What oil in an 016 gear box

[Dean Lampe]

I need to know how much, what kind and where to put it in. Thanks guys!

 

[Mark Clapp]

Hey Dean, I used Castrol synthetic gear oil. I can't remember how much, but it was close to 6 quarts or more since it filled my drain pan almost full when I changed it. Of course you fill it until it runs out anyway. On the left side, you will see two large allen head plugs with pipe threads on the round area near the center of the transaxle. You fill into the one on the top and drain from the one on the bottom. I bought the large (18-mm I believe) allen wrench from a VW parts place as they use them also. Be sure the short vent tube on top of the box has an open breather of some type and not plugged off.

 

[Jim Dewar]

German transmission rebuilt my 016 = Redline MTL 5.75 pts

 

[Kym Haines]

The manual for the gearbox says:

Oil capacity: 2.75 litres
Oil: Hypoid gear oil GL4 (MIL-L 2105) SAE 80 or SAE 80W-90

Of course the manual is old and according to a couple of mechanics that have looked into this, the required oil needs to be GL5 75W-90 synthetic.

Whether the box has a limited slip diff also has some bearing on the choice.

Castrol SynTrax is one suggestion.

 

[Cliff Beer]

Mark is right - fill to the top allen head plug opening. I use redline 75W90 NS and have seen an improvement in shifting from cold over other less expensive gear oils you might find at your local NAPA store. The NS doesn't include friction modifiers appropriate for an LSD. If you have a quaife or other friction plate-based LSD then you'll want the regular redline 75W90.

I've seen strong recommendations for the swepco gear oils as well.

 

[Jim Dewar]

Sorry Dean, I'm home today and checked my oil card that came with the trans. (memory is shot). It takes 5.4 pints (or fill to top oil plug level) of Redline MT-90.

 

[Scott]

Make sure it's GL4 spec, don't use any lubricant approved for GL5 use as the sulfide friction modifiers will eat up your syncros.

 

[Erik Johnson]

I would recommend using the Swepco products for your oil of choice. Personally for street use I think that these are some of the best around, now if you are going to be doing a fair amount of track events, then I think it prudent to step up to the LE9920 synthetic. It is pretty expensive, but it is quite simply the best thing on the market currently.

Let me know if you need this, as we stock this in house.

Warmest Regards,


Erik Johnson
Carquip Sales
(303) 443-1343 ext 2 work
(720) 980-9407 cell

 

[Kym Haines]

Re: What oil in an 016 gear box - syncro corrosion

Make sure it's GL4 spec, don't use any lubricant approved for GL5 use as the sulfide friction modifiers will eat up your syncros.

Googling this issue I found a post by twmattox on CJOffroad.com - For CJ Owners by CJ Owners! "I emailed Valvoline regarding this ... They indicated that the issue is with the type of sulfate used in the lube. Apparently activated sulfate (used in some GL5 lubes) can eat brass synchros. Valvoline indicated: 'The Valvoline High Performance Gear Oil 80-w90 can be used for both GL4 and GL5. The real concern is the type of sulfate used in the gear oil. You can not use an active sulfate for GL-4 applications. Valvoline uses an inactive sulfate that will not harm any yellow metal such as bronze. This allows our products to be used in manual transmissions that have bronze synchronizers.'"

And Jeeper80 on www.jeepsunlimited.com: "A few months back I wrote Ashland Oil Co. asking them about Valvoline GL-5 oils and effect on brass synchro rings. This is their reply:
GL-5 oils that use an active sulfate can damage yellow metals.
Valvoline GL-5 on the other hand uses a non-active sulfate that will not affect yellow metals"

So, choose your GL5 appropriately.