ok... took the 90's kick covered in slush, mud, dirt and with a smashed grille to the local suzuki dealer last week for a driveline service (308,000km and dont know when it was last done and im not going to be caught outside in the snow doing it myself) they put 80w90 gear oil in everything and only totaled 8 litres of fluid (seemed a bit low for full drain and fill of trans, transfer, and both diffs)

truck doesnt like to shift at all when cold (-20*c outside) wondering if its just the fluid... mech at suzuki said it was whats recommened but im wondering if theres a better fluid out there.

use to have a turbo firefly that was recommened to have gm synchromesh for the transmission (shifted like a dream...) wondering if it would be ok to run in the kick... should flow a bit better when its cold out... but is it going to damage things if its to thin?

might say screw it and take it back in and get them to change it again, the truck was fine when it went in... -40 to -50 degree weather was not where 80w90 was made to be used...

Most service centers do not carry the correct oil for the Trackers transmissions and transfer cases yet promptly put in the wrong stuff and are  happy to charge you for their mistake. They ususally will put in GL5 oil.  The Trackicks requires a rating of GL4 and hopefully synthetic.  Do not put GL5 in.  It will cause the to shift poorly and grind when shifting. Just plain gear oil is also incorrect which will cause the transmission to shift hard and rob you a lot of MPGs when it is in its cold molasses like state.  Synthetic GL4 will let the Tracker not to feel like a gutless wonder in cold weather.  GL5 oil is for the differentials and again hopefully synthetic so it too does not rob you MPGs and power in the cold.

i don't want to thread crap but that is a good thing to know because i am getting horible gas millage and could not figure out why.  but now that i know this i have regular 80w90 in my tranny. 

i don't want to thread crap but that is a good thing to know because i am getting horrible gas millage and could not figure out why.  but now that i know this i have regular 80w90 in my tranny. 

It took me a while to figure that out too. I have a long stretch to work that I coast down.  In the summer I actually pick up too much speed in the Tracker on this stretch. Last winter it would not even maintain speed and I would have to power though a flatter section.  This fall I changed over to all synthetic oils, GL4 in the transfer/trans and GL3 in the diffs.  What a difference this winter.  It almost coasts as easy as it does in the summer when it is 10 degrees outside. Gear oil is unbelievably thick in the cold (Not to mention the wrong kind of oil). Just remember the transfer case is alway turning when the wheels are turning. Some people tend to thing if you are in two wheel drive the transfer case is not turning so not causing drag. Not true.  If the rear wheels are turning gears are turning in the transfer case and the transmission even if the trans is in neutral.

One more thing, don't be fooled buy oil listed as GL3-GL4-GL5 compatible.  Each oil is designed for something different from all I have read on the subject.

I made up a slick, trick batch of T-case juice, you need 1 quart Mobil1 synthetic ATF,
1 quart Mobil1 Synthetic gear oil and 1 quart Lucas Synthetic oil additive, mix all
3 quarts, and put 2 in the t-case, you could use the other quart for a spare or put
it in the diff front or rear, your choice.

This combo makes for a slippery light oil that should improve your fuel mileage

Good Luck
Wild

how long have you ran this combo. Sounds good but i don't want to hurt anything, also were can i get gl-3 oil.  I work at Murray's/Csk/O'Reily auto parts store and all we have even in synthetic is GL-5

how long have you ran this combo. Sounds good but i don't want to hurt anything, also were can i get gl-3 oil.  I work at Murray's/Csk/O'Reily auto parts store and all we have even in synthetic is GL-5

 
Hey I work for CSK too,   I've run 80w90 and 75-90 the 75w90 works good in the winter.  I change it allot so I use the 80w90 now, If it's really cold I lt it warm up for a minits and it shifts fine

ok someone has to give me a real answer what to do... going to go talk with suzuki about it (couldnt shift at all today coming home from work.) had to rev the truck up to 3000 rpm to freakin start moving without stalling... its bad...

so... what for diffs, transfer case, and tranny...

what i dont get is the haynes i have says to use api sae gl-5 80-90. in all... but then you guys say gl4.

anyone have the FSM recomendations?

ACKS FAQS for 1994 sidekick says gl4.... but which viscosity for cold weather (-30*C on the norm) 80-90 for all season...

ok someone has to give me a real answer what to do... going to go talk with suzuki about it (couldnt shift at all today coming home from work.) had to rev the truck up to 3000 rpm to freakin start moving without stalling... its bad...

so... what for diffs, transfer case, and tranny...

what i dont get is the haynes i have says to use api sae gl-5 80-90. in all... but then you guys say gl4.

anyone have the FSM recomendations?

ACKS FAQS for 1994 sidekick says gl4.... but which viscosity for cold weather (-30*C on the norm) 80-90 for all season...

I have the factory service manual and that is why I suggested using GL4 in the trans and transfer case and GL5 in the diffs in my first post.  That is what the manual says! 

A lot of the oils I looked at claimed to be GL4 and GL5 

A lot of the oils I looked at claimed to be GL4 and GL5 

I would steer away from those types of oils.  GL4 is formulated to work with bronze parts which are basically your syncronizers.  GL5 will eat away the bronze parts which is why it is not recommended for manual transmissions. 

GL4  http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/DomesticMarketing/Gear&Transmission/pdf/GearplusSAE80W90GL-4.PDF

GL5  http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/DomesticMarketing/Gear&Transmission/pdf/GearplusSAE80W90GL-5GearLubricant.PDF

i was wondering more of if theres fluid out there that is lighter then 75w85 synthetic. its -30 at the momment and i want to be able to drive my truck easily...

Is it possible for the oil-geeks to have made an oil that works for both, or is that impossible? If so... I need to get that oil out of my trans 

I thought I read something a couple of years ago that said the bad stuff was no longer used in GL-5.  However, a google search didn't turn up anything.  GL-4 is now on my shopping list.

im getting annoyed with suzuki now... they are now telling me it can take both 75w90 OR 80w90... well ya... i get that but gl4 or gl5 and is it synthetic? they just arnt getting it... i dont care if it sopposely SHOULD work, i drive it, it doesnt work. i want it to work like it did before.

what makes it even worse... last time i had it in i got a nice low mile 05 xl7 to drive for the day. acually was wanting to buy the truck too. nice, cofortable, and not to different then my kick.

this time i got a 06 sebring... wohooo.... almost wanted to say screw it and not give them the keys to my truck...