We always use good, quality lubricants in our project cars. For our E30 318is project, we partnered with Red Line Synthetic Oil and used their 10W40 street (as opposed to pure race oil, which does not have the correct additive package for street use) full synthetic motor oil.
In the transmission we used their MTL, which we have always found helps an older transmission shift more smoothly and more easily.
We love MTL and use it on almost all of our project cars. Nothing loosens up an old gear box and make its shift better.
In the differential we used their 75W110 gear oil.
Your author installs the gear oil with a small transfer pump (available at any auto parts store). We have never had a failure when using Red Line Synthetic Oil.
With this lubrication package we feel confident to run any track day or autocross activity.
Red Line makes a full range of fluids for your car, including hi-temp brake fluids that has served us well at both Virginia International Raceway and at the Tail of the Dragon.
I think Redline makes good products. Years ago, I switched our national champion Jetta GLI to Redline MTL in the transmission, and it made a big difference. It definitely improved shift quality by improving the performance of the synchronizers.
I had a friend who ran Redline racing motor oil in his Formula Vee road race car. He told me he only changed the oil once per season, and never had a failure.
I am about to get a 1990 325i that has been sitting for 5 years. I am planning on flat bedding it to my house and starting on the project. Do you have any info on where I should start the project. I have been following this 318 project and am open to any guidance you may have, Thanks Dave
Is that not an orange-tag transmission that specifies ATF? Did you purposefuly choose to use MTL instead of Redline's ATF?
In reply to DBKirby :
The 90' is finally at my house and I am working on making space in the garage for the project.
DBKirby said:In reply to DBKirby :
The 90' is finally at my house and I am working on making space in the garage for the project.
Water pump/timing belt/thermostat definitely. I'd go ahead and change the ignition components/plugs as well.
Just use the new factory plugs. The M20 doesn't tolerate fancy plugs very well.
In reply to z31maniac :
Thanks, I started with the brakes as the rear were locked. I am heading next to electrical as I cant get the windows to roll down to allow it to air out. It had a sunroof leak and had been sitting for a while.
nd4spd13 said:Is that not an orange-tag transmission that specifies ATF? Did you purposefuly choose to use MTL instead of Redline's ATF?
+1 on this, I know in neons I always have used sincromesh, but thats a loaded story.
My experience with Redline is that the ultra-shockproof gear oil (color and consistency of a strawberry milkshake,) "fixed" a 300zx TT transmission that had metal chunks fall out when I drained the oil. It resumed the ability to shift into 3rd gear. Magic in a bottle.
MTL is fantastic stuff. I use it almost exclusively these days.
Professor_Brap (Forum Supporter) said:nd4spd13 said:Is that not an orange-tag transmission that specifies ATF? Did you purposefuly choose to use MTL instead of Redline's ATF?
+1 on this, I know in neons I always have used sincromesh, but thats a loaded story.
I know that MTL is NOT good to use in manual transmissions that specify ATF. But I think redline also has a lubricant for that.
Displaying 1-10 of 10 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
