Malcolm,
I feel able to answer this, as my girlfriend (wife as of October 17th!) is
a professional development chemist, working for a major lubricant manufacturer
(though she does not work in their automotive section).
API GL5 spec includes as part of the specification additives which attack
the yellow metal components (eg., thrust washers). If I remember correctly,
these are sulphur based compounds. They are not present in API GL4 spec.
Incidentally, I once stripped down a gearbox from a 948 Herald which had
all yellow metal components badly damaged, the surface breaking away badly. I
assume the wrong oil had been used for some time......
Regards,
Bill.
Malcolm Walker wrote:
> OK gang, here's a recurring question that isn't found on the FAQ...
>
> Is there anything against using GL5 in my gearbox and transmission? I
> have 5 quarts of the stuff and 5 of the 6 cars currently in our stable are
> automatics. Should I mothball it (again!) and try to find GL4 for the
> TR4, or can I use it with impunity?
>
> I'd like to change the fluids in both gear-things, as it's probably been
> in there for many years and may not be up to scratch.
>
> I also notice that the gearbox is getting a bit hard to shift- altho the
> clutch seems to be OK on startup... I'm thinking I need to do some
> "routine maintenance" to the shifter- anything I should know?
>
> -Malcolm
> * There is a FAQ for this list! Its temporary home is:
> http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/walker/triumph/trfaq.htm
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/ \ William Davies
/ \ Total Triumph Enthusiast
__ __________________ __
/ \ ______ ______ / \ 1959 Herald 948 Coupe 1st Batch!!!
\__/ \ || / \__/ 1959 Herald 948 Coupe
| A \____||____/ A | 1960 Herald 948 Saloon Export
| = H H = | 1964 Herald 1200 Saloon
=====U==============U===== 1966 Herald 1200 Convertible
\________________________/ 1959 Standard Atlas Pickup
| | | | 1973 Spitfire MkIV
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