Warren,

I assume the only reason he suggests cheap oil at first is because of the
short drain interval, probably to allow for the new parts to wear in.  There
really shouldn't be a great deal of metal shavings or flash in the oil, but
since it's not that hard to drain, why not?

Just use the cheap oil for the first 300 miles or so, then change over to
the Redline.  You might want to strain the oil through cheesecloth when you
drain it, to see what is in it.

Don in Reidsville, NC
1987 Vanagon GL Syncro

----- Original Message -----
From: "Warren Lail" <wlail@OU.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thu 04 November 2004 23:38
Subject: gear oil - rebuilt tranny

> Mateys,
>
> Yesterday afternoon I dropped the tranny in Billy Bones (took one hour)
> and today took it to my rebuilder where
> I traded it in on a freshly rebuilt 091 with a .78 fourth gear.  My
> rebuilder told me to run cheap oil for about 300 miles,
> then drain it out, and then refill with Redline MT-90.  I am a big fan of
> MT-90, but do I really need to run the
> cheap GL-4 for the first 300 miles?
>
> My flywheel seal is leaking (after only 12,000 miles) so I will replace
> that while the tranny is out, and then I expect
> to be on the road again tomorrow night.  And while I'm in there I will
> also install a new pilot bearing, even though the
> one in there only has 12,000 miles on it.  I can'f find one of those felt
> washers. Hope it is not critical.
>
> But I sure would like to go ahead and run the MT-90 from the outset.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Warren Lail
> 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
> Single speed bike "Black Dog" (Eric's Eccentric ENO conversion)
>
> "He drank rum very strong all day, lookin' up somethin' fierce when spoken
> to."