Why is Kendall NS-MP so hard to find?

[175K911]

Have always run Swepco 201 for the past 20+ years but getting tired of the cold shifting sluggishness. Thought I’d try the NS-MP, and I don’t want to get into the whole Swepco vs Kendall debate. Virtually impossible to find Kendall NS-MP. You’d think in the Chicago area, the 3rd largest city in the country, that someone would have it. Appears that the ONLY place is from our host but that doesn’t help for tomorrow. Even Amazon doesn’t have it.

[Dave Kost]

I have a 1988 911 Targa. I had to special order a case of 12 from the local Kendal distributor.

Glad I did. Still have 8 quarts left. Full synthetic.

[RedCoupe]

Originally Posted by Dave Kost

I have a 1988 911 Targa. I had to special order a case of 12 from the local Kendal distributor.

Glad I did. Still have 8 quarts left. Full synthetic.

The full synthetic gear oil is fine for your 88 as it has the G50. But for the earlier cars like my 86 which has the 915 transmission, the pros on this forum consistently recommend non-synthetic gear oil. I run the Kendall 80-90 non-synthetic that I bought from our host.

[jjeffries]

If you cannot find anyone more local, I buy it from GH Berlin/Windward Lubricants in East Hartford, Conn (860) 289-7800. Big commercial/wholesale place but ask for someone is sales and they should hook you up...you'll have to pay shipping though. Best of luck, John

[Dave Kost]

Originally Posted by RedCoupe

The full synthetic gear oil is fine for your 88 as it has the G50. But for the earlier cars like my 86 which has the 915 transmission, the pros on this forum consistently recommend non-synthetic gear oil. I run the Kendall 80-90 non-synthetic that I bought from our host.

Sorry, my mistake. The Kendal is hard to impossible to find locally.

[Cory M]

If it was easy to find, no one here would want to use it. Only the most obscure lubricants are suitable for use on our super special cars, that off the shelf stuff is for the plebs.

[jjeffries]

Originally Posted by Cory M

If it was easy to find, no one here would want to use it. Only the most obscure lubricants are suitable for use on our super special cars, that off the shelf stuff is for the plebs.

Great point. I think Kendall is one of those brands which used to be ubiquitous and much favored by VW/Audi/Porsche people, but has now faded after various brand buyouts and takeovers. In New England it's still sort-of readily available, but I'm not sure if the big Kendall billboard is still there at Lime Rock?

Maybe any mineral G5 80/90W would be fine?

[175K911]

Surprisingly I found a distributor that's fairly local to me who stocks NS-MP. But only in 5 gallon buckets. However, at just $79 per bucket that's just $3.95 per quart. Guess I'll have a lifetime supply now.

[jjeffries]

Good news! Re-sale opportunity? JK.

[LakeCleElum]

Just went thru this last week when wanting to top off the 915 after replacing the shifting shaft seal.......Seemed our host was about the quickest way to get it.

[pmax]

Just went through this exercise, ended up buying Swepco 201, hope the 915 gods and saints will smile kindly over my choice ... but yeah, that Kendall is hard to find. Single sourced by our host at the retail level.

Seems like Kendall NS-MP Hypoid and many similar are primarily commercial oils used in bulk quantities by the trucking industry (not sure about the blue magic potion). Cars have all moved on to synthetics and modern synchro transmissions decades ago.

[adias]

How often (miles/time) do you replace/renew the transmission lube?

Also... this forum's owner (Pelican Parts) offers the Kendall 80W-90 GL-5 NS-MP Hypoid Gear Oil.

[walt]

It seems like some of these lubes for older cars is getting more difficult to find. I used to buy Valvoline VR1 at a number of local shops but no longer. Kendall has limited product in this area, I ordered my gear lube from Pelican also. I've never run across Motul.

[Matt Monson]

I think they discontinued it for a while last year. It wasn’t on their website but it’s back now.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

If you really want a specific type oil, a major regional fuel/oil/lube distributor is your best bet.
Here in SoCal, I use Southern Counties Oil for race fuel, engine oil and gear lube