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Rimmer Bros. EP90

Posted By : Chris Stanley, 09-May-2005, 09:29am

Hi all,

I just bought some EP90 oil from Rimmers, mainly since it was a lot cheaper than Halfords. The item was advertised as Unipart EP90. What I actually got was AutoCare EP80-90, which is fine, except the bottle was GL5 spec. Am I right in thinking that only GL4 spec is suitable for Triumphs?

Chris

Followups :

Rimmer Bros. EP90

Posted By : William Davies, 09-May-2005, 11:10am

GL4 is essential for the diff, there is some debate about whether or not GL5 can be used safely in the gearbox. I only keep GL4 on the shelf, that way I don't use the wrong one by mistake.
I think you should speak to Rimmers and see what they have to say about it. GL4 should be readily available as Volkswagen were specifying it as late as 1997, possibly later.
Cheers,
Bill.
- Rimmer Bros. EP90
  
  Posted By : Chris Stanley, 10-May-2005, 08:48am
  
  OK, thanks Bill, I'll do that.
  
  I bought it mostly for the trunnions, so guess it's important to get the right stuff.
  
  Cheers,
  Chris
Rimmer Bros. EP90

Posted By : Mark Stradling, 10-May-2005, 10:51am

Just to add a little to the confusion, I was looking on the Penrite web site to see which of their oils to use where (as no-one near me wants to stock EP90 any more, just 80-90's) and for Spitfire's to 1970...

Gearbox - Penrite Mild EP Gear Oil (which is GL4 spec.)
Rear Axel - Penrite Hypoid 80W-90 (which exceeds GL5 spec.)
- Rimmer Bros. EP90
  
  Posted By : Kevin Rochfort, 10-May-2005, 11:19am
  
  The following page explains why GL5 spec oil must NOT be used in "our" diffs.
  
  http://www.triumphspitfire.com/Fluids.html
  
  Kevin
  - Rimmer Bros. EP90
    
    Posted By : Mark Stradling, 10-May-2005, 02:47pm
    
    I've dropped a line to Penrite - I'll let you know what they say.
    - Rimmer Bros. EP90
      
      Posted By : Mark Stradling, 11-May-2005, 05:25pm
      
      OK, the story so far...
      
      Penrite recommend thier Hypoid 80W90 for the rear diff. The data sheet (http://www.penrite.co.uk/pispdf/HYP80W90UK.pdf) clearly states that it's "Compatble with copper alloy components and protects against corrosion"
      
      For the Gearbox they recommend their Mild EP Gear Oil, which this page (http://www.penrite.co.uk/nextpage.php?navlink=db%2...) states for the overdrive too.
      
      One of the documents they sent me was a list of all oil recommendations for all Triumphs (can't find it on the web site), with a note stating "Penrite Gear Oil 30 and 40 are designed for use in all overdrive boxes. (NB: The use of any EP oil is not recommended for overdrives.)". I'm just waiting for him to clear up if this just means early overdrives or is we should actually be using Gear Oil 30 or 40.
      
      You never know, I might actually be able to top my oil up soon!
      - Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 11-May-2005, 05:55pm
        
        This is an old chestnut which comes up every couple of years. The overdrive was designed to run with straight (non EP) gear oil. If you ever own a BMC product this won't be a problem as their gearboxes were designed to run with the same. I can remember many years ago finding out that the manual was telling me to put engine oil into my MGB's gearbox......
        Triumph were different. I'm uncertain what was specified for the early incarnations of the 3 rail gearbox when it was fitted to the Standard 8 and 10, but by the time of the Herald EP gear oils were specified. This always leads to a compromise where overdrives are concerned, Laycock literature always insists that EP oils should not be used in their overdrives.
        You have to make a judgement call, will the overdrive compatible oil shorten the life of your gearbox more than the gearbox compatible oil will shorten the life of your overdrive. I don't know the answer, hopefully Penrite can tell you. All of my Triumphs have run happily with EP gear oils and I've never lost an overdrive, but that's just my own experience. I'll be interested in what the oil people have to say....
        Cheers,
        Bill.
        
        Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Van Hamlin, 12-May-2005, 08:53pm
        
        Hi
        
        Does anyone know anything which might mean whether or not it is OK to use GL5 in the big Triumph diffs and gearboxes?
        
        I've just checked the labels on my oil; the latest bottle is GL5 and the older one (and probably all the stuff I've bought before) is GL4. And these are the same brand etc, both 80W90, the GL5 has replaced the GL4 on the shelf in the shop I use so that's what I bought!
        
        And what are the components it might be attacking?
        
        Cheers
        
        Van
        
        Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Mark Stradling, 13-May-2005, 10:54am
        
        By the looks of it, it's going to depend on the specific blend of oils and additives that the particular company has put in to it's GL5 blend.
        
        The normal rule of thumb is that GL5 is designed for more modern vehicles that don't have any copper alloys in their construction, and so contain additives that attack those alloys (and so shouldn't be used in our cars).
        
        Penrite's oil is a GL5 blend, but contains aditives that DON'T attack copper alloys (and so is safe in our cars).
        
        Other companies oils may well be OK too, but the only way to be sure it to check their web sites/contact them to get confirmation one way or the other... or just seek out a GL4 spec. oil.
        
        Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Garth Jupp, 13-May-2005, 12:38pm
        
        Just a quick note to follow up this thread. Weat Rimmer Brothers have cleansed our stock of the GL5 spec oil and are making sure that we now only stock GL4 spec. The reason for the mixup was down to a missprint in our suppliers parts list as we ordered the correct specification GL4 but were inadvertently supplied the wrong GL5 specification.
      - Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Mark Stradling, 20-May-2005, 01:43pm
        
        Penrite confirm that, of their oils at least Mild EP is the correct one for small Triumph gearboxes - with and without overdrive.
        
        Hypoid 80W90 for the rear diff.
        
        Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Chris Stanley, 24-May-2005, 10:53am
        
        Hi folks,
        
        To conclude this topic, as suggested I contacted Rimmers who agreed with the comments here over the oil spec. They've sent me a bottle of GL4 grade free (and I get to keep the other stuff as well).
        
        Chris
        
        Rimmer Bros. EP90
        
        Posted By : Chris Taylor, 24-May-2005, 05:45pm
        
        IF I have understood the preceding messages, and that you intended to use the GL5 for trunnions, then surely that is just as bad as in the gearbox or diff as it attacks the copper based alloys. Trunnions are bronze and so about 85% copper! Corrosion or other attack by the gear oil additives could be even worse in a trunnion than in a gear bush or diff thrust washer.
        But of course it it all depends on which additives are in the Rimmer Brothers GL5 oil.