The American Petroleum Institute (API) Service rating of a transmission oil refers to the amount of EP (extreme pressure) additives it contains. An API Service GL-1 oil contains no EP additives and a GL-4 Service oil contains about 1/2 the additives of of a GL-5 Service oil. EP additives are composed mostly of sulfur/phosphorus compounds that can harm yellow metals such as copper or brass that are contained in some synchros. Protege synchros do not contain yellow metals and consequently, as clearly stated in the M/T section of the FSM, either GL-4 or GL-5 oils are completely safe to use. The API Service rating is completely independent of the viscosity rating, so for example, an SAE 75W-90 oil could have a GL-4 or a GL-5 or even a GL-1 Service rating.
www.api.org/Standards
According to the Lubrizol Corporation:
API Category GL-4 designates the type of service characteristic of spiral-bevel and hypoid gears in automotive axles operated under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected M/T and transaxle applications.
API Category GL-5 designates the type of service characteristic of gears, particularly hypoids in automotive axles under high-speed and/or low-speed, high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under SAE J2360 also satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service designation.
In point of fact, API categories GL-1, GL-2, GL-3, and GL-6 were declared inactive (obsolete) by an SAE Technical Committee in 1995, although oils may still be marketed with these designations. Concomitantly, ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) does not plan to maintain the performance tests associated with these categories, as in a number of cases these tests can no longer be run because parts or test installations are not available.
Manual Transmissions
F25M-R (1.6 L ZM-DE and 1.8 L FP-DE Engines)
G15M-R (2.0 L FS-DE and FS-DET Engines)
The capacity is ~ 2.83 qts (2.68 L). The FSM specifies SAE 75W-90 (all season) or SAE 80W-90 if the temperature never falls below 50 deg F (10 deg C); API Service GL-4 or GL-5.
Automatic Transmission
FN4A-EL (all 3rd Gen Proteges)
The capacity is 7.6 qts (7.2 L) after a complete fluid removal. The FSM specifies ATF type M-V or equivalent (e.g. Dexron III).
ATF in Manual Transmissions?
This is in reference to situations where the manufacturer does not specifically recommend its use. Apparently, some Forum members use ATF in their M/Ts. To begin with, I think it's a bad idea if for no other reason than it goes against OEM recommendations. Additionally, it's highly unlikely that ATF is an optimal lubricant for synchros which are absent from A/Ts. Red Line, for one, states that some ATFs may be too slippery for proper synchro engagement. Finally, I'm not sure if EP additives are even contained in most ATFs.
If you insist on using ATF, you might consider Red Line D4 as the best choice only because it's rated as a GL-4 oil, one of the M/T oil requirements listed in the FSM. I'm not saying other ATFs aren't GL-4 or 5 rated, only that I have not yet found one listed as such.
Happy Motoring!
www.api.org/Standards
According to the Lubrizol Corporation:
API Category GL-4 designates the type of service characteristic of spiral-bevel and hypoid gears in automotive axles operated under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected M/T and transaxle applications.
API Category GL-5 designates the type of service characteristic of gears, particularly hypoids in automotive axles under high-speed and/or low-speed, high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under SAE J2360 also satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service designation.
In point of fact, API categories GL-1, GL-2, GL-3, and GL-6 were declared inactive (obsolete) by an SAE Technical Committee in 1995, although oils may still be marketed with these designations. Concomitantly, ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) does not plan to maintain the performance tests associated with these categories, as in a number of cases these tests can no longer be run because parts or test installations are not available.
Manual Transmissions
F25M-R (1.6 L ZM-DE and 1.8 L FP-DE Engines)
G15M-R (2.0 L FS-DE and FS-DET Engines)
The capacity is ~ 2.83 qts (2.68 L). The FSM specifies SAE 75W-90 (all season) or SAE 80W-90 if the temperature never falls below 50 deg F (10 deg C); API Service GL-4 or GL-5.
Automatic Transmission
FN4A-EL (all 3rd Gen Proteges)
The capacity is 7.6 qts (7.2 L) after a complete fluid removal. The FSM specifies ATF type M-V or equivalent (e.g. Dexron III).
ATF in Manual Transmissions?
This is in reference to situations where the manufacturer does not specifically recommend its use. Apparently, some Forum members use ATF in their M/Ts. To begin with, I think it's a bad idea if for no other reason than it goes against OEM recommendations. Additionally, it's highly unlikely that ATF is an optimal lubricant for synchros which are absent from A/Ts. Red Line, for one, states that some ATFs may be too slippery for proper synchro engagement. Finally, I'm not sure if EP additives are even contained in most ATFs.
If you insist on using ATF, you might consider Red Line D4 as the best choice only because it's rated as a GL-4 oil, one of the M/T oil requirements listed in the FSM. I'm not saying other ATFs aren't GL-4 or 5 rated, only that I have not yet found one listed as such.
Happy Motoring!
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