[CookieGuy]

Isn’t the Syntrans Transaxle slightly different to the plain old Syntrans?
These are 2 seperate products from Castrol correct?

 

[esprit888]

Good point, that is different from the previous Syntrans i ordered, i have emailed my contact at Demon Tweeks to check that its simply relabeling or different product and i will follow up with a phone call to them in the morning.

 

[redfox]

All right, so I called Castrol Nordic, and they told me, that Castrol is renaming their oils under a new naming category. It might be called Transmax, as a headline, and then different subcategories.
So, the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle which is the correct oil for our Lotus Esprit Renault UN1 cars, is on it's way out.
I was told, that bot, 1L, 20L, 60L and 200L will be sold out.
The problem arises as Castrol haven't introduced the new branding yet, so it would appear, that the oils are scarce.
This is then redeemed when they have their new naming ready.
Castrol Nordic promissed me to investigate and write me back.
I'll update here asap.

Hope this leads to a little more clarity.

ps: I might expect that the present Syntrans Transaxle will ride in price as did Taf-X.
I menioned this to Castrol, and they didn't sound happy about that, as they know people will swap over to other brands, namely for example Redline MT90.

Cheers,
Redfox.

 

[esprit888]

Likewise I have just got off a long phone call with Demon Tweeks in the U.K. They also said that Castrol are going through a major relabeling program at the moment and that it was what they were sent in place of Syntrans, but that they couldn't confirm it was the same. So,until confirmation i personally wouldnt put it in, BUT you CAN buy Castrol Syntrans transaxle oil here:

Castrol Transmax Manual 75w - 90 Gear Oil - 1 Litre | MicksGarage

Castrol Transmax Manual 75W-90 Gear Oil - 1 Litre

www.micksgarage.com

 

[71type65]

Wow, fantastic detective work and advocacy by our Esprit friends around the world. 👍👍👍 Cannot thank you guys enough!

Castrol is making this ridiculously difficult and time consuming between their conflicting websites and now a useless and, as far as I can see, non-value-added rebranding excercise. Seems like the marketing department is just trying to pump their budget and justify their existence. Shameful to treat their loyal customers this way.

Despite years of being a fan and appreciating their support of motorsports I will look to other sources, namely the Redline MT-90 at this point. Like Van Halen said, "where have all the good times gone?" (OK maybe that's being a little dramatic)

 

[redfox]

This afternoon I received a written reply to supplement the telephone conversation I had with Castrol Nordic this morning.

I quote:
"I’m sorry I can’t recommend any exact equivalent to Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90, the replacement will be called Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle 75W-90.
With that said there could still be stocks of Syntrans around, who do you normally buy this from in Denmark?
Maybe one of our Danish sales could uncover some, as there might be stocks of it somewhere if we find the right places to push..."

That was their reply so far.
It is unfortunately as he told me on the phone, that they don't know. They just don't have the propper information.
I'll contact Castrol UK for a precise name. and ask for a precise contentlist to compare for the present day Castrol Syntrans Transaxle.
I will not, I repeat not, buy whatever they substitute it with, untill I am sure it is the same or as the old Taf-x.

Meanwhile I will stock up a few bottles for myself. I suggest others should do the same if they want to be sure for a couple of years. That is just my own honest opinion.
Sorry about writing this, but I think Castrol is making a bad move.
People loose any trust they may have in the name Castrol, and consequently they loose marketshare and profit.
It's not like Esprit owners who want to use the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle will not have other cars, and therefore also may be looking elsewhere for any oil products for their cars and bikes as well.

I'll report back as soon as I know more.

Cheers,
Redfox

 

[jtrealty]

Castrol did a similar thing with their brake fluid. The changed the bottle and the labeling but they claim it's still the same formulae. I say, if you are in doubt about what product to use from Castrol, try to get the Redline MT 90. It seems to be fine and it isn't horribly expensive.
David Teitelbaum

 

[71type65]

I had inquired with Demon Tweeks since they are still advertising Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75w90 on their website, "Stock Status: IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DESPATCH" 1 liter bottles @ 12.31 GBP ex-VAT (about $15.50 USD):

Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W90

Full synthetic SAE 75W/90, API GL-4+ manual transmission, transaxle and rear axle lubricant with outstanding extreme pressure, synchroniser and high temperature performance. For vehicles that combine gearbox and hypoid diffs, rear axles of light cars and secondary drive axles of 4WD vehicles.

www.demon-tweeks.com

Cost to ship 5x 1L bottles to USA address, response as follows:

"Thank you for your enquiry, UPS express service will be in the region of 35.00 usd depending upon your zip code"

...just in case any US-based owners still want to pursue the Castrol route, although it doesn't seem very cost effective.

 

[redfox]

All right, so here's the newest answer from Castrol Headquaters in the UK, Thursday, the 4'th of June, 2020.

I telephoned them this afternoon, and asked them a couple of questions:

1/ What is going to happen to the following oil: "Castrol Syntrans Transaxle" ?

• answer from Castrol Customer Services: That is going to be rebranded to a new name, called "Transmax Manual Transaxle".
• answer from Castrol technical department: That is going to be rebranded as "Castrol Trnnsmax Manual Transaxle".

2/ Okay, so will the new named oil be exactly the same, or will there be variations in content, such as for example additives?

