I’ve been trying to do my “homework” in selecting a proper Gallardo Pre-LP gearbox oil. Here’s what I’ve learned:
The Lamborghini factory recommends AGIP Rotra LSX SAE 75W90. (Both the 2004 owner’s manual and workshop manual call out 75W50. It’s a misprint, as there is no such weight. The correct weight is 75W90).
Agip is now Eni and the Rotra LSX 75W90 has been superseded by Rotra S/SX 75/W90. The data sheets for both oils show it as GL4+GL5. Discussions on this forum going back at least six years, claim it is specified in the 2004 workshop manual as GL4. A check of the manual shows this is not the case. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please post it here along with the source.
I contacted Eni North America to buy the product. I was told sales would contact me shortly. After repeated attempts to reach sales, I’ve never heard from anyone, so using the factory oil isn’t a practical option.
Many folks on this forum have been using Red Line Oil Company MTL and/or MT-90 products. These are both GL4 oils, and were apparently selected due to the belief that the transaxle needed GL4 oil only due to the possibility of GL5 causing corrosion on brass, bronze or copper that may be used in the gearboxes. The problem is that both these oils have a caveat that states: "MTL, MT-85 & MT-90 are not for use in differentials with hypoid gears”. So the next step was to determine if our gearboxes used hypoid gears. A post asking that question on this forum produced no reliable response, so the next step was to contact the Lamborghini factory for an answer using the email form on the factory website. No response has been received.
I then contacted Red Line Oil and asked to speak to an engineer. The gentleman with whom I spoke has been extremely helpful and provided a great deal of information which I will attempt to relay to the group here. He explained that hypoid gears are used when there is a large offset between the input and output shafts such as might be used when trying to keep a driveshaft as low as possible to avoid a large hump on the car floor, and still be able to keep the axles high enough for the wheel size. Since our transaxle (rear) gearbox is effectively connected in line with the crankshaft and rear axles, it would be logical that hypoid gears would not be needed. The front differential may be the same, as the input shaft and the axles are on the same plain.
The engineer was sent the Eni product data sheet for both the LSX and S/SX oils, copies of the pages of fluid recommendations for both Pre-LP and LP cars and copies of the drawings out of the 2004 parts catalogue of the transaxle gearbox and front differential. I asked the following questions:
1. Q - There has been a lot of discussion on the forums that the early cars must use GL4 only. Is the AGIP Rotra LSX stuff GL4?
A - I am fairly certain that the LSX was always a GL-5 gear lube. The Rotra LSX data sheet listed the fluid as an API GL-4+GL-5, MIL-PRF-2015 E, so the original fluid was a GL-5. Very likely there wouldn’t be an issue using the proper viscosity GL-4 in the Gallardo transaxle or front differential but the original was a GL-5. Some GL-5 gear lubes can have issues in a synchro equipped applications, some can be corrosive to brass, bronze or copper, many also contain a friction modifier as they are basically differential gear oils. All of our GL-5 gear oils contain a copper deactivator so are not corrosive, the “NS” fluids are non-slippery, containing the proper coefficient of friction for the synchros.
2. Q - Can you confirm from the provided information that at least the early gearboxes, as illustrated in the attached drawings, do not use hypoid gears?
A - The 2004 transaxle wouldn’t be expected and doesn’t appear to have a high offset hypoid gear, difficult to determine the front differential offset.
3. Q - Would MT-90 or MTL be a better choice for the early car front and rear gearboxes?
A - MT-90 would more closely match the viscosity specified. MTL is a lower viscosity than specified.
4. Q - Can you recommend a suitable Red Line oil for the later LP car gearboxes?
A - The 2011 Gallardo transaxle calls for G 052 171 (70W75) many are using the MTL as a replacement with good results, a little higher viscosity. The front differential calls for the Castrol/Burmah SAF-AG4, a 75W90 GL-4, MT-90 or 75W90 would be suitable.
5. Q - Could the G 052 171 (70W75) oil used in LP cars be used in the earlier Pre-Lp car transaxles?
A - The G 052 171 is a VW/Audi number, 70W75 GL-4, a low viscosity gear lube, much lower viscosity than specified in your earlier transaxle.
I now feel comfortable using MT-90 in both my Pre-LP gearboxes and hope the information provided by Red Line Oil helps clear up a lot of questions.
