Differential Failure with Redline?
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2000
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From: Roseville CA
Differential Failure with Redline?
One of my customers told me about several differential failures from the Redline fluids. He talked to Andy at A and A, who buys all of his differentials from West Coast Corvettes. The builder of diffs for WC told Andy that all of the diffs he had seen fail had redline fluids in them. Has anyone heard of this before. I have been using Redline fluids at our shop for years, but I also add the GM additive to the diffs when I change fluids.
Thanks in advance for any feedback. Terry http://www.corvettecare.net
Thanks in advance for any feedback. Terry http://www.corvettecare.net
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Burlington ON
Cruise-In I, II, III, IV & V Veteran
CI-I & II Auto-X Champ
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (TLewis4095)
I have 50,000 hard miles on my stock 3.42s running Redline the whole time with no problems as of yet!
I did change the fluid once about 15,000 miles ago.
I did change the fluid once about 15,000 miles ago.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Clouds Over California
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (MattG)
The only problems that I have been told from friends and a friendly dealership, is they were conducting some test of Redline Fluid in our Transmissions. They had two cars that had unusual bushing swelling, and both cars were running Redline tranny fluid in them...they had never seen this failure before, and were considering that it might be the detergent in the Redline fluid penetrating the bushings. I was going to switch to Redline, but I am waiting to see if their test car experience similar failure. By the way the dealership replaced both tranny's under warranty..I thought that was pretty cool...so I gained some trust that they would find out whether or not it was coincidence or in fact a failure caused by the fluid.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (Shinobi'sZ)
My C4 had 109k miles on it. 55k of those miles were with red line in the dif. and no problem ever out of the rear end. I had red line MTL in my ZF shortly, it seemed notchy and I went back to factory fluid. However, this is not the T56 in our C5s and you should see the flame wars over ZF tranny fluid :boxing I'm planning on Red Line in the tranny and dif of my C5. :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (93Polo)
The esters in Redline do tend to swell seals. My Suburban leaked fluid shortly after I installed Redline in it several years ago, although my 90 Vette had Redline in it after the rear gear change with not problems at all. Also, Pat Ikerd who I bought it from recommended Redline (he does the rebuilds for Mid America as well). The Redline additive package may be a little harder on the "soft" metals. Although this last point is still being researched, some feel that it is the result of the strong detergent package picking up soft metals that other lubricants have left behind. Jury is still out on that one from what I have read.
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (SMOKNC5)
No problemo here. Been using Red Line in the rear for a couple of years now.
Robert
Robert
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From: Bethesda MD
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (SMOKNC5)
I've heard from a guy who owns a race club that he's had redline in his trans and diff and had failures. I've heard other stories from people that have had bad experiences with those red line fluids. I don't see why people want to go from the GM approved synthetics to that non-approved red line. It just doesn't make sense. THAT'S A RICER MOD :banghead:
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Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (cute301guy)
I've heard the same crap about redline rear end grease....mainly from the stock car mafia on the east coast. Has anybody ever been in the pits at a cup race and seen what color the engine oil is they pour in the mobil 1 car.........GREEN. Looks alot like redline race oil........hmmm.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: Differential Failure with Redline? (cute301guy)
I've heard from a guy who owns a race club that he's had redline in his trans and diff and had failures. I've heard other stories from people that have had bad experiences with those red line fluids. I don't see why people want to go from the GM approved synthetics to that non-approved red line. It just doesn't make sense. THAT'S A RICER MOD :banghead:
Uh oh, let the ga...... er, flames begin! :lurk:
