Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 17:47:20 -0800 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: question: transmission fluid....Help me, no manual.
Stephen Strock wrote: > > Hi.. Sorry I can't help on the previous questions. Always looking for > good advice!! > > Which raises another good question. I was advised that I should be running > synthetic motor oil in the transmission of my 90 SPG. Previous owner of > mine did not know what was being used. He's right. Synthetic motor oil is always advised on turbocharged engines. Quite honestly, I use synthetic in all my cars, regardless of whether they are turbocharged or not. It's better, and that's all there is to it... :) > Is it OK to go from generic to synthetic? Are there any cheep ways of > telling what is in their now? Yes, it's fine to go from one to another, and it's also fine to mix synthetic and regular oil. They are 100% compatible. With that in mind, it's also next to impossible to tell once the oil is in the car if it's "real" or synthetic. Just wait until its time for an oil change, then fill her up with synthetic. You should also change the filter at this time, regardless of whether it needs it. As for synthetic, these days there are several good brands to choose from. I've historically used Castrol Syntec, but a couple people pointed out that Syntec doesn't have a particularly high zinc content, which is good for turbo longevity. With that in mind, I've switched to Mobil 1 5w-30 or 0w-30. I've always used Mobil 1 Racing Gear Oil in the tranny and had excellent results. Other people will recommend Amsoil or Redline - these are both excellent oils, but I stick with Mobil 1 mostly due to the fact it's more widely available. Have fun & enjoy the SPG - I know I do! -Justin '90 SPG :)