Keith
The Lamborghini factory recommends AGIP Rotra LSX SAE 75W90. (Both the 2004 owner’s manual and workshop manual call out 75W50. It’s a misprint, as there is no such weight. The correct weight is 75W90).
Agip is now Eni and the Rotra LSX 75W90 has been superseded by Rotra S/SX 75/W90. The data sheets for both oils show it as GL4+GL5. Discussions on this forum going back at least six years, claim it is specified in the 2004 workshop manual as GL4. A check of the manual shows this is not the case. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please post it here along with the source.
I contacted Eni North America to buy the product. I was told sales would contact me shortly. After repeated attempts to reach sales, I’ve never heard from anyone, so using the factory oil isn’t a practical option.
Many folks on this forum have been using Red Line Oil Company MTL and/or MT-90 products. These are both GL4 oils, and were apparently selected due to the belief that the transaxle needed GL4 oil only due to the possibility of GL5 causing corrosion on brass, bronze or copper that may be used in the gearboxes. The problem is that both these oils have a caveat that states: "MTL, MT-85 & MT-90 are not for use in differentials with hypoid gears”. So the next step was to determine if our gearboxes used hypoid gears. A post asking that question on this forum produced no reliable response, so the next step was to contact the Lamborghini factory for an answer using the email form on the factory website. No response has been received.
I then contacted Red Line Oil and asked to speak to an engineer. The gentleman with whom I spoke has been extremely helpful and provided a great deal of information which I will attempt to relay to the group here. He explained that hypoid gears are used when there is a large offset between the input and output shafts such as might be used when trying to keep a driveshaft as low as possible to avoid a large hump on the car floor, and still be able to keep the axles high enough for the wheel size. Since our transaxle (rear) gearbox is effectively connected in line with the crankshaft and rear axles, it would be logical that hypoid gears would not be needed. The front differential may be the same, as the input shaft and the axles are on the same plain.
The engineer was sent the Eni product data sheet for both the LSX and S/SX oils, copies of the pages of fluid recommendations for both Pre-LP and LP cars and copies of the drawings out of the 2004 parts catalogue of the transaxle gearbox and front differential. I asked the following questions:
1. Q - There has been a lot of discussion on the forums that the early cars must use GL4 only. Is the AGIP Rotra LSX stuff GL4?
A - I am fairly certain that the LSX was always a GL-5 gear lube. The Rotra LSX data sheet listed the fluid as an API GL-4+GL-5, MIL-PRF-2015 E, so the original fluid was a GL-5. Very likely there wouldn’t be an issue using the proper viscosity GL-4 in the Gallardo transaxle or front differential but the original was a GL-5. Some GL-5 gear lubes can have issues in a synchro equipped applications, some can be corrosive to brass, bronze or copper, many also contain a friction modifier as they are basically differential gear oils. All of our GL-5 gear oils contain a copper deactivator so are not corrosive, the “NS” fluids are non-slippery, containing the proper coefficient of friction for the synchros.
2. Q - Can you confirm from the provided information that at least the early gearboxes, as illustrated in the attached drawings, do not use hypoid gears?
A - The 2004 transaxle wouldn’t be expected and doesn’t appear to have a high offset hypoid gear, difficult to determine the front differential offset.
3. Q - Would MT-90 or MTL be a better choice for the early car front and rear gearboxes?
A - MT-90 would more closely match the viscosity specified. MTL is a lower viscosity than specified.
4. Q - Can you recommend a suitable Red Line oil for the later LP car gearboxes?
A - The 2011 Gallardo transaxle calls for G 052 171 (70W75) many are using the MTL as a replacement with good results, a little higher viscosity. The front differential calls for the Castrol/Burmah SAF-AG4, a 75W90 GL-4, MT-90 or 75W90 would be suitable.
5. Q - Could the G 052 171 (70W75) oil used in LP cars be used in the earlier Pre-Lp car transaxles?
A - The G 052 171 is a VW/Audi number, 70W75 GL-4, a low viscosity gear lube, much lower viscosity than specified in your earlier transaxle.
I now feel comfortable using MT-90 in both my Pre-LP gearboxes and hope the information provided by Red Line Oil helps clear up a lot of questions.
Keith
