What's so special about gear oil that it's 70 bucks a gallon?

What's so special about GL4 manual transmission gear oil that it's 70 bucks
a gallon?
https://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7

On Sat, 19 Aug 2017 03:53:04 +0000 (UTC), Bram van den Heuvel
> wrote:

>What's so special about GL4 manual transmission gear oil that it's 70 bucks
>a gallon?
>https://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7
You are looking at a high end synthetic oil. GL4 is getting a bit
harder to find, but lots of GL5 for uder $25 a gallon in the USA - a
bit more in Canada. Walmart USA carries LubKing GL4 90 weight for $32
a gallon.

Given >,
> wrote:

> You are looking at a high end synthetic oil. GL4 is getting a bit
> harder to find, but lots of GL5 for uder $25 a gallon in the USA - a
> bit more in Canada. Walmart USA carries LubKing GL4 90 weight for $32
> a gallon.

I'm told to get either Amsoil or Redline GL4 because it's for a Toyota W59
transmission with yellow metal that can be stripped off by GL5 additives
(plus there are no hypoid gears in the manual transmission).

So it's going to be GL-4 but which one?

Even the Amsoil is $70 per gallon.
https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...r-lube-75w-90/

What's so special about these two fluids that makes them "worth" 70 dollars
a gallon?

On 8/19/2017 1:42 AM, Bram van den Heuvel wrote:
> Given >,
> > wrote:
>
>> You are looking at a high end synthetic oil. GL4 is getting a bit
>> harder to find, but lots of GL5 for uder $25 a gallon in the USA - a
>> bit more in Canada. Walmart USA carries LubKing GL4 90 weight for $32
>> a gallon.
>
> I'm told to get either Amsoil or Redline GL4 because it's for a Toyota W59
> transmission with yellow metal that can be stripped off by GL5 additives
> (plus there are no hypoid gears in the manual transmission).
>
> So it's going to be GL-4 but which one?
>
> Even the Amsoil is $70 per gallon.
> https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...r-lube-75w-90/
>
> What's so special about these two fluids that makes them "worth" 70 dollars
> a gallon?
>

Synthetics last longer and lubricate (reduce friction) better. Most of
us don't need it but if you are planning yo keep the vehicle for a long
time, use it under harsh conditions, it is worth the extra money.

Corvettes come from the factory with synthetic engine oil. The Cruze
does not.

Given >, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> Synthetics last longer and lubricate (reduce friction) better. Most of
> us don't need it but if you are planning yo keep the vehicle for a long
> time, use it under harsh conditions, it is worth the extra money.
>
> Corvettes come from the factory with synthetic engine oil. The Cruze
> does not.

I didn't realize these are "synthetics" as compared to whatever "normal"
gear oil is. Is that what's so special about what everyone seems to
recommend on the Toyota forum?

They all recommend mostly Redline, but sometimes Amsoil and less often
Royal Purple, all of which are over $60 and closer to $70 per gallon.

Looking up what I'm supposed to use, I found this paper which said not to
use GL5 and yet the Royal Purple is GL4/GL5 which this paper says is GL5.
http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf

All I'm looking for is information to make a decision as to what to put in
a very old (decades) W59 Toyota 5-speed which has synchronizers and yellow
metal.

On Sat, 19 Aug 2017 05:42:37 +0000 (UTC), Bram van den Heuvel
> wrote:

>Given >,
> wrote:
>
>> You are looking at a high end synthetic oil. GL4 is getting a bit
>> harder to find, but lots of GL5 for uder $25 a gallon in the USA - a
>> bit more in Canada. Walmart USA carries LubKing GL4 90 weight for $32
>> a gallon.
>
>I'm told to get either Amsoil or Redline GL4 because it's for a Toyota W59
>transmission with yellow metal that can be stripped off by GL5 additives
>(plus there are no hypoid gears in the manual transmission).
>
>So it's going to be GL-4 but which one?
>
>Even the Amsoil is $70 per gallon.
>https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...r-lube-75w-90/
>
>What's so special about these two fluids that makes them "worth" 70 dollars
>a gallon?
Rerally nothing of you don't need synthetic. All you NEED is a simple
GL4 gear oil like the Walmart LubKing GL4. Synthetic doesn't thicken
as much in the cold, or thin as much in the heat, and MAY last a
little longer, but not enoughlonger to make it worth 4 times as much
(there isGL4 oil available for as little as about US$16 a gallon)

Given >,
> wrote:

> Rerally nothing of you don't need synthetic. All you NEED is a simple
> GL4 gear oil like the Walmart LubKing GL4. Synthetic doesn't thicken
> as much in the cold, or thin as much in the heat, and MAY last a
> little longer, but not enoughlonger to make it worth 4 times as much
> (there isGL4 oil available for as little as about US$16 a gallon)

I was hoping to get good information like that so I thank you because all
the guys on the Toyota forum are saying to only use Amsoil or Redline but
they don't really know why.

I'm looking at GL4 and SAE 75W90 as those are the specs from Toyota.

My one question to you is if the synthetic doesn't thicken as much in the
cold, how does it keep the 75W and if it doesn't thin out in the heat as
much, how does it keep the 90 rating?

Isn't that what the rating is all about?
So doesn't one 75W90 act the same at cold/hot as another 75W90?

On 8/19/2017 10:48 AM, Bram van den Heuvel wrote:

>
> My one question to you is if the synthetic doesn't thicken as much in the
> cold, how does it keep the 75W and if it doesn't thin out in the heat as
> much, how does it keep the 90 rating?
>
> Isn't that what the rating is all about?
> So doesn't one 75W90 act the same at cold/hot as another 75W90?
>

Better living through chemistry!

On 8/18/17 10:53 PM, Bram van den Heuvel wrote:
> What's so special about GL4 manual transmission gear oil that it's 70 bucks
> a gallon?
> https://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=46&pcid=7
>
Have you checked Amazon, NAPA, or farm supply stores like Tractor
Supply,
Rural King, or Orscheln? The first one that pops up at Amazon is $35.

Given <news > wrote:

> Have you checked Amazon, NAPA, or farm supply stores like Tractor
> Supply,
> Rural King, or Orscheln? The first one that pops up at Amazon is $35.

I admit I'm running off of fear since all the Toyota guys say that you must
use either Amsoil or Royal Purple or Redline GL4 75W90 in the manual
transmission.

Even the Royal Purple 75W90 gear oil is $60 per gallon.
https://skspeed.com/royal-purple-013...-gl-5-1-quart/

All I want to know is what's so special about these gear oils that they
cost $60 to $70 a gallon (where I need about a gallon)?

Looking up the gear oils, I find technical information but nothing answers
my question which is why I asked here.

A study of automotive gear lubes
http://www.technilube.com/brochures/...hite_paper.pdf