A question. If you have the factory LSD(05 & 06 only)does the Redline MTF work with this clutch type of limited slip? All of the after market LSDs are mechanic not clutch types as is the factory units.

 

I emailed AMSOIL tech support about this. Their response was that if your build was after 07/2004, they do not have a fluid for the manual transmission. The above fluid is for early build cars. Just passing on what they said.

 

What defines "very hot climates"? Where I live the temps average (according to weather.com 30-91 throughout the year. Would MTL be fine for those summer days it's in the mid-90's? would MT-90 be okay for the occasionla winter nights that it gets to the teens?

I ask b/c my Mini is around 35k miles old and I want to get new fluid in there.

 

I didn't remove the fan. I used a funnel from the top with a piece of clear hose on it. And I floated the MTL in a basin of hot water to loosen it up a bit. It went down the hose nicely. One suggestion from me would be to remove the filler plug first just in case something whacky happens. You don't want to take out the drain plug and not be able to get out the filler.

But this job is easy and well worth the effort.

Rich

 

Very good advice, both on the fill plug and filling from the top.
You can probably use either MT-90 or MTL, the difference is that MTL is a little thiner. I have MTL and it makes for very nice shifting.

 

For colder climates I was talking about anywhere between -15 to -26

 

Christ almighty people...

http://bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html



Factory Fluid: MTF-94, 75W80
Redline MTL: 70W80
Redline MT-90: 75W90

Like anything dealing with oils, to a limited extent you have some range. For instance. I run German Castrol 0W30 (only true synthetic Castrol) in my Mini, despite Mini adamantly recommending 5W30 Castrol "synthetic" (it's really not). It all depends on how cold it is generally when you turn your car over (first number in rating) and the temperature when it's hot (second number). Another example...if its generally cold (freezing or so), you want lower numbers....hot climates want higher numbers. The same car could need 5W30 in Canada, and should use 10W40 near the equator. Temperature affects viscosity, remember? These same concepts affect transmission oil as well.

- Matt

 

Yes the viscosity is a factor for the oil but the GL-4 or GL-5 rating is the primary factor for discerning which oil to use (75w-90 or MTL). And this GL rating is specific to manual, auto and/or LSD. There is a reason why one gets MTL and the other gear oil (synchros). Down the road I see some b!tching on here as to why their tranny crunched gears and it was due to the failing of the tranny itself.

 

I live in PA and here we run the gamut (sp?) of temperatures. My fluid was done over the summer, June I believe, with MTL. It survived all summer long up to and into the 90's and through up to now after we had a few days with highs in the low to mid 20's. No problems at all. Its slightly notchy but after 5 minutes of driving, its gone.

 

I get the viscosity issues but does anybody know how any of these none OEM fluids work on the clutch type of LSD we have from the factory? I ask because no one else has even brought it up.

 

Proper fluid for the factory clutch type LSD is Texaco MTF94 according to Tech Service Bulletin SI M 23 01 06 of Feb. 2006. Gertag 6-speed manuals W11 and G285. (R53 & R52 respectively).
This bulletin was issued in reference to noise from these same transmissions if they were manufactured between 01/2005 up to 03/2006. The noise was caused by 'surface roughness of the taper rings' and the problem could be cured by replacing the unspecified fluid that was used in this early issue of the factory LSD with Tex MTF94. After refilling the trans. with MTF94 and driven in tight circles (approx. 10 circles in each direction) the grinding noise will disappear.
So.............................I guess the standard MTF94 is just fine for the factory LSD.

 

+ whatever on MTL. Somewhat noticable on the 6 spd cars I've changed... BIG improvement on the R50 Midlands cars...

For filling: I use a funnel with a long hose fed through from the top. The down-side is filling becomes a two-person job... unless you rig up a camera to a lap-top to watch until the fluid starts to drip out of the fill hole.