Synthetic Oil

Oil of Choice

  • Castrol Syntec/Edge

    Votes: 254 8.4%
  • Royal Purple

    Votes: 344 11.4%
  • AMSOil

    Votes: 428 14.2%
  • Valvoline Synpower

    Votes: 174 5.8%
  • Mobil 1

    Votes: 1,077 35.7%
  • Other

    Votes: 737 24.5%

  • Total voters
    3,014

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Burla

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Yup free shipping after $100 which in todays world isn't hard to do lol
Just for information they do have one. Large OEM list... Amsoil almost 1/2 the price.

Redline cvt fluid

Non-Slip CVT - Quart​

  • Designed specifically for use in metal belt-type Continuously Variable Transmissions including Mini, Nissan and Subaru
  • Includes anti-wear additives for improved metal-to-metal protection in torque-converter clutches and offers consistent performance over broad temperature range
  • Synthetic base stocks offer improved shear characteristics, improved thermal stability and extended drain intervals (up to 30,000 miles, follow manufacturers specifications)
 

Travis8352

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Just for information they do have one. Large OEM list... Amsoil almost 1/2 the price.

Redline cvt fluid

Non-Slip CVT - Quart​

  • Designed specifically for use in metal belt-type Continuously Variable Transmissions including Mini, Nissan and Subaru
  • Includes anti-wear additives for improved metal-to-metal protection in torque-converter clutches and offers consistent performance over broad temperature range
  • Synthetic base stocks offer improved shear characteristics, improved thermal stability and extended drain intervals (up to 30,000 miles, follow manufacturers specifications)
I hear great things on bobs about redline cvt from the folks there that use it. HPL also makes a CVT thats PAO/AN based
 

U&A

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Just for information they do have one. Large OEM list... Amsoil almost 1/2 the price.

Redline cvt fluid

Non-Slip CVT - Quart​

  • Designed specifically for use in metal belt-type Continuously Variable Transmissions including Mini, Nissan and Subaru
  • Includes anti-wear additives for improved metal-to-metal protection in torque-converter clutches and offers consistent performance over broad temperature range
  • Synthetic base stocks offer improved shear characteristics, improved thermal stability and extended drain intervals (up to 30,000 miles, follow manufacturers specifications)
I think a lot of the “OEM” product line for amsoil is Group 3. Understandable when looking at the price.
 

HEMIMANN

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I posted this here at the time 6 years ago but its just easier to post it again. This is the video of it how it sounded after 500 miles of the SN SS 5w30:


It was louder in person, if you were at a drive up or next to a building it was really loud. After dumping it for RL 5w30, 500 miles later it was quiet again. SS 0w40 SP has been so far keeping it quiet after 2 OCIs which was mostly towing and cold starts.

Yes, I remember actually - which is amazing for me! lol

That is so strange how viscosity increase with same base oil Amsoil SS (presumably) fixed your tick. Like Mike just said, some fixed with increased viscosity, some with change to Red Line.

Of interest, you have a half ton 5.7 Hemi, I presume, which calls for 5W-20 (due to EPA fuel economy). Again, would be interesting to see UOA on the SS 0W-40 to see sheardown.
 

HEMIMANN

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Just for information they do have one. Large OEM list... Amsoil almost 1/2 the price.

Redline cvt fluid

Non-Slip CVT - Quart​

  • Designed specifically for use in metal belt-type Continuously Variable Transmissions including Mini, Nissan and Subaru
  • Includes anti-wear additives for improved metal-to-metal protection in torque-converter clutches and offers consistent performance over broad temperature range
  • Synthetic base stocks offer improved shear characteristics, improved thermal stability and extended drain intervals (up to 30,000 miles, follow manufacturers specifications)

You're in the brave, new world, Mike.

What's the OEM OCI on these things?
 

Burla

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I think 30k on all of them, I dont know enough about cvt to decide whether there would even be some benefit to spending that amount for fluid. I mean you can cut that in half and use the cheapest syn, wouldn't that be better? I have some research to do.
 

