Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

My manual trany is leaking oil. From searching on here I've learned that I must use GL-4 Oil because GL-5 will eat my tranny. I've called every autoparts and dealership around and no place has GL-4 in stock, only GL-5.

1) Is there a good place online to buy GL-4 Gear Oil?

2) Should I drain my old oil before replacing or should I just top off whats in there?

THANKS

3 point slow

iTrader: (5)

The Pep Boys in my area has Royal Purple GL-4. They can prolly get it for ya in a day or two or direct you to the closest location that has it. Although, I think most peeps on here swear by Armisol (sp?)...you can get anything online if you have time to wait for it.

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

My Pep Boys didnt have GL4 but I didnt ask them to special order it. I asked at Advance Auto and they said they couldnt. I'll go back to Pep Boys. thanks

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

Buy the amsoil GL-4 fluid from the group deal forum. I am sure it is better than royal purple

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

So replace all 5 qrts or just top off whats in there?

Bobo

I have been getting Quaker State GL4 75w90 locally at Mr. Lube. Some of them carry Pennzoil, some cary Quaker State and some carry both.

I just found out recently that the local Pennzoil quick lube joints carry both Quaker State and Pennzoil GL4 75w90 as well.

I don't think Mr. Lube is a US franchise. Try a Pennzoil quick lube location and see if they have it.

If you are leaking gear oil there is no sense spending the bucks for Amsoil or Red Line.

I can understand the problem you are dealing with. I can't find a GL4 dino gear oil locally at any stealership, Canadian Tire, NAPA, etc. etc....the transmission shops don't even have any.

cw96

iTrader: (31)

O reily's auto parts carry gl4.They only keep about 5 to 6 quarts of the weight you need in the store at a time.I have had to drop my tranny twice in 3 days so make sure you get enough because it takes them about a week to get more in if they are out.

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

Replace all 5

Peebs187

Replace all 5 quarts with a mineral based GL-4, synthetic will "slip" past your leak quite a bit faster. Fix the leak for sure, it's probably leaking from the transaxle seal at the CV joint, as that seams to be the most common spot.

Bobo

Check for play in the drive axle. The OP might have differential carrier bearing wear and a new seal won't resolve the problem with the leak.

ThurzNite

iTrader: (13)

I got GL-4 from the local Napa store. 1 store had it in stock, another said they could order it. Comes in 5gal bucket.
Jae

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

That's exactly where mine is leaking. I only plan to have the car for another year. What is the most cost affective way to fix this?

Bobo

Assuming the drive axle seal is ok, the most cost effective way to fix this is to put a piece of cardboard down, monitor the gear oil level periodically and top it up as needed.

If the differential carrier bearings are worn, the transmission has to be removed, opened up, bearings replaced (good luck in getting them shimmed properly), and re-installed.

Good luck!

the_3d_man

iTrader: (1)

If you get a big floor jack, a couple of jack stands, a (optional) tranny jack and a couple of friends you can change the tranny out in a weekend. (If I can do it you prolly can too). Just something to think about. If your tranny starts making a lot of noise that's a sure sign that it might be on it's way out.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

But you'd still have to source a good tranny.

Many used trannys have the same problem as the one you're taking out. Have the used tranny inspected by a tranny shop (opened up) before installing it.

Dave

Peebs187

Can you see where the leak originates? If it comes out of your transaxle at the cv joint it is probably the axle seal leaking. Look for the highest point it originates from, an obvious way to track it down. GL I am doing mine soon, just a few drops of GL-4 here and there starts to look ugly , especially at your friends house.

Bobo

What I was getting at, is you can replace the drive axle seal and in due course the leak may return. That is a sure sign that the differential carrier bearings are worn/starting to wear.

Look for play in the driver's side axle.

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

The only place I have found GL4 oil is from the Amsoil Group Deal. Amsoil only has sythetic. I thought I read to not use sythetic? Is there a substitute to GL4 Gear Oil that I could use? Maybe a thinner motor oil?

Bobo

You didn't read anywhere not to use synthetic gear oil. Amsoil or Redline MT90 come highly recommended.

Gear oil is about 10 times the thickness of motor oil. Go ahead and try a thinner motor oil, lol!

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

Good to know. Thanks!!

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

Actually 75w-90 gear oil has similar viscosity to 10w-30 or 10w-40 motor oil.

The main difference is ingredients: the gear oil is designed to protect the metal that is placed under great compressive loads, while the motor oil is designed to protect metal under sliding loads.

Dave

Bobo

So if one were to fill a leaky transaxle with 10w30 or 10w40 motor oil, are you suggesting it would leak out about as quickly as 75w90 GL4 gear oil?

BlackDOut98LGE

My driver side Trans seal is leaking as well...my local Texaco Xpress Lube says my tranny holds 80w90 Gear Dope...is this the same as GL-4??

Bobo

You are merely quoting a weight.

What you want is GL4 80w90. If that is not available, use GL4 75w90, which is what I am using (Quaker State). DO NOT use GL5, in any weight!

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

Probably. I guess the only factor I didn't see data for is surface tension, but in any case a leak is a leak.

