Redline MTL thinner than 5W40 engine oil?

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tjwoon
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Post Tue Oct 05, 2021 4:07 pm

Hi :)

Anyone have experience with Redline MTL?

I just flushed my gearbox (318i with M40 engine,manual gearbox). Used Redline MTL as the new MTF. It seemed thinner than new 5W40 engine oil... Is this typical of Redline MTL? Thought a 75W80 would be much thicker...

See attached photo of Redline MTL reaching the bottom while 5W40 has barely moved.

Time to flow to bottom:
1. New Redline MTL: 6.3 seconds
2. New Mobil1 5W40: 26.3 seconds
3. Oil MTF (unknown brand): 23.3 seconds

(I have a video on YouTube if you want to see a video of the flow rates - - flow rates at 3:52)
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Last edited by tjwoon on Sat Oct 09, 2021 4:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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tha881
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Post Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:13 pm

Funny you've asked this, I've just changed my gearbox fluid today for Redline and i noticed the same

20211005_190739.jpg

The old stuff was Castrol 80w from memory, whatever it was it was a lot thicker than the new stuff. People swear by Redline, and it feels good when rotating the output shaft so I doubt its anything to worry about
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paultv
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Post Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:43 am

I've used MTL for a while...my second gear whine is slowly getting worse...maybe time to hit something heavier...

Paul :-)
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.

BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:

https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
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reggid
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Post Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:36 pm

The other thicker option is MT-90 which is 75W-90

Note that the viscosity scale for gear oil is a different scale to engine oil so you cant compare them directly without a chart

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E30 325is with M20B31
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tjwoon
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Post Sat Oct 09, 2021 4:23 am

Thanks for sharing your experiences :)

@reggid that's invaluable insight - thank you!
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martauto
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Post Sat Oct 09, 2021 1:38 pm

Welcome to the zone mate, pics of the car wont help one bit but would please but a few on here winkeye winkeye

Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
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tjwoon
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Post Sat Oct 16, 2021 3:14 pm

Here she is! Real rough.

All the restoration / modification videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Bz3URgLhCn

20210801_160751 (1).jpg
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