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Has anyone tried Red Line Oil MTL (Manual Transmission Lube) in a car with a 3 speed manual and B-W overdrive? It is a 75W80 brass safe oil that in other applications has helped worn syncros.
Thanks,

Have you tried normal GL1-90W? The newer friction modifiers can give these transmissions symptoms of needing a rebuild, that mysteriously a swtich to GL1-90W suddenly cures. Napa still stocks this.

I'm not sure what is in it. I just bought the car.

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In that case John, don't forget to include your new to you Packard in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

I would drain whatever is in there currently, and refill with some GL1-90w and take it for a long drive with lots of shifting to allow to GL1 to wash off whatever fluid may be coating the parts.

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While I haven’t used it in a Packard “with a 3 speed manual and B-W overdrive”, I have used Red Line MTL in my BMWs for over 30 years. MTL has performed beautifully in both daily and track use.

Thanks

John, use what BigKev suggests. Without tendering a lengthy engineering treatise, after three Packards over half a century, and embracing the experiences of other lifelong Packard owners, we use precisely the same product Kev is telling you to use.

Talk of BMWs or my girl's Miata are not what you need. Let's stay focused. Again, without lengthy preamble, use GL-1 90W available at any NAPA, as BigKev, creator of this site, familiar with every post since its creation, directs.

Mike,

I'd be very interested in your "engineering treatise". I for one would like more information to base a decision on than "use what BigKev suggests". (Not that I don't value BigKev's opinion.)

It is interesting to note your edit of your original post and the change in tone:
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To the latest version:
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John had asked for information on Red Line MTL, he had done his research and found it to be for GL-1 applications and safe for brass synchros. Information on MTL is staying focused. Thus far there has only been one response to his query.

The Getrag 242, used in the BMW 2002 has similar requirements to those John identified in his Packard, making MTL appropriate for that application. The use of MTL in the Getrag 242 yields similar results to what BigKev describes getting from GL1-90W in Entry #2 of this thread. If I had a Packard with a manual transmission, MTL would be the first product I would consider. This is based on the experience I have with using the product in other applications.

What John needs is the information he requested to help him make an informed decision.

In the spirit of this type of forum, we also expect members to also respond listing the products they use and their experiences with selecting and using those products. Of course, responses on a forum are limited to the experience of the members, if this was a BMW forum, there would be a flood of responses about MTL.

This all goes to us collectively providing useful information to help John to decide how to best care for his Packard.

I find this also an interesting question, and was sort of surprised somebody asked about using Redline gear oil....I have two packards with manual transmissions with the Borg Warner Overdrive, and they both have GL1 90 weight oil in them. From my other classic sporty cars, I have heard a lot about Redline products.
I don't mind using new oils in my cars....10w40 synthetic in my engine, and recently went to 75w90 GL5 in the rear axle. Anyway, the Redline website has an oil reccomendation filter, and they suggest also either the 90 Wt or the 75W90. As was said before, it has the GL1 through 4 classification and will not attack any of the brass/bronze parts internal to our transmissions. I know the "feet" on the shifter forks are brass, but don't know what else is brass internal to our transmissions.
I also sent an email to Richard Michell, author of a well know book about choosing oils for classic cars with this question. In his book he had discussed the BW overdrive and manual transmissions. He dosn't personally own a packard, but may be some of our friends down under have met or heard of him.
He said the Redline 75w90 would be worth trying. He did say that some brand 75w90 oils are at the low end of the 90 weight viscosity specification, but that is not the case with the Redline 75w90.
I'm not going to run out and change the oil right now, but I am interested. It's only what 2 quarts that these transmissions use, so why not try it? You should know within a few miles if the transmission shifts well with this oil or not. I don't think it would do any damage.
My transmissions are a little hard to shift the first 1 or 2 shifts, and maybe a different oil would make things smoother.
I know oils are hot topic on a lot of forums, here included. We'll see if this goes anywhere but in circles.