Lub - 80-90?

[Jon B]

I'll have a lager.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Same two gear oils that come up in all the other discussions, Swepco or Kendall. which one? Do you like ale or lager? Same sort of question, IMO.

If you run an LSD in a racecar I personally recommend that you do NOT run an LSD additive. Just makes it slip more which is counter to having an LSD lock. LSD additives are NVH items and not performance adders.

Lastly, the thing to remember on your racecar is up your service interval. No more than 4-6 race weekends between gear oil changes. That frequency is more important than which oil you actually choose. And given that frequency, if you want to experiment and see if you like the shift quality of one over the other, you're going to change it more than once a season and can see for yourself...

Regards,

Matt Monson
Guard Transmission llc

THis is excellent advice. For my street-only car, Kendall made the shifting MUCH more smooth when I switched from SWEPCO. If I were to race it, I might make a different choice.

[howard freeman]

Pilsner Urquell for me, I am thirsty now.
Howard

[MikeD]

My experience... Swepco slightly quieter. Kendall better shifting.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by motogman

Is this the same as Kendall NS MP Hypoid Gear Lub - 80-90?

Yep. You must decide, regarding LSD, what you want to do - if you have LSD. Our host sells Kendall Hypoid, and Kendall dino w/LSD additive added. Both are 80w/90.

It seems like beer time, think I'll have a Spaten Lager...

[Marc Bixen]

All this talk of oils is getting um, you know. I'll have a single malt. Matt I know that wasn't on the menu. Kendall for me and John if you get up to L.A. I'll buy you a lager.

[kwikt 911]

I tried Kendall but went back to Swepco. I thought it shifted better with the Swepco. Wait a minute..... maybe it was the color I liked

[manbridge 74]

One might consider 75w140 if there is a lot of balkiness due to slop. Rebuild likely in the future though.

[Sboxin]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Same two gear oils that come up in all the other discussions, Swepco or Kendall. which one? Do you like ale or lager? Same sort of question, IMO.

If you run an LSD in a racecar I personally recommend that you do NOT run an LSD additive. Just makes it slip more which is counter to having an LSD lock. LSD additives are NVH items and not performance adders.

Lastly, the thing to remember on your racecar is up your service interval. No more than 4-6 race weekends between gear oil changes. That frequency is more important than which oil you actually choose. And given that frequency, if you want to experiment and see if you like the shift quality of one over the other, you're going to change it more than once a season and can see for yourself...

Regards,

Matt Monson
Guard Transmission llc

Is the Moly additive in Swepco 203 considered a LSD additive?
And, therefore use 201 with Guard LSD?

Edit: Added from a reply from MAtt
- "Do NOT put 203 into your gearbox! "


TIA,
Regards,

[BierSlinger]

Lager, and I'll take a Augstiner. Sorry I saw the bier reference and I had to put my two cents. Btw Kendall is my 1st choice. Swepco is a very close second. Either way can't go wrong.

[BMWonly]

Here are my $0.02:

Bought a 1980 SC about 1 1/2 years ago. Had a PPI done, and had them do a transmission service. They put an unknown gear oil in, plus BG MGC:
BG Products, Inc.
I drove it home 950 miles (Tucson to Sacramento), and thought the transmission was in pretty good shape (original 915 with 97k miles).

Still wanted to try the famous Swepco, and was a little disappointed. Shifting was more metallic and much less smooth than before, as if the oil is too thin. So I added BG MGC, and the smoothness came back, feels like the syncros are coated with a protective layer. This probably saved my transmission.

After tax season I will try Kendall, first without BG, and then see what BG does to it.

[Reifle]

What about adding Moly Slip to the tranny (915) to quieten down things. I used this years ago in my cars - VWs, Audis, etc... Did a great job then how about now...

[winders]

Originally Posted by BMWonly

So I added BG MGC, and the smoothness came back, feels like the syncros are coated with a protective layer. This probably saved my transmission.

It didn't save your 915........where does this stuff come from??

Scott

[Lapkritis]

Royal Purple replaced Redline in my car... less notchy shift feel with RP.

+1 for fluid change often.

[RWebb]

the 915 uses baulk ring syncros and need some friction to work properly

use Swepco and no additives

or be experimental and use Kendall and no additives

change it every few years

[Lapkritis]

Same as the VW cousins. One of the best is Pennzoil Sycromesh on those... the RP is a bit thicker. Glazing the brass ring from running fluid too long and/or excessively wearing the ring is the most common problem.