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Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Castrol Syntech Availability

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Trying to find this stuff is like pulling teeth.

Call me a die-hard but in my five speed the stuff works.

I've tried the Castrol website, NAPA, Pep Boys, etc.

It gets tiring.

Any ideas?
 
Look in the Yellow pages for a place that handles Allison transmissions or GM parts. I just picked up 5 quarts the other day for $14. 50 / qt.
 
Nope, it is Syntech

They have a gear oil by that name. GL-5 MT-1

Just drained it out this AM. It looked real good, a little dirty, but no evidence of metal other than a microscopic film on the magnet. Inside the trans looked real good also, what one can see through the PTO opening.

Replaced it with Valvoline SynPower 75w-90 GL-5 MT-1

Hope it works as good as the Castrol did.
 
As far as I understand you don't want to use Valovline Syntech, it's Castrol Syntorx. Something to do with the syncros.
 
castrol

Got mine at a Chevy dealership list was $20. 59 they charged me net $13. 43 part #12346190 that was in january of 2000.
 
I found the Syntorq for $5. 00 a quart at a place called Express Lube here in Reno. I'm wondering if you call around to your local fast lube joints, you might find that they carry it and will sell it to you cheap (I sure wouldn't trust them to put it in for me). John
 
100 to one you found Syn-Tech



Castrol has an agreement with the automakers that they are the only ones who can sell Syn-Torq in quarts, any other place you buy it it will come from a drum into whoever is selling it's container.
 
This is what I had been looking to find

From the Castrol site:







CASTROL SYNTEC FULL SYNTHETIC Gear Oil

Synthetic durability for maximum protection!

SYNTEC Full Synthetic Gear Oil provides maximum protection under severe service conditions.



Added assurance during extended drain intervals.

Improved thermal stability and excellent shear stability for superior wear protection.

Full compatibility with all conventional and synthetic API GL-5 and MT-1gear oils.

Exceeds the service fill requirements of conventional and limited slip differentials calling for SAE 75W-90 and API Service GL-5 specification.

Exceeds API Service GL-5 lubricant for extreme pressure conditions.

Exceeds API MT-1 lubricant for non-synchronized manual transmissions used in buses and heavy-duty trucks.

Meets the requirements of Mack GO-H/S.

Available Grades





SAE 75W-90
 
Originally posted by jhalderman

I found the Syntorq for $5. 00 a quart at a place called Express Lube here in Reno.



Wish I could find Syntorq that cheap around here. I work for a GM dealership and I still only get it for about $12 a quart! I'm wanting to change my transmission oil here soon because I'm going to be doing a clutch change, but $36 is making me weary even thought my transmission could really use it. :(
 
Yes it's syntorq. They buy it from Interstate Oil in 44 gal. drums and I'm going down and buy another 2 gallons this week 'cause I'm getting scared they're gonna find out they could get more for it. John
 
syntorq

Baby driver;

buy your posts you've been around for quite a while, and no dought have read many posts concerning the proper oil. also there was an article in the TDR that researched other lube oils till the cows came home, which gave comparisons of other oils and the smooth shifting that they gave. Amsoil, red line, royal purple were a few that were tested to be pretty good. a GL-4 lube rating is what you are after, the GL-5 has a high content of phosphorus and an other lube item that i can not think of right now in it that attacks brass, of which you do not want to happen. before long, rough shifting will start to happen. look on the tag on the trans, by the fill hole, and get the #'s, GM has it cheaper than the stealer, by about $10. 00. a qt. unless you can get them to cut you a deal.



sorry for the length.



just my penny's worth



Marv.
 
Just a suggestion, I changed the Syntorque out and put in Royal Purple MaxGear 75W-90. Shifts like a dream now. Others have put >100k miles on the Max Gear with excellent results. You can order MaxGear from JCWhitney for about $7 a quart and it is 100% synthetic.
 
Refer to prior posts Mike did a lot of work here.

IS GL-4 OBSOLETE?

By Mike NowickiAll rights reserved

Dated 4-17-01 TDR Mikepvg



Performance category:Copper corrosion conforming to ASTM D130

GL-4: 3B max after 1 h at 121. 1°C

GL-5: 3 max after 3 h at 121. 1°C

MT-1: 2A max after 3 h at 121. 1°C

That converts to 250degF, which is extremely hot for a transmission. The pass/fail criteria require that there be no blackening with flaking. The industry uses a color picture chart for referencing. The MT-1’s 2A rating indicates a lubricant in this category is LESS corrosive to copper & copper alloys than either a GL-4 or GL-5. Again a GL-5 combined with MT-1 look very good here. I was able to contact a gear lubricant expert at Shell Oil through spokesperson, Ed Brown. His response to my inquiry regarding why the MT-1 has a much better rating than a GL-4; “At the time API GL-4 was created, drain intervals were much shorter than they are today, and OEM warranties were much shorter. With the extension of drain intervals comes the greater need for thermal stability. Since API MT-1 was introduced much later than API GL-4, the folks working on the tests for MT-1 had the opportunity to include a relatively new test, the L-60-1, to accommodate that need. They also upgraded the D 130 requirement recognizing the importance of copper compatibility. That does not mean that applications calling for GL-4 lube don't need that high level of copper compatibility; it just says the industry learned from their experiences and made the requirements more stringent within MT-1. ”

There are eight other performance categories required for a standard GL rating but not shown here due to space limitations. In all eight tests the GL-5/MT-1 is equal to or better than anything the GL-4 can achieve or endure.
 
Just a suggestion, I changed the Syntorque out and put in Royal Purple MaxGear 75W-90.



I'm do for oil changes in my diffs, transmission and t-case. I just ordered the Royal Purple today, and I'm sure my transmission will blow up the day after I put in the RP... Oh well. Cheaper then $20/qt from Dodge.
 
syntorq

:) Just snuck over here and just getting a 99 nv4500 ready for my truck and fellas, READ the tag, Syntorq. Chevy dealer was the cheapest. I guess just use what you desire, it's your $2500. 00 transmission! Tim
 
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