What type gear oil would you prefer for the Indy 4900? They recommend in maintenance manual Rotra sae 90. Should i use SAE 80W/90(hopoid type API GL-5) or SAE full syntehic 75W/90( API GL-4)
I have choosen the 75W/90 while it cover some more specifications. I have found out that it cover both API GL-4 and API GL-5
I am surprised you have not had more answers, but I have Amsoil 80/90 Synthetic in the Ghibli. Works great. Any name brand 75/90 Synthetic would be fine for your car.
I'm not an oil analysis expert but here's what I have learned. It may be the case that, "any brand name synthetic would be fine for your car" is NOT entirely accurate. I would recommend an oil which will not attack/corrode the soft bearing surfaces and the syncro rings of the ZF gearbox. Some modern oils, syhthetic and blends, may attack/corrode brass, bronze, silicon bronze and copper, etc. The oil attacks and corrodes bearings etc over time, you won't notice any issues for a year or so, and then your gearbox/differential fails, because the shims, clutches, and syncros have been weakened. Not good. I use Lubriplate additive, they make gear/differential oils that do not attack brass, bronze, or copper. They can tell you the grade to use by model car, or gearbox manufacturer etc,.... ZF gearbox and Salisbury differential come to mind. NSF H-1 Registered Lubricants, Industrial Lubricants | Lubriplate That's my .02 Lira,........
Hello--- Contrary to opinions espoused by most commentators this is not a simple topic. Bottom line, the Pantera/RBT people all suggest an SAE 80W 90 mineral, limited slip oil, such as Castrol Hypoy C SAE 80W 90 for the ZF 5 DS 25/2 transaxle. Maserati on the other hand now say that the Bora should get an SAE 90, GL-5, limited slip oil. Best of both worlds, I use Castrol Hypoy LS (#1849), which is an SAE 90, mineral, GL- 5, limited slip lubricant. It has been a brilliant choice for my Bora, for many many years. Regards.
3500GT: I have not experienced modern synthetics attacking brass synchro rings. Have you? Can you or somebody here document modern synthetics attacking the synchro rings. This used to be common with the GL-4 oils when they were used in Alfa gearboxes with brass rings. Back then, you had to use the old Shell Dentax 90 a GL-1 oil.
Several specialty oils, basically oil designed for use in dog gear boxes like a Hewland or Liberty specifically say not to use in applications with brass syncros or bearing cages. Those are all I am aware of.
Thanks for all the answers but i'm a little bit confused! Should i change the Full synt.oil 75W90 that I just have filled on my gearbox to another type? I think i will go to my Castrol Shop one day and hear what they have to say. I just have driven 200km with no problem.
FYI: CASTROL has RENAMED Hypoy LS 90 as Castrol Axle Z Limited Slip 90. "Castrol Axle Z Limited Slip 90 (previously known as Hypoy LS 90) Axle Fluid for Limited Slip Differentials High load protection longlife APPLICATION: APPROVED BY ZF FOR CARS WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS A mineral oil based gear oil which is suitable for use in limited slip differentials in cars where API GL-5 oils with specific limited slip friction performance is required; it can also be used in conventional differentials. It is approved by ZF for use in their multi-disc wet brakes and self-locking differentials used in a range of commercial vehicle applications. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Optimised and stable friction characteristics for effective operation of limited slip differentials throughout the drain interval. Very good wear protection, even under severe conditions, prolongs component life. Specifically formulated to meet friction requirements of ZF wet brakes and locking differentials. SPECIFICATION API GL-5 Limited slip applications ZF TE-ML 05C, 12C, 16E, 21C" Regards.
Castrol Classic EP90 is a garden variety GL-4 gear oil. It does not even meet GL-5 specs, let alone be used in a limited slip ZF differential. My final comments on this topic: I can lead you to water but I can not make you drink. Over and out.
Sorry you feel that but i know nothing about oils and therefore i finally asked the Castrol headquarter in Denmark and there i was told that the EP90 is the only oil which are not attack copper/brass rings and it is highly recomended for ZF transmissions. I wasn't follow your advice while there was many different opinions on this Thread. But what you advice me to do are surely as good as what Castrol advice me to do, so i hope you will understand my way to solve the "problem" Best regards Jorn
Now I am the one that is a bit confused. This thread started out as a question about the oil for a Indy ZF gearbox and somehow it got morphed into a discussion about oil for a Bora ZF transaxle. Aren't these two different animals ? Ivan
I am reviving this thread as I need to change the oil on my Bora's transaxle. The oil has been leaking for some time and I have no idea when it was last changed. The leak is not terrible but it may have been going on for years and I don't want to find out the hard way that the transaxle has run dry. Since it has a leak I want to use regular "dino" oil and not synthetic. So the question is .... which oil to use? GL-4 or GL-5? Castrol Classic EP90 does not seem to be available in the USA. Ivan
