Gear Oil & smart - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Old smart · 03-02-2010, 09:14 AM

Email just returned from ExxonMobil technical concerning the use of Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90 in the Getrag/smart automated manual transmission (GL-4):

“No, it should not be utilized.
--
Thank you for choosing ExxonMobil products.
If you need further assistance, please contact ExxonMobil at 1-800-ASK-MOBIL”

This is what ExxonMobil says in their literature about Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90:
“Not recommended for applications requiring API GL-4 Level performance.”

So there you have it from ExxonMobil. Note that the two above products are specified by smartUSA for dealer use.

Smart Enuf · 03-02-2010, 09:32 AM

Interesting. Is there any connection between smart's use of these non-recommended gear oils and the transmission problems some folks have been having?

fredthe · 03-02-2010, 09:35 AM

The owner's manual only lists "Castrol Manual BOT 328"

chieftmc · 03-02-2010, 09:41 AM

Guess it's another tranny fluid change

Old smart · 03-02-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredthe

The owner's manual only lists "Castrol Manual BOT 328"

Yup, and smartUSA (R.P.) added the two Mobil products on their own. When I called my sc with the info, the service manager didn't seem too pleased.

She can order the M-B/smart oil, but at $30 per liter (a change takes two-plus liters), the Pennzoil, Amsoil or Redline GL-4 75W-90 looks better.

I find that GL-5 is not a quality upgrade of GL-4, rather, each are designed for different gear teeth designs.