Gearbox oil

Talk and Tech about turbocharged 924/944/968 cars
User avatar
blade7
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 4:17 pm
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 22 times
It's time to change the gearbox oil in my 91 turbo again. It's been a while, so searched to see what people are using now. And found a post from someone that's a member on here recommending Castrol 75w/140 for road use. So any one have any thoughts for or against?

#1

User avatar
BennSport
Posts: 267
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2024 9:23 pm
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 27 times
I don’t know anything about the castrol oil, but a lot of people recommend redline MT90. I did a fluid change in my car with it recently and I’ve been happy with how it performs
‘83 Platinum N/A 944

#2

User avatar
blade7
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 4:17 pm
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 22 times
Poorsche44 wrote: Fri Nov 07, 2025 5:49 pm I don’t know anything about the castrol oil, but a lot of people recommend redline MT90. I did a fluid change in my car with it recently and I’ve been happy with how it performs
A couple of gearbox guys were very anti about the redline on another forum. It's more the 140 part of the viscosity than the brand I'm curious about.

#3

User avatar
Wespa
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2023 3:18 am
Been thanked: 20 times
Redline MT-90 has been great for me for the past 60 000 miles (with a change in between obviously). I'm in a colder climate, things might be different in racing conditions in warmer climates.

BTW if the car has the stock limited slip differential a mix of two different oils is mandated.
944 NA ROW -86

#4

gb951
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2023 10:09 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 36 times
A post from Kevin Gross on r.e.n.n.l.i.s.t.... He rebuilds transaxles for racers and has done a bunch of teardowns, so pay attention.....

To address the original question, the fluids I recommend to my customers are:
Mobil 1 Syn Gear Lube 75W-90
Motul Gear 300 75W-90
Porsche part number 000-043-305-05 (or supersession)
Lubrication Engineers 9919 Monolec Syn
These are all fine choices. There are other GL5 fluids out there which I'm sure are fine, but I do not have enough customer experience with them to say yea or nay. I recommend the Lubrication Engineers fluid for race use.

I will not warranty any transmission that runs Red Line or Swepco fluid.
__________________
Kevin
Catellus Engineering

#5

User avatar
Tom
Site Admin
Posts: 8933
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 2:04 pm
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Has thanked: 932 times
Been thanked: 3995 times
Contact:
gb951 wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 7:12 am A post from Kevin Gross on r.e.n.n.l.i.s.t.... He rebuilds transaxles for racers and has done a bunch of teardowns, so pay attention.....

To address the original question, the fluids I recommend to my customers are:
Mobil 1 Syn Gear Lube 75W-90
Motul Gear 300 75W-90
Porsche part number 000-043-305-05 (or supersession)
Lubrication Engineers 9919 Monolec Syn
These are all fine choices. There are other GL5 fluids out there which I'm sure are fine, but I do not have enough customer experience with them to say yea or nay. I recommend the Lubrication Engineers fluid for race use.

I will not warranty any transmission that runs Red Line or Swepco fluid.
__________________
Kevin
Catellus Engineering
Hmmm... I just put Swepco 202 into my Kevin Gross-Built transaxle.... I guess I just voided the warranty. :lol:

Very curious statement from @Catellus Engineering about Swepco, given its reputation in the Porsche world... ??

#6

User avatar
Thom
The First Carpoke!
Posts: 566
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2021 2:31 am
Has thanked: 138 times
Been thanked: 153 times
Motul gear 75W140.
'90 944 turbo

#7

User avatar
Fejjj951
Posts: 109
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:33 pm
Has thanked: 71 times
Been thanked: 30 times
Tom wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:10 am
gb951 wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 7:12 am A post from Kevin Gross on r.e.n.n.l.i.s.t.... He rebuilds transaxles for racers and has done a bunch of teardowns, so pay attention.....

To address the original question, the fluids I recommend to my customers are:
Mobil 1 Syn Gear Lube 75W-90
Motul Gear 300 75W-90
Porsche part number 000-043-305-05 (or supersession)
Lubrication Engineers 9919 Monolec Syn
These are all fine choices. There are other GL5 fluids out there which I'm sure are fine, but I do not have enough customer experience with them to say yea or nay. I recommend the Lubrication Engineers fluid for race use.

I will not warranty any transmission that runs Red Line or Swepco fluid.
__________________
Kevin
Catellus Engineering
Hmmm... I just put Swepco 202 into my Kevin Gross-Built transaxle.... I guess I just voided the warranty. :lol:

Very curious statement from @Catellus Engineering about Swepco, given its reputation in the Porsche world... ??
Kevin did 1 of mine as well about a year ago. I trust his expertise and knowledge. I am using Mobil 1.

#8

User avatar
Latitude48
Posts: 352
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2021 7:08 pm
Location: Seattle Area
Has thanked: 102 times
Been thanked: 109 times
Contact:
Tom wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:10 am
gb951 wrote: Sat Nov 08, 2025 7:12 am A post from Kevin Gross on r.e.n.n.l.i.s.t.... He rebuilds transaxles for racers and has done a bunch of teardowns, so pay attention.....

To address the original question, the fluids I recommend to my customers are:
Mobil 1 Syn Gear Lube 75W-90
Motul Gear 300 75W-90
Porsche part number 000-043-305-05 (or supersession)
Lubrication Engineers 9919 Monolec Syn
These are all fine choices. There are other GL5 fluids out there which I'm sure are fine, but I do not have enough customer experience with them to say yea or nay. I recommend the Lubrication Engineers fluid for race use.

I will not warranty any transmission that runs Red Line or Swepco fluid.
__________________
Kevin
Catellus Engineering
Hmmm... I just put Swepco 202 into my Kevin Gross-Built transaxle.... I guess I just voided the warranty. :lol:

Very curious statement from @Catellus Engineering about Swepco, given its reputation in the Porsche world... ??
Swepco may be fine for use in warm California but in the Seattle area it was awful in the winter as it made shifting very hard until everything warmed up. I don't remember exactly what oil I have in the S2 but I think it's Redline 75W90.
Tom Pultz
- 1989 944 Turbo - Guards Red/Linen
- 1990 944 S2 - Guards Red/Black
- 2003 Audi 1.8TQ - Denim Blue/Black
- 2003 Honda Civic Si - Vivid Blue/Black
- 2023 VW Golf R Base - Lapiz Blue/Titan Black

#9

Post Reply