Manual Transmission Oil Analysis @ 75,000 miles

[Wallythacker]

Blackstone Labs

I wonder if Canadians are able to use this service? What is involved with shipping used motor oil across national boundaries? Are there any Canadian oil analysis services?

Those are good questions. If we have a lab paying twice the price would not surprise me. I think we could send oil over the border. It's not a controlled substance or a food/plant that could contain pathogens/pests. If either Border service stopped the shipment I would be very surprised.

[Pryme]

I have sort of questioned all this myself. I bought a gallon of Redline MTL, & I decided to change my transmission fluid @ 30,000 miles (did this about 2-weeks ago now). I don't always assume factory fluids are the best, & doing that first change early will never hurt anything. I sense Redline is a decent if not superior product. I don't sense any difference after changing the fluid, but I don't regret doing it @ 30,000 miles.

Now that the factory fluid is out & fresh Redline fluid is in, I may go with 60,000 miles changes after seeing your report. Like you said, changing the manual transmission fluid in a Mirage is super simple. It's easier than an engine oil change as long as you have the correct funnel/hose to do the job. I picked up the perfect one at AutoZone for $2.49, but a person could make one just as easily with the right piece of hose.

https://www.autozone.com/shop-and-ga...nel/557785_0_0

Did you snake that down from the top?

I pumped mine in from the bottom.

I put mtl in after a few thousand miles I think it was. Only at 24k now.

[Top_Fuel]

From the Blackstone website...

International customers: We regularly receive samples from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Great Britain, and other countries. Please consult your local post office for postage required to get your sample to the United States.

Link: https://www.blackstone-labs.com/info...-requirements/

[Wallythacker]

Adding MT fluid change to my list of maintenance jobs. I'll have the '14 oil analyzed to see if it was beyond all hope when I got it. I won't bother analyzing my '17, it only has 30k miles and everything seems fine shifting wise.

[Mark]

Did you snake that down from the top?

I pumped mine in from the bottom.

I put mtl in after a few thousand miles I think it was. Only at 24k now.

I bought the funnel to add fluid from the top. I had a long neck funnel I use for my tractor & other things, but this hose needed to flex some. Any small hose that fits the opening would work. You basically fill until it starts dripping back out.

I don't have a pump & filling from top was easy. I did remove the front driver side tire. It was dark, & it made it easier for me to reach under & remove/return the drain plug while using a flashlight.

Put tire back on & made sure car was level before refilling. No big deal!

[Mark]

Adding MT fluid change to my list of maintenance jobs. I'll have the '14 oil analyzed to see if it was beyond all hope when I got it. I won't bother analyzing my '17, it only has 30k miles and everything seems fine shifting wise.

Not sure analyzing manual transmission fluid is all that important, but I am glad Top Fuel shared his results. Doing it @ 30,000 first & 60,000 miles intervals in the future is my plan. 2 quarts gets the job done. No filters!

[foama]

Redline may be cheap on the American continent, but unfortunately not so here.

In Europe we have a large selection of excellent fully synthetic 75W/80 GL4 oils at affordable prices, the best selling at around €9 (US$10) per litre.

[Mark]

Redline may be cheap on the American continent, but unfortunately not so here.

In Europe we have a large selection of excellent fully synthetic 75W/80 GL4 oils at affordable prices, the best selling at around €9 (US$10) per litre.

I don't think anyone feels Redline MTL is cheap in the States. It's about $60/gallon with free shipping on Amazon today. $60 = about 54 Euros. 4 quarts = 1 gallon, 1 gallon = 3.78541 Liters.

On the positive side, it takes less than 2 quarts to do the job, you don't have to do this very often, no filter costs, and it is easy to do yourself (no mechanic labor charges are needed).

I haven't found an alternative 75W/80 GL4 options in my area, but I haven't searched endlessly either. As long as Redline is a quality synthetic product, I am ok with paying whatever. I also don't hear of other forum members using much else, which may confirm we don't have that many options like you do. I also can't say that I bothered to check the pricing of factory OEM fluid. It may actually be cheaper?

[foama]

I don't think anyone feels Redline MTL is cheap in the States. It's about $60/gallon with free shipping on Amazon today. $60 = about 54 Euros. 4 quarts = 1 gallon, 1 gallon = 3.78541 Liters.

On the positive side, it takes less than 2 quarts to do the job, you don't have to do this very often, no filter costs, and it is easy to do yourself (no mechanic labor charges are needed).

I haven't found an alternative 75W/80 GL4 options in my area, but I haven't searched endlessly either. As long as Redline is a quality synthetic product, I am ok with paying whatever. I also don't hear of other forum members using much else, which may confirm we don't have that many options like you do. I also can't say that I bothered to check the pricing of factory OEM fluid. It may actually be cheaper?

Agreed!


FYI:

Here one quart of Redline 75W90 GL4 costs €35 with shipping.

Two Liters of ROWE 75W90 GL4 costs €28.- with shipping.

Two Liters of Ravenol 75W90 GL4 costs €19.95 with shipping.
All of the above may be regarded as premium products.

See:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/REDLINE-Getr...IAAOSw-W5UrqPi

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2-2x1-Liter-...EAAOSwUsxbICIA

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2x-RAVENOL-L...IAAOSwPcVVoBoD

On the other end of scale, one of the cheapest 75W90 GL4 costs €14.50 for two Liters including freight.
That makes Redline more than four times more expensive here, and thats why I bought a different product.
On the other hand, it seems prices are the other way round in the States, which makes it logical to buy the Redline product there.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2x-1-Liter-M...QAAOSwcgNZEI09

[Mark]

Agreed!


FYI:

Here one quart of Redline 75W90 GL4 costs €35 with shipping.

Two Liters of ROWE 75W90 GL4 costs €28.- with shipping.

Two Liters of Ravenol 75W90 GL4 costs €19.95 with shipping.
All of the above may be regarded as premium products.

See:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/REDLINE-Getr...IAAOSw-W5UrqPi

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2-2x1-Liter-...EAAOSwUsxbICIA

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2x-RAVENOL-L...IAAOSwPcVVoBoD

On the other end of scale, one of the cheapest 75W90 GL4 costs €14.50 for two Liters including freight.
That makes Redline more than four times more expensive here, and thats why I bought a different product.
On the other hand, it seems prices are the other way round in the States, which makes it logical to buy the Redline product there.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/2x-1-Liter-M...QAAOSwcgNZEI09

It sure seems that way when I just check again. We can purchase the Ravenol 75W90 GL4 through Amazon, but it's more expensive than Redline MTL. I have no doubt that the Ravenol is a quality product.

Ravenol is $23/liter (free shipping) on Amazon.

A gallon of Redline MTL for $60/gallon (free shipping), which is about $15/quart, & a quart is larger than a liter.

Thus, Redline is about $8/quart cheaper than Ravenol. I wouldn't sweat manual transmission fluid. If I had more choices, I would shop around & buy the cheapest, too.