I'm having a new (used) differential installed in my '01 S2000 tomorrow, and I need to know -- specifically -- what kind of fluid to use ... and where to get it. Thanks.

 

SAE90 GL5 hypoid gear oil is what is called for. Many people use the much more commonly available 75w-90 GL5 hypoid gear oil.

 

OK, now that we know it's an S2000, you can use one of several types of fluid.
The most widely used is Mobil 1 75W90 synthetic GL-5 gear lube. You can likely find this local where Mobil 1 products are sold.
The next very popular fluid is LE 607, which is sold by several sponsors on this site - S2Ki Marketplace, Hardtopguy, Rick's Accessories. If you intend to use the car in cold climates, best to avoid the LE as it's very thick.
Next, you can get the Honda motorcycle hypoid gear oil that are GL-5 rated.
Also, have a read of the "Oil Journals" at the top of this forum for other information on lubricants in general for this car.
The FAQs at the top will give info on how to change these fluids and how much you'll need.

 

That's what I am using.

 

If there is a Honda Marine dealer around where you live you also could get the Hypoid GL-5 SAE 90 oil they use in outboard motors.
I'm sure a Honda Marine dealer knows what oil I'm talking about.

Just one comment about the LE-607.
xviper Posted on Aug 1 2006, 03:24 AM
Tests by Road Rage showed that the LE-607 flows very well for a SAE 90 oil.
(and SAE 90 is called for in the manual)
Better then most, pour point was -11F I believe.

All that data is in the "Oil Journals"

 

I like Redline Gear oil 75 W 90 GL-5.

 

Assuming that your new (used) diff is a S2000 diff, and you live in North Florida, a SAE 90 GL5 hyploid type gear oil is what I would try to find. Since your install will be done today, I doubt whether you will find a quart of LE607 soon enough for your install. Honda motorcycle or marine gear oil might be available, but you will probably need to go find some Mobil 1 75W-90 which has proven to work well too. I haven't seen a good UOA of Redline gear oil yet, so I can't recommend using it for now. Good luck with your new diff.

 

Aslong as your car doesn't see cold climate winter duty I recomend LE-607. If the temps are getting down into the 20/30's on a regular basis while driving your car, I recomend Mobil 1 75W-90 or Redline 75W-90.

 

 

Has anyone actually put a bottle of LE607 into a freezer for a few hours and then see how well it pours out of the bottle? Even at room temp, it doesn't come out of the bottle that well (so I'm told).

For example, I put a bottle of Castrol GTX motor oil into the freezer at -18*C for several hours. Although the data indicates that its pour point is about -30*C, I can guarantee you that the 10W30 dino oil did NOT want to come out of the bottle. It flowed like molassus. "Data" doesn't always tell us what it will do in the real world.

-11F is -24C. If the data for an engine oil says -30C and I found that it doesn't want to come out of the bottle at -18C, I doubt that another lubricant rated at -24C will come out of the bottle at all. Not something I would want in my rear diff at any temps much below freezing.