SUNRG
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2003
- Location
- Roanoke, VA
- TDI
- None currently. Previously owned 04 Golf TDI & 05 Passat GLS Wagon TDI
If your transmission specifies G52 fluid I highly recommend sticking with it as opposed to changing it out for one of the popular/common replacement manual transmission fluids because the viscosity of G52 is much thinner:With just over 43,000 miles on my 2004 Golf TDI 5-speed I drained my manual transmission fluid, re-filled with Motul Gear 300, and I brought samples of both the used G52 and new Motul Gear 300 to my local CAT fluid analysis lab.
Since I had written on the G52 oil sample label 75w-90 the lab viscosity tested the sample twice - both times returning a V@100c of 6.4.
My thinking was that either the OEM oil sheared way down OR the OEM fluid started out much lighter than the expected 75w-90.
So, I went to my local dealer this morning, bought a liter of G52, then drove to my local CAT fluid analysis lab and watched as he tested its viscosity right in front of me.
The result: VOA viscosity of G52 = 6.3
OEM G52 did not shear down at all in 43,000 miles of use:
Point being that even though Motul Gear 300 has an outstandingly low pour point (flows to -60) - **the 75-90 viscosity of common gear / manual transmission oils is IMO not suitable for use in VW transmissions where G52 is specified.**
OEM G52: 43k UOA
Motul Gear 300: VOA (this is as expected from a 75w-90 oil)
Viscosity Comparison @ 100 C
10.6 = Redline MTL 70-80
13.8 = Amsoil MTG 75-90
15.2 = Motul Gear 300 75-90
15.6 = Redline MT-90 75-90
15.0 = Elf Tranself Synthese FE 75-90
16.7 = Motul MOTYLGEAR 75-90
6.3 = OEM G52 (part numbers G052726A2 / G05272601)
13.8 = Amsoil MTG 75-90
15.2 = Motul Gear 300 75-90
15.6 = Redline MT-90 75-90
15.0 = Elf Tranself Synthese FE 75-90
16.7 = Motul MOTYLGEAR 75-90
6.3 = OEM G52 (part numbers G052726A2 / G05272601)
Since I had written on the G52 oil sample label 75w-90 the lab viscosity tested the sample twice - both times returning a V@100c of 6.4.
My thinking was that either the OEM oil sheared way down OR the OEM fluid started out much lighter than the expected 75w-90.
So, I went to my local dealer this morning, bought a liter of G52, then drove to my local CAT fluid analysis lab and watched as he tested its viscosity right in front of me.
The result: VOA viscosity of G52 = 6.3
OEM G52 did not shear down at all in 43,000 miles of use:
V@100c: New G52=6.3, G52 after 43,000 miles = 6.4
Additionally, in these crazy unseasonably warm temps the Motul Gear 300 shifts fine - but early yesterday morning when temps were in the mid 40s - the first few shifts with Motul Gear 300 were noticably more effortful than the G52 ever was - even at below 0 temps.
Point being that even though Motul Gear 300 has an outstandingly low pour point (flows to -60) - **the 75-90 viscosity of common gear / manual transmission oils is IMO not suitable for use in VW transmissions where G52 is specified.**
OEM G52: 43k UOA
Motul Gear 300: VOA (this is as expected from a 75w-90 oil)
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