By lynden on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 05:40 am: Edit

Just wondering if anyone has used both of these products and which you prefer. I'm going to change out all the fluids soon as I'm a new owner and the truck has 52K on her. Close enough to the 60K makeover to give me an excuse to dump $100 or so into fluids. I'm planning on changing tranny, front rear ends, and transfercase fluids. Any other suggestions and which product seems superior?

What are your thoughts?

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 07:02 am: Edit

You may consider holding onto standard Dexron in the tranny - The ZF boxes have a reputation (for which I can personally attest -new trans at 54K) for not liking synthetic. I checked with some info on MB and BMW boards (same ZF box) and there were similar complaints there.

I cannot say that my trans failure was 100% due to the synthetic (Amsoil) since I haven't had it apart yet - but it was only about 10K after switching. Don't get me wrong - I'm normally a big synthetic fan (especially in automatic trans apps for temperature reduction) and have always had good experiences in the past in other vehicles, but there is more than just my case out there with synthetic and the ZF box not being a good marriage.

Bill

By lynden on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 07:09 am: Edit

Good to know. Has anyone else out there had any adverse affects on tranny w/ synthetics?

By rick on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 10:15 am: Edit

Hi I've been running Amsoil on all gearboxes, trannys diffs etc on 97 disco with 120,000 miles and no problems (knock on dash imitation wood).
rick

By jinwoo on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 11:59 am: Edit

Bill, did you flush out old oils when you put synthetic oils?

It's very important to completely flush out old oil when you convert to synthetic.
I have been running redline on front and rear diffentials and automatic transmission and am completely satisfied. I noticed a little bit better mpg (1~2 mpg) since I've changed to Synthetic.

I'm using Mobil 1 synthetic for engine oil.

regards,
Jinwoo

By lynden on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 12:38 pm: Edit

Jinwoo
How did you flush all of it out. I read its difficult to get the last little bit of fluid out of the tranny (I think held up in the torque converter). Can you use new fluid and then drain and refill. This could get expensive but it would be worth it if my tranny will never fail (I usually purchase sticks because I'm deathly affraid of rebuilt auto's). Let me know what you did to get all the old stuff out.
Thanks in advance.
Lynden

By Jinwoo on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 01:52 pm: Edit

My mechanic have flush machine to flush out all the fluids first and then new ones entering into the system. I was next to him when he did that and there is little window on the machine which shows the current of the fluid sucking out of the tranny (it was dark color and can see very fine particles which I believe metal debris) and new clean oil into the system(this time it was brigh red color with absorutely no particle).
It was cool to watch it and it took I guess 12 quarts of oil to run the system.
He changed the tranny filter first and ran the machine to flush out old oil and put new one.
yes, it was kind of expensive but worth every bit of penny considering I can have some peace about the tranny for at least 2 years...

By Leon on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - 03:36 pm: Edit

About synthetic engine oil, I have been experimenting with the Castrol full syntec and Mobil 1 in my 97 Disco. Must say that the Mobil 1 is better. My engine runs smoother, quieter, and a bit more mileage. I will stay with the Mobil from now. Guess the Mobil people had to up their quality to compete better with Castrol. So then Castrol improves. Then I switch again .
As for the tranny, I will stick with the standard oil as many of you on this board have advised.