[Old smart]

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]

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]

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

 

[chieftmc]

Guess it's another tranny fluid change

 

[Old smart]

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.

 

[Old smart]

Guess it's another tranny fluid change

In my case, the sc did the change at 5k and filled with M1 LS, so smartUSA can't pin using the wrong product on me.

 

[chieftmc]

In my case, the sc did the change at 5k and filled with M1 LS, so smartUSA can't pin using the wrong product on me.

Maybe not PIN it on YOU, BUT, if the tranny gives out...................................still a PITA

 

[NeWave]

Guess it's another tranny fluid change

Yep! Oh well. More excuses for playin with the car...

 

[Mighty Mini]

What about the Royal Purple gear lube?

 

[chieftmc]

What about the Royal Purple gear lube?

I just got an email back from them and they "suggest" Max Gear 75w/90

http://www.royalpurple.com/gear-oil.html

 

[Mighty Mini]

Good, I changed mine out with Max Gear at 2500 miles and believe it or not I noticed much less tranny noise

 

[Old smart]

I took a look-see at what was on the local car parts places shelves. The Royal Purple 75W-90 claims to be both GL-4 and GL-5. Sounds a bit like a compromise. Everything else was GL-5.

I emailed Getrag Product Development today to see what they may have to say. Waiting for a return.

 

[TMACK]

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):

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

You know, this is just bloody fascinating. How can smartUSA recommend a lube (granted, changed out at X?) but recommended against so by the lube vendor for GL-4 apps? It makes no sense to me.

 

[Old smart]

You know, this is just bloody fascinating. How can smartUSA recommend a lube (granted, changed out at X?) but recommended against so by the lube vendor for GL-4 apps? It makes no sense to me.

It becomes abundantly clear when you recall that Roger Penske has enjoyed a long-time, big-money racing sponsorship relationship with ExxonMobil. He is compelled to push Mobil products wherever, however he can.

 

[TMACK]

Yeah, I understand that, Old Smart, but can't these people at least get their stories straight, for us little people in the trenches?

Everyone is getting paid enough to make sure that this level of technical direction is at least vaguely accurate: this is 180 out of phase.

 

[Old smart]

It isn't below me to think that ExxMob Marketing is with R.P., both on a different page than ExxMob Engineering.

 

[TMACK]

Has anyone ever suggested you are a grade A, USDA-inspected cynic?
You have company.

 

[Old smart]

Has anyone ever suggested you are a grade A, USDA-inspected cynic?
You have company.

Nah, not mere "Grade A," but "Prime." Sometime I may lay-out my analysis of RP/smartUSA's contortion of M-B's engine oil approvals in a different thread.

But, not so much cynicism as despising disingenuousness and putting corporate/personal gain so much above the customer's interest. Money corrupts.

 

[TMACK]

Well, that being said, I DO feel somewhat sheepish having changed out with RP at 5K, purchased locally at Autozone for precisely the same price I'd be paying for the Castrol/OEM specified: $60.

I'm confident no damage is being done with RP, (I mean, it does cover both GL standards, kind of schizoid), the machine is performing well; I do wonder at the disparity between the OEM and the USA positions and possible damage done.

I, too, despise the corporate manipulation about something this simple. I've asked my wife to tie me down to keep from draining the RP for a Blackstone analysis.

 

[Kraig]

I am getting ready to make my first oil change and was wanting to change out the gear lube also after talking to a couple people at our eat & meet here in St. Louis. I could give my oil guy at work a sample of each to take in for analysis. It is very cheap for me to do that through him. I have been wander what to replace the gear lube with and hope to learn more. It sounds like the RP is a good choice. Yeah my oil guy is a Mobile distributer in our area.