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Low Viscosity Manual Transmission Lubricants

** Sorted by Viscosity at 40 C

 Brand

Model

SAE Viscosity

API Rating

Viscosity

Pour Point

cSt@40C

cSt@100C

cP@-40

C

Redline

MT-LV

70W-75

GL-4

30.6

6.5

6000

-60 

Penrite

Pro Gear 70W-75

70W-75

GL-4 Plus

34.0

6.9

82700@-55

 

Redline

D4 ATF

70W-75

GL-4

35.4

7.5

5200

-60

Castrol

Syntrans B

70W-75

GL-4

36.8

7.3

7300

-66

Royal Purple

Synchromax

70W-75

NA

38.0

7.7

8430

-54

Penzoil

Synchromesh

75W-80

NA

41.6

9.08

25600

-45

Amsoil

MTF

75W-80

NA

48.3

9.7

39050

-46

Agip

Rotra FE

75W-80

GL-4 Plus

50.0

9.4

70000

-45

Redline

MTL

75W-80

GL-4

50.8

10.4

12000

-50

Texaco / Rover

MTF 94

75W-80

GL-4

53.2

10.5

60000

-45

Castrol

Syntrans Z Long Life

75W-80

GL-4

55.0

9.1

20000

-57

Penrite

Trans Gear 75W-80

75W-80

GL-4 Plus

55.0

10.4

11800

-51

Shell

Spirax GSX

75W-80

GL-4

56.0

9.1

36500

-45

Castrol

VMX 80W

75W-80

GL-4

58.0

10.5

?

-27

Redline

MT-85

75W-85

GL-4

61.1

12.0

16000

-48

Q8

T60

75W-80

GL-4

62.3

9.22

126000

-39

Castrol

Syntrans 75W-85

75W-85

GL-4

64.4

11.9

18000

-45

Q8

Q8 SuperGear V

75W-80

GL-4

66.2

10.5

32200

-55

Penrite

Pro Gear 75W85

75W-85

GL-4 Plus

77.0

12.0

111000


Redline

MT-90

75W-90

GL-4

82.0

15.5

32000

-45

Note that all manufacturers may not use the same test procedures for determination of the data shown above.  Please use with care.

The table given above is a simple listing of data and does not provide for any suggested applications.  I do not endorse the use of lubricants outside of that recommended by the manufacturer.  Please ensure that you are fully literate and knowledgeable about the properties of a lubricant prior to attempting the use of a non approved product.

Note that the SAE viscosity grades as laid out in SAE J306 cover a very large viscosity range.  Users should look at the actual viscosity numbers when comparing oils.  The difference in low temperature viscosity between 70W, 75W and 80W oils can be very large and will make a huge impact on cold flow performance.  This can be especially important when the oil is used in a synchronized transmission.  For instance, a 75W oil requires a viscosity less than 150000 cP@-40C.  To become a 70W oil it requires less than 150000 cP@-55C, which is approximately equivalent to around 20000 cP@-40C.  As you can see, some oils are close to being an 80W while other may be close to being a 70W and there is a big range in between.  If you look at a normal mineral based ATF as shown below, it would have an equivalent SAE viscosity as a 70W80 gear oil and a 5W20 motor oil.

If you have any other oils to add or notice any error, please e-mail me at: red90 ampersand red90.ca  “Spam blocking, replace ampersand with @ and no spaces”.

 ATFs and Motors Oils

 This table contains a sample of synthetic and mineral based motors oils and automatic transmission fluids for comparison.

 Brand

Model

SAE Viscosity

API Rating

Viscosity

Pour point

cSt@40C

cSt@100C

cP/C

C

Mobil

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF

NA

NA

35.0

7.6

6200/-40

-54

Mobil

Multi-Purpose ATF

NA

NA

36.0

7.5

17400/-40

-43

Mobil

Mobil 1

0W-30

SL/CF

54.8

10.1

16250/-40

-50

5W-30

53.7

9.7

12700/-35

-46

10W-30

61.3

9.8

12250/-30

-41

Mobil

5W-30

SL

62.0

10.5

17000/-35

-39

10W-30

70.0

10.4

20000/-30

-36

** Note this is not an endorsement of Mobil.  I used them as an example as they have easily available data on all of their worldwide products.

 References:

Automotive Gear Lubricant Viscosity Classifications — SAE J306 2019

SAE Viscosity Grade

Max Temperature
for Viscosity of
150,000 cP (°C)

Kinematic Viscosity at 100°C (cSt)

min

max

70W

-55

3.8

—

75W

-40

3.8

—

80W

-26

8.5

—

85W

-12

11.0

—

65

—

3.8

<5.0

70

—

5.0

<6.5

75

—

6.5

<8.5

80

—

8.5

<11.0

85

—

11.0

<13.5

90

—

13.5

<18.5

110

—

18.5

<24.0

140

—

24.0

<32.5

190

—

32.5

<41.0

250

—

41.0

—

SAE Viscosity Grades for Engine Oils — SAE J300 2015

SAE Viscosity Grades For Engine Oils(1)(2)

SAE
Viscosity Grade

Low Temperature (°C) Cranking Viscosity(3), mPa-s
Max

Low Temperature (°C) Pumping
Viscosity(4), mPa-s
Max with
No Yield Stress(4)

Low-Shear-Rate
Kinematic Viscosity(5)(mm2/s) at 100°C
Min

Low-Shear-Rate
Kinematic Viscosity(5)(mm2/s) at 100°C
Max

High-Shear-Rate
Viscosity(6) (mPa-s)
at 150°C
Min

0W

6200 at -35

60000 at -40

3.8

-

-

5W

6600 at -30

60000 at -35

3.8

-

-

10W

7000 at -25

60000 at -30

4.1

-

-

15W

7000 at -20

60000 at -25

5.6

-

-

20W

9500 at -15

60000 at -20

5.6

-

-

25W

13000 at -10

60000 at -15

9.3

-

-

6

-

-

4.0

< 6.1

1.7

12

-

-

5.0

< 7.1

2.0

16

-

-

6.1

< 8.2

2.3

20

-

-

6.9

< 9.3

2.6

30

-

-

9.3

< 12.5

2.9

40

-

-

12.5

< 16.3

2.9 (0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40 grades)

40

-

-

12.5

< 16.3

3.7 (15W-40, 20W-40, 25W-40, 40 grades)

50

-

-

16.3

< 21.9

3.7

60

-

-

21.9

< 26.1

3.7

(1) Notes-1cP = 1mPa-s; 1 cSt = 1mm2/S
(2) All values are critical specifications as defined by ASTM D3244 (see text, Section 3).
(3) ASTM D5293
(4) ASTM D4684: Note that the presence of any yield stress detectable by this method constitutes a failure regardless of viscosity.
(5) ASTM D445
(6) ASTM D4683, CEC L-36-A-90 (ASTM D4741) or D5481

Reprinted with persmission form SAE J300© 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

Updated 2023/03/11