> What does BFE know about this subject that no automotive manufacturer
> knows?
1) That Standard-Triumph DID recommend motor oil in their gearboxes until
around 1960 or so ... MG and others continued to do so long after that.
Laycock (makers of the OD) always did too, the Laycock manual contains a
specific warning against using 'hypoid' oils. And the TR6 box is
effectively identical to those early boxes, except for the synchro ring on
1st gear.
2) Transmissions are not subject to the extreme pressures found in
differentials, hence they do not require the same high level of EP additives
that differentials do.
3) Valvoline Racing oil does contain an EP additive ... ZDP. It just
doesn't contain the sulfur-based additive found in most conventional gear
oils (the one that corrodes yellow metal).
Now I'm not claiming that VR is the absolute best lube for our
transmissions. I plan to switch to Redline MTL 90 myself (which BTW also
has none of the sulfur additive according to Redline). But the VR oil is
cheap, readily available, and by all practical definitions, works just fine.
Plus of course it was recommended by my transmission builder, so it only
makes sense for me to run it while the tranny is "under warranty".
Randall
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