API GL-4 vs API GL-5 Gear Oil - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BugDiddy · 06-12-2009, 01:56 PM

Hey guys awhile back I changed my transmission fluid on my all-trac. I used 75-90 gear oil, but upon looking at the bottle again, it says its gl-5 and gl-6 (not the recommended gl-4)

I put it in about 400 miles ago and the car is driving and shifting fine, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't change it out for some gl-4 oil instead.

I got suckered into the gl-5 oil because it was on sale- 2 gallon jug for 15 bucks! The price made me forget to make sure it was what i needed

I just don't want to spend 7/qt for the gl-4 stuff if I dont have to, you know?

Also, would the GL-5 stuff be ok the the differential?

BugDiddy · 06-12-2009, 04:23 PM

Ok so I did some googling.. I guess the GL-5 stuff will eat soft metals (synchros).

So I've been searching for GL-4 stuff, but I can only find amsoil stuff, which is almost 15$/qt from their site which is retarded. Does anyone know where I can buy GL-4 gear oil?

Flashmn · 06-13-2009, 08:06 AM

Using GL-5 instead of GL-4 will harm the gearbox. Using GL-4/5 is fine though.

You can find GL-4 in most autoparts shops.

j2b4osan · 06-19-2009, 04:51 AM

You won't find gl4 in stores. The only people that still make it is amsoil and redline and they are both expensive. But gl5 will damage yellow metals whether it says safe for gl4 or not. This is a topic of controversy on many older cars. The amsoil is the best. If you weren't planning on keeping the car much longer you could let it be someone elses problem but if you are gonna keep it I'd say change it.

Flashmn · 06-19-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

You won't find gl4 in stores. The only people that still make it is amsoil and redline and they are both expensive.

Yes you will. Mobil makes it, Euroil makes it, Redline is GL-4, etc etc. I dont know how things over on that side of the Atlantic is, but we sell several brands of GL-4 fluids over here.

j2b4osan · 06-19-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashmn

Yes you will. Mobil makes it, Euroil makes it, Redline is GL-4, etc etc. I dont know how things over on that side of the Atlantic is, but we sell several brands of GL-4 fluids over here.

must be a US thing than because me and my friends have checked just about every store in NY and several people in other areas of the country have looked thoroughly as well. and even amsoil stopped making it for a while until they got flooded with letters complaining. I have also spoken to several oil distributors and thats who I eventually got my amsoil from (at a bit of a discount).

BugDiddy · 06-19-2009, 06:00 PM

well I ended up finding some at NAPA (the ONLY autoparts store that has had GL4, believe me)

It is called Sta-Lube and it was like 28 bucks for a gallon. It was more than i wanted to spend, but its better than 50+ dollars for a gallon of redline. I am going to put the stalube stuff in when the weather clears up and see if theres any difference.

so far the car is still shifting as it always has now with 600-700 miles on the gl5 stuff. it grinds a little into 2nd and 3rd sometimes, but it has always done that :-p