Nice Thread and I've used and have liked Amsoil products for decades now. I've used them in my Type I VW's and also in my Toyota Trucks. Now that I have a Beemer I have changed the Crankcase Oil and will also do the AT Fluid here soon. I'm not a Distributor but have been a Preferred Customer for decades as well
Last edited by subwayaz; 07-21-2016 at 09:11 AM.
Hello Kelly, I just wanted to confirm that for the Torsen units in non-M Z3s, you're still recommending 75w110 over 75w90? Per Amsoil's website, 75w90 Severe Gear is recommended, but you said it's your "personal experience" that has led you to recommend 75w110 instead. Any changes?
Edit, truth be told, I already ordered 75w90 Severe Gear before I found this thread. So, I'm going to run it, but what should I look for in determining if 75w110 will be better next time around?
Last edited by robrez; 02-21-2017 at 10:36 PM.
I do like the 75w110 better in the torsion diffs. However, if you are not driving the car hard or mostly just cruising in you z then the 75w90 would be best choice as protection is at oe level with fuel saving benefits of the lighter oil. 75w110 has added protection and offers better power transfer inside the torsion unit at the limit.
Hi Kelly,
For the differential fluid on my M Coupe with >200k miles, is 75W140 still the recommended choice?
If so, I like to purchase one
so for a 1.9 Z3 with a getrag tranny, go with 75w90?
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/transmission-fluid/manual/manual-transmission-and-transaxle-gear-lube-75w-90/
Last edited by RedZeddy; 04-26-2017 at 03:31 PM.
For the trans would be the MTF 5w30
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...?code=MTFQT-EA
That is more viscous than the original spec. Good for hot climates. Can cause hard shifting in winter in regular climates. Like Virginia.
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...3#post27791193
Last edited by Vintage42; 04-26-2017 at 06:05 PM.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
I would love to see some measurable difference other then the spec to go by. These cars are not spring chickens anymore, tolerances are not to spec either particularly because nearly all these cars had the same fill for their entire life so far in many cases 100k+ miles. As the tolerance opens up a thicker fluid will help smooth shifts, sure it might be a little notchy in the dead of winter for the first 10 min but lets be honest so is the stock fluid so please tell me and the world is it 10% more notchy 15%? what is the number?
Every thing in life is give and take. . .you give the first 10 min of driving for the rest of your drive to be smooth--> up to the end user ;-) I have a money back guarantee, maybe you would like to try it this time around instead of complaining about the spec not being OE ;-)
So is the Amsoil Gl-5 75W110 best option for my Z3 Coupe 25% OEM Torsen unit?
How much is the fluid capasity in that? It was fully drained because of M3-cover change.
Is one quirt or 0,95l enough for it or do I need more?
Bentley manual does not state how much it drinks, it only says that SAF-XO oil for non M and hypoid for 1996-1998 and M's, which again are very nondescript for any certain diff type.
Z3 & E36 RamAir systems, send private message for more information.
I had not heard that high-miles Z3 transmissions needed higher viscosity fluid.
I don't know the notchy number. When I bought my Z3 at 32,000 miles I just put new fluid of the recommended viscosity.
I am not complaining about the OE spec of 7.5, just saying its less than Amsoil MTF's 9.6.
I am not against trying Amsoil next time, but I have only 12,000 miles on the Royal Purple and it feels fine.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
Bought 75w110 now. Excited to see what the results might be!
Has anyone ever been able to feel any difference in differential fluid?
What would the expectations be?
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
Just let me know when you are ready ill make you a special deal.
As the tolerences open up thinner fluid does not climb the gears in the trans like it did when the trans was new. Have you seen the lucas oil additive display at autozone etc. Give it a spin the next time you see it (i do not recommend additives like this but its very interesting to see the difference) they claim they have climbing agents and that is why you shouls buy it...what it really is is a auper sticky thick fluid. Anyway, a slightly thicker fluid in an aging trans will do the same thing, which in turn gets oil up to the synchos making the car shift smoother. It really just comes down to getting the fluid where it needs to go.
Amsoil is not snake oil, i really believe the most importabt thing is that you change it...if its oe, redline, royal purple what ever just change it ;-)
Vintage, you need to drive your car more ;-) that cant be more then 4k miles since the last time you jumped on my thread ;-)
General feedback from customers ia smoother overal engagement of lsd. Redardless if it is clutch or torsen.
Personal experience on the torsen unit is 75w110 would allow less differential from wheel to wheel in hard corners. This gave a more direct feel more clutch style feel to the torsen unit. Since then most of the customers z3's coming through the shop are all M cars now so theh get 75w140 :-/ that being said it has been a while since iv driven a z with torsen and new fluid.
FWIW
Zrod 20/50 in the S54
Manual Tranny fluid in the gearbox
75/140 in the dif
All Amsoil and I get about 3000 track miles a season
I change the engine oil every 1000 track miles and the dif and gearbox every fall.
Don't be cheap with your fluids
Well car and diff is othervise rock solid BUT my rear end's tapered roller bearings are shot. Those will be changed on tuesday so then I know more.
Z3 & E36 RamAir systems, send private message for more information.
Thanks Kelly for the quality oils (transmission and differential), and quality service!
Shifting feels much better now!
I put in new transmission oil. The Amsoil stuff (5W 30 I believe) and here's my official report.
After 130,000 miles, the stock oil was surprisingly good looking. I had always planned to go six speed so didn't care about this tranny. But it has held up well! Note this is the original getrag from the 1.9 that has been abused by the 3.2 for about 100,000 miles. Getrag makes some tough trannies!
It took a 30" pipe on my ratchet to get the drain plug out. I wasn't going to beat on it with the car up on a harbor freight 2 ton jack... once that broke free the rest was cake. I got the pump along with the oil and that made it easy. I already had a pump for the R380 in my Land-Rover but I'd probably waste a week looking for it. Plus that pumps Redline D4 and I prefer to no cross contaminate my pump.
There was about a liter in the box. A bit more than that went back in. It looks like it needs seals again but I'll put new seals on the next box.
Shifting is best described as requiring less effort. Like the short shifter came out but the throw is still short. I can also report that "cold" (about 60 F) it is easier to get into reverse. It was also getting to the point of just dipping second before selecting first wasn't doing it any longer. Now I can go to first from neutral without passing second first.
This is not.a "measurable" difference but it sure is a lot more pleasant to shift now.
Hot shifting between gears is about the same. Slightly less effort as mentioned above. Probably smoother too.
This box had the input, output and shifted seals replaced when I swapped my motor in 2001 but otherwise it's stock.
I will say this: I plan to use the same oil in my six speed when I finally get it.
Thanks again Kelly.
I have a 2000 Z3 2.8 5-speed. I'm leaning toward Amsoil fluids for my upcoming transmission and diff fluid change. Are these the preferred fluids?
Transmission: 2qts (1.2qts) Amsoil MTF-5w30
Diff: 2qts (1.8qts) Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-110
PM sent. Shifting is too darn notchy. Hoping some fresh Amsoil is the cure!
Guys, it works. Have in my M and would not have anything less.
2018 X4 M40i
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