Miata Mailing List: June 1992, Message #60
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: What is "Redline MTL?"
   Date: (none)

> I've seen several recommendations for this "Redline MTL" in one's gearbox but
> no description of it.
> Is it a gear oil or a gear oil additive?

It's a synthetic gear oil.

> What does it do better than 'regular' gear oil?

It vastly improves cold-start shifting smoothness and doesn't break down as
fast.  It also copes with extreme heat better.

> How expensive and difficult to obtain is it?

It is more expensive than regular gear oil (I guess $6-8 per quart), but it
should be available in most major auto parts stores, and the "better" auto
shops (racing shops most likely).

> Is anyone running it in a very hot climate

I use it here, in the SF Bay Area.  It's in the 90's here now.

> Does Mazda have any opinion on its use?

Mazda recommends certain ratings and weights of gear oils (I think the Miata
takes GL-4), but not specific brands.  The issue of natural vs. synthetic
depends more on your "religion" than anything else.  As long as you use
something that falls within the Mazda recommendations you should be OK.
Using something outside their recommendations might void your warranty :-(.

There was recently (might still be) a thread on rec.autos or one of those
automotive newsgroups comparing GL-4 vs GL-5 gear oils.  Some say that using
GL-5 in a gearbox that requires GL-4 might damage it because it eliminates
so much friction that the synchros wear very quickly (synchromeshes need
some friction to work properly, but the rest of the gears hate friction).
I don't remember if Red Line MTL is GL-4 or GL-5.
--
Michael J. Abbott		mja@kpc.com
Kubota Pacific Computer Inc.	Santa Clara, CA		408-987-3303