Lubri Moly 2048

[bugblatterbeast]

I just changed my transmission oil today and I'm please to say that the gear box shifts better with Lubri Moly 2048 than anything else I've used previously. With the limited number of GL-5 rated oils that shift well, I'm happy to have found another one.

 

Previous fills: Subaru Extra-S, Redline 75w90NS, Amsoil SVG, Mobil 1, Motul Gear 300, Gear 300 + shockproof, Gear 300 + GM FM MTF.

 

Gear 300 + the GM FM MTF was a close second, followed by Gear 300 + shockproof.

 

I'll post again in a year, once I've had a chance to do some winter driving on the new fill. Judging by how much lighter the shifter was compared to the Gear 300 +GM MTF that was just drained, I think the new mix might end up being quite good in the winter.

[Max Capacity]

Interesting, will be waiting to hear your review.

 

What's the price for a bottle ?

[bugblatterbeast]

the pricing was pretty good, all things considered. we have extra retail markups in Canada, so relative pricing might make more sense.

 

the LubriMoly was $22.50 / Liter. Gear 300 up here goes for ~ $28 to 35 /liter these days. The last time I bought Redline oil (probably 3 years ago) it went for $19 / quart.... inflation. a decade ago I used to buy gear 300 for $17 /liter (shipped to my door).

 

I also have some Titan Sintofluid on hand. Its a 70w80 GL5 MTF. If the oil is too heavy come winter, I'll drain out 0.5L and mix in the Sintofluid. On paper, this will thin the LubriMoly to the bottom end of the 75w90 spec, bringing the hot viscosity close to Extra-S, but the cold viscosity will be way better. I previously doped the Gear 300 with a little GM 75w-85w MTF to get some friction modifiers without shifting the viscosity much, but the first few cold shifts were still a little iffy (-20 to -40c days), especially downshfits into 1st without a double-declutch. I"m hoping the Lubrimoly will be fine on its own, or with a bit of sintofluid mixed in.

[Infosecdad]

You are talking about Liqui Moly right (does it have a different brand/name in Canada)?

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G4UI88Q/

 

I use their oil and a few other products that I've been really happy with.

I'll try this in my tranny/rear diff when it's fluid change time.

[bugblatterbeast]

Yes. Same stuff. I've seen it sold under both names up here, depending on the store.

[bugblatterbeast]

update:

 

The shift feel shifted a bit after a few hundred km. It wasn't bad, but not the same as right after the fluid swap. Instead of shifting in gear in a single motion, the feel became two step, the kind of feeling you get when the synchro sleeve hangs up a little after sliding over the blocker ring but before engaging the mating part on the gear.

 

I figured there was no way the viscosity of the fluid changed in a few hundred km and the change in feeling must have been the old adsorbed friction modifiers coming off the synchros. To test if this was the case, I added 180mL of the friction modifier I had previously used with Motul Gear 300 (previous fill). I'm pleased to report the shifting feel immediately returned to the way it was just after the gear oil change, and has remained that way for more than 1000km.

 

The current mix in the gear box is 4L LiquiMoly 2048 + ~ 180mL friction modified 75w85 manual trans lube. IIRC, it was the AC Delco rebrand of Castrol Syntrans. I'll dig up the part number the next time I'm in the garage.

So far both the 5MT and 6MT have responded really well to small amounts of the friction modifier. As for viscosity over temperature, the LiquiMoly 2048 is the best I've used so far for the bulk of the fill.

 

The only oddity I've noticed so far, which doesn't really bother me, is the front LSD feels like it is a little tighter than before. Cornering with a little power applied, and corner exits feel better, but there is a little tire noise and chatter when in reverse, wheel turned to lock.

[bugblatterbeast]

AC Delco 10953477

[bugblatterbeast]

I had a chance to drive the car a few times at zero and sub-zero temps. The coldest was only -7C. The current fill is much better than the previous gear 300 fill. At -7C up shifts and down shifts feel much the same as at 10C. The shifts are a little heavier, but not by much. After the first min or two of driving, you don't even notice that it is cold out. The shifts remain smooth while the previous fill was a bit rough when doing a cold 2->1 down shift. Once we get some -20 to -30c conditions, I'll be able to do a better comparison. I have a good feeling about the current fill.

 

The differentials are definitely tighter now. I have to use slightly lower DCCD settings in the snow/slush to get the same planted feeling I had with the motul fill.

 

I won't be switching back to motul. This fill is both better shifting and more cost effective.

 

I might actually try this stuff (or possibly just the AC Delco MTF) in the FR-S when it is due for its next change.

[bugblatterbeast]

Checking in.

 

Now that I've had a chance to drive the car in some colder weather, I can say the current fill is the best I've used so far. At -15 to -20C, you can shift up and down relatively normally right away. The first dozen shifts are a little slower, but there's no roughness or grinding, which is way better than the results I had with Gear 300. With gear 300 downshifts were always rough in the cold and the first 2-1 downshift of the day would sometimes grind. No so with the current mix. Also, the whirring noise when in neutral, with cold gear oil on a downslope has gone away.

 

Thinking back, every single MT gear box I've driven shifted better with a PAO oil vs an Ester oil and the current fill happens to be a PAO oil. Maybe someone with a chemistry background can chime in.

[NORULZleggy]

Checking in.

 

Now that I've had a chance to drive the car in some colder weather, I can say the current fill is the best I've used so far. At -15 to -20C, you can shift up and down relatively normally right away. The first dozen shifts are a little slower, but there's no roughness or grinding, which is way better than the results I had with Gear 300. With gear 300 downshifts were always rough in the cold and the first 2-1 downshift of the day would sometimes grind. No so with the current mix. Also, the whirring noise when in neutral, with cold gear oil on a downslope has gone away.

 

Thinking back, every single MT gear box I've driven shifted better with a PAO oil vs an Ester oil and the current fill happens to be a PAO oil. Maybe someone with a chemistry background can chime in.

 

 

Amsoil Man. Car shifts smooth as butter and no issues. All my WRX, STI, and legacy had it put in. Great stuff.

[bugblatterbeast]

Figured I'd post an update now that it is hot out. I've had a chance to drive in 33C weather. shifting is smooth and there are no odd noises or scratchy feeling like the previous Motul fill had.

 

Also, I found a local store that sells this lube for $16.96 CND / litre. That's half the cost of Motul & no shipping hassles.