Dave

Bobo

I would be willing to bet that gear oil drains considerably slower than engine oil. I based my initial comment on gear oil leakage based on a comment made to me by the manager of a Mr. Lube when I had a leaky driver's side axle seal.

Obviously, they observe the time it takes for gear oil to drain daily.

Similarly, I watched when the seal was replaced on my car last month, and it took a considerable period of time for 2.5 litres of gear oil to drain out.

MikeSDA

iTrader: (23)

dumb question but is it ok to use oil that says "GL4 and GL5 approved"? I have 2 quarts of royal purple max gear - 75-90 that says that on the back and was just wondering if its ok?

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

That's usually ok. It's the GL-5 only that you really should avoid.

The GL4/GL5 is chemically safe but may tend to overlubricate the synchros and degrade shifting some compared to GL4.

Dave

Bobo

Given the choice, I would avoid that gear oil. If no GL4 were available, I would switch to Redline MT90 or Amsoil.

Alex_V

I had loads of fun with this with my '90's, (3rd gen and a 240sx). I tried the napa fluid and it was ok, but I switched to pennzoil syncromesh and both of my trannys shift alot better. And I'll probably end up putting it in my 4th gen as well.

Ive gotten it at advance, autozone, and pepboys around here. There is no weight, its all the same stuff. I used it over the winter and it never got too thick. Its really good stuff.

~Alex

vofact

iTrader: (1)

ok/just jumping in here,so what does gl-4 refer to? the weight of the oil or a composition,or both

Peebs187

I am curious. I put my car up on a lift after cleaning the transaxle, to see where my leak is originating. I see it coming from the passengers side cv at a drop every ten seconds when the oil is hot, and see a bleed on the drivers side cv but no dripping. Never having owned a front drive until 3 months ago, I am not sure how to access the seals. I have a hoist to use, do I just need to pull the axles and cv's to access the seals? Any precautions I need to be aware of.

Regarding the synthetic, I know synthetic motor oil will leak at a greater rate than petroleum based oils, no one has any issues with the AMSoil? I read a couple posts where people had switched to AMSoil GL-4 and had a slow drip, when there had been no leak before. I haven't read anything like that about Redline. Does Royal Purple make a GL-4?

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Yank the axles, R&R the seals, replace axles.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

Lift the front of the car and grab one of the axles where it enters the tranny. Lift/push/pull the axle stub, and if you can make the differential move AT ALL inside the tranny, then it's not an axle seal problem. It's a bearing problem that requires a tranny rebuild. If the diff is rock solid inside the tranny then replace the seals.

Amsoil GL-4 and Redline MT-90 are both excellent. One is not better than the other. Royal Purple has a GL4/GL5 that is also quite good.

Dave

Peebs187

Thanks, I'll check for play in the differential. So if it is leaking from the axles only, this would not be any indication of what it is then?

I just got my green 97se (157,000) which I will enjoy more as soon as I get all the maintence up to par. Where is the best source for rebuilts or somewhere I can buy a new transmission if needed?

Also, I put about a quart of GL-5 Valvoline in last night because it was all I could get and I was low. Wish I hadn't done that before I read about it. I plan to change the fluid A.S.A.P. (I do notice the shifts stick a little now) Would 15% Lucas Oil Stabilizer be something to consider? Otherwise I will use my AMSOil membership, unless of course I am looking at a new tranny and vlsd

Bobo

Forget about the Lucas Oil Stabilizer and get that GL5 gear oil out of there!

Jimothy12

iTrader: (2)

Just to update everyone, because I couldn't find GL4 gear oil anywhere in my local stores/shops, I ordered 5 qrts of Amsoil from the group deal. It costs me about $10 a quart shipped and arrived at my house 2 or 3 days later. I would highly recommend buying from the group deal if you are in need of GL4 synthetic gear oil.

Peebs187

GL-5 is draining out A.S.A.P, along with an inspection of the axles for play in the differential. I am putting AMSOil GL-4 in. By the way, AMSOil is just under ten bucks a quart at NAPA (about the only thing I would buy there).

I'll drive my truck or van until then.

Where/ how would it leak if it were the carrier bearings? Again this is my first front driver/ manual, so I am learning.

Bobo

It would leak out of the drive axle seal. There is a greater probability that it would leak out of the left side (driver's side).

There is a possibility that you might just need a new seal. However, play in the drive axle is generally a sure sign that there is wear in the differential bearings which is a common occurence with 4th Gen Maxima 5-speed transmissions.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

To expand a bit, there is a small amount of play in the splined fit between the axle and differential. This is normal. But you can feel the difference between the axle moving ever so slightly at the splines, and the ability to use the axle to shift the position of the diff inside the transmission housing. Its play between the diff and tranny housing that is the thing to look for. The diff assy is almost the size of a volleyball and weighs around 30lb. That should help you visualize what you're using the axle to pry around.

The normal play in the diff is less than zero - the housing should be squeezing the carrier bearings - so any play at all is .004-.006" too much play.

If you drain the oil and find it loaded with metal particles that are visible to the naked eye (like tiny glitter) that's also a nearly sure sign your tranny needs rebuilt.

Dave