Hemi395

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With Nissan, they have a number in the TCM that is supposed to tell the tech when the fluid is ready to be changed. It's nothing more than an algorithm, similar to the OLM in our trucks. There is no actual change interval for Nissan CVTs unless that algorithm says it needs to be changed.

So people are running Nissan cvts for 100k+, the cvt sh it's the bed, and they need a new cvt. This is why I think a lot of the cvt failures across all manus are due to lack of fluid changes because the fluid is technically considered "lifetime".
 

HEMIMANN

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Thinking about the machine element to be lubricated, a CVT consists of two metal cones and an inverted silent metal chain. Same as a snowmobile, but in them the belt is fiber reinforced polyamide akin to kevlar.

A chain bashing onto a cone sprocket under heavy propulsion load is harsher than a chain and bike sprocket, as on a camshaft or motorcycle drive - those also have ROLLERS, which have a bushing, and are easier to lubricate.

As far as I know CVT chains don't have roller pins contacting the cones - they are more like chainsaw chains with curved drive teeth wedging the cones. That means harsh line friction with some rolling between the teeth and the cone as it curves around.

Obviously, antiwear additives are key. I imagine it gets hot as well, likely wants to chop VIIs. A high quality base oil loaded with antiwear without VII's?
 

Burla

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The good news is when our cvt sh-its the bed, we will have our old rav 4 to save the day. I am telling they simply don't make stuff like they used to even the simple SUV applications. The cross wasn't on my radar, we will see how I feel in a few months, but it is on the simple side of modern stuff and I'm not sure you will find a better grocery getter out there. Out of the sub compacts it is the only one I fit in. I have to break my neck getting into all of the ones I tried. Whether or not my cvt lasts 100k, I will be on the Corey strategy, once every year or two drain and fill 3-4 quarts, maybe a 20k interval. Corey you do filters at all yet?
 

Yardbird

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Being old, I can't remember if this video was posted before, or not.

Either way, it deserves watching. It's surprising as to which oil actually did better in this specific test.

 

HEMIMANN

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Searched Machinery Lubrication Mag for CVT lubrication, nothing but classic roller chain lubrication.

Interweb search only turned up generalizations from Lubrizol (major additive supplier).
 

HEMIMANN

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The good news is when our cvt sh-its the bed, we will have our old rav 4 to save the day. I am telling they simply don't make stuff like they used to even the simple SUV applications. The cross wasn't on my radar, we will see how I feel in a few months, but it is on the simple side of modern stuff and I'm not sure you will find a better grocery getter out there. Out of the sub compacts it is the only one I fit in. I have to break my neck getting into all of the ones I tried. Whether or not my cvt lasts 100k, I will be on the Corey strategy, once every year or two drain and fill 3-4 quarts, maybe a 20k interval. Corey you do filters at all yet?

You need a better spine compressor - I've shrunk ~ 2 inches from my prime days.
 

Burla

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399 clips on the belt, wonderful. Is rebuilding a cvt even possible or are these throw aways.
 

HEMIMANN

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Well, when a saw chain wears, it stretches due to elongated holes due to pin friction, and it's considered junk if it is beyond tensioner tightening limit.

So I think it's the same answer? And so - the objective is to slow wear by using best oil and additives along with not flooring it from stop.
 

Burla

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cvt uoa


I see BITOG voa cvt tons sulfur, cant see this lab test for sulfur.

Is that the main difference atf vs cvt = sulfur? So we bringing sulfur back, lol?


goggly ai-

CVT fluids typically contain a sulfur content, with some brands like DuraMAX CVT-G fluid showing a sulfur content of 0.105%.
 
Last edited:

Burla

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Molekule multi vehicle cvt

Elemental (in ppm) and Viscosity Characteristics:

Iron - 1
Boron - 350
Silicon - 6
Sodium - 4
Calcium - 570
Magnesium - 7
Phos - 758
Zinc - 5
Sulfur - 1120

Kinematic viscosity - 7.3 cSt@100C
 

Burla

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Making sulfur great again, who knew?

Gotta love all this, Jesus.

Would explain short interval, you don't want to leave sulfur in any sump too long.
 

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