80 series G/box oil, multitrax or VMX-M ??? Or even "Caltex Textran"???

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 10:15
ThreadID: 84813 Views:8450 Replies:3 FollowUps:5
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Hi All

i have been running "Multi trax" oil in box of 80 series as local bloke told me castrol formulated it especial for cruiser boxes???

But now i read quite often many are running "VMX-M"

whats the difference?

Which should i be using?

Which oil will protect the box the most / longest? especialy if always towing?

Also i read an old post where someone said run Caltex "Textran" and they quoted NOTE to use EP oils in cruiser boxe! why?

any comments on textran? we use cltex "Textran TDH premium" in all our tractor gearboxes and final drives!
Regards
GN
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Reply By: get outmore - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 10:43

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 10:43
I run VXM-M and the gearbox is notch POS

I have to plan trip to make sure they dont take too may back roads as even with double clutching downshifting is a mission

even getting it into 1st when at the lights isnt easy

AnswerID: 447442

Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 10:59

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 10:59
Hi

What is Notch POS?

maybe oher issue than oil?

Clutch drag?

Regards
GN
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 12:51

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 12:51
sorry that should read notchy peice of crap

and yes not necc anything to do with the oil

80 seies g boxes typically get like mine and mines getting pretty bad 300, 000km
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 23:26

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 23:26
everryone must be siick of this one eh
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Reply By: Muntoo - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 01:35

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 01:35
Yeah when i owned a Cruiser, everyone recommended VMX-M. I wanted to use it but couldnt find it. My Cruiser used Mobil gear oil, 80w/90 i think it was for pretty much its entire life. Sold it with 300k on it and gearbox and all running gear was fine. Still going the same today so really i reckon any oil is good enough.

AnswerID: 447531

Reply By: Bushtrek - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 16:29

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 16:29
In order of best performance you have to look at certain properties.

Extreme Pressure (EP) anti wear protection
1st Multitrax because it's API GL 5 EP level
2nd VMX-M ... An API GL 4 EP level gear oil
3rd Textran Premium... An Hydraulic oil primarily but with some API GL4 EP


API GL 5 level of wear protection is much greater than GL4. Essentially you could use MultiTrax in a hypoid diff (under light duty) whereas you couldn't use either of the others.

Viscosity at operating temperature
1st Multi Trax K Visc at 100C 15cSt
2nd VMX-M K Visc at 100C 12cSt
3rd Textran K Visc at 100C 9.5cSt

At normal gearbox operating temps (80C-100C) the MultiTrax has better EP protection and a higher viscosity so stronger film strength to resist metal to metal contact under load.

Viscosity at cold/low temperatures
Here the situation is different. You need low viscosity shear resistance when changing gears in transmissions which have high surface contact synchronisers.
1st VMX-M
2nd Textran
3rd MultiTrax

So if the gearbox has cold shift issues with clashing synchronisers until warmed up, VMX-M.
If not MultriTrax.
I wouldn't use Textran, it's too light for the gearbox to ensure long term durability.

Hope this helps.

AnswerID: 447584

Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 17:09

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 17:09
Hi Bushtrek

i was kind of geussing something like you have put forward in a very clear way, i just didnt have the knoledge to clarify it.

It seemed to me that the VMX-M was NOT going to offer the protection of Multitrax, so i am happy now to not look for any improvement in cold shifts and put up with it for the hopefully longer box life.

many thanks for the help

Regards
GN
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FollowupID: 719878

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 17:10

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 17:10
Great response Bushtrek - and it mirrors what I've found in practice - if cold shifts are an issue, go the VMX-M. I've only used Multitrax for 5000k - way to hard to change back into first in Adelaide's climate.

Other good options are Valvoline Duragear 75/85 and 75/90, and the Fuchs 75/90 which sit somewhere between VMX-M and Multitrax when it comes to cold shifting.

I'm running the Fuchs these days because I reckon the there is less crunching when you do a lot of low range work. VMX-M was not as good in this regard.
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