• answer from Castrol Customer Services: I don't know, you'll have to speak to the Technical Department.
• answer from Castrol Technical Department: No, it will be exactly the same oil, same additives, same content as the current Castrol Syntrans Transaxle, that is being phased out.

So, no changes in the oil or phosphor being added?
* answer from Technical Department: No, absolutely no changes.

3/ Alright, there are messages from the North American market, that it is no longer available, while I can still get the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle here in Denmark. How is that?

• answer from the Castrol Customer Service: Well, the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle is not available on the North American Market. But it is widely available in the EC, plus Australia, Ukraine, and a few more countries. The new named oil, will follow the same markets. Not available in North America.
• answer from the Castrol Technical Department: Well, the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle was never available in the North American market. That said, it was being imported in the the US by companies, and sold on. So, if those stock are being used up, there will be no more of that oil. The new name: Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle 75W90, will be marketed the same way, not being available in the North American market, unless, as now, it is being imported by other companies, and sold on. So the situation will be the same.

4/ Ah okay, so what about the old stock, how long is that going to be able to be stored and used with no ill effects?
* answer from Castrol Technical Department: Well, the oil is not supposed to be stored for many years, and I'd say between 3-5 years, and after that, I would throw it out. The lubrication is no longer the same as new oil. So usefull life is 5-6 years. The old Taf-x that some stored for years after it went out of production, is no good any more. And the present Castrol Syntrans Transaxle, now being superseded by a re-naming, same content: Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle, is a better product. No idea in using the old Taf-x

5/ But what about the recommendation from Lotus?
* answer from Castrol Technical Department: well, the old Taf-x was the only oil that Lotus approved.
(not to self: we know better, as Lotus later on approved the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle oil).

6/ Speaking of oils, what happened to the old sportscar oil from many years ago?
* answer from Castrol Technical Department: Ah, you mean the Rs oil. Well, that went through a few updates with new content, stronger film life etc, and became the FST Ti with titanium additive. We dropped the old version, and went on using the BMW approved version, as it was stronger. That oil was then rebranded to present day Castrol Fst Ti Supercar, as it was approved by Swedish Köenigsegg", and to make awareness of that, it was rebranded. No changes in content compared to the FST Ti version that it superseded.

7/ What about the GL4, GL4+ and the GL5 standards?
* answer from Castrol Technical Department: well, I have personally never seen any samages in a gearbox using GL5 in recent years, but we always recommend to be on the safe side, the GL4 or GL4+, and the old Taf-X was a GL4+ oil. So is the present Castrol Syntrans Transaxle, and the new Castrol Transmax, Manual Transaxle.
There was in the beginning of GL5 standard, some examples of hard pitting in some bigger gearboxes and on other big machinery, but that content of phosfor and other additives was changed a bit and it should be okay now. But as I said, we recommend staying with the GL4+ as specified.
The thing that it did, was that it bind itself with water in the gearbox, and creates an acid that can attack the surface of soft metals, like for example brass syncros. Hence the GL4 and the GL4+ remaining. It's not like if you add it, the GL5 oil, next day there will be dissolved syncros etc. And today the content is slightly changed, and we haven't seen problems for some years.
again, stay with GL4+ and be on the safe side.

Thank you for your time and help to solve this, sir.
* answer from Castrol Technical Department: well thank you sir, If you write me an email with the questions, I'd be happy to write you back and you can post it on the forums, so people can be sure about what is happening.
----

That was our conversation, and I believe it clarifies a few questions:

a/ the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W90 will remain the same content, but have a new name: Castrol Transmax, Manual Transaxle 75W90.

b/ The oil have not been officially imported into the North American market, but those companies who did on their own initiative, will be able to do the same withe the renamed oil.

I think that should clearify it all.
The choice is now yours.

Cheers,
Redfox

 

[CookieGuy]

I appreciate all of the information, it seems like you guys have invested a lot of time on our behalf.
It appears Castrol are in a complete mess on the consumer side, it’s all unnecessarily difficult to understand, not to mention impossible to purchase!
On the other hand, my imaginary phone call to Redline went like this....
Me: ‘Hello. Can I use MT-90 in my Esprit gearbox’
Redline, ‘Yes sir’
Me: ‘ Is it made of unobtainium?’
Redline,’ Nope, it’s available everywhere’
LOL!
Thanks again for the info, but it looks like Castrol have lost me as a future customer.

 

[redfox]

That's the least we can do. We're all here to help each other.
And I believe it's important to avoid any unfortunate incidents where a customer would take the wrong oil based on wrong infor from sellers or elsewhere, possibly leading to a lesser performance and longevity from their cars.

I can only agree with you that Castrol makes these strange assumptions that every 5-7 years their marketing department must have a new "idea" and rebrand something. Could they just make them go do other tasks, such as making coffee instead? That would certainly help. They probably learnt it while being in business school years ago. But I think the world have moved on, and all this ado is useless and they loose good customers, such as you.
It is more important than they may realise, as we all speak together in forums such as this, and one lost customer may turn into many. As in many.
That I, as a private enduser, can obtain propper info in less than one day, that their various departments around the world may not know yet, not even mentioning shops, speaks volumes.
That seems to me at least, to be a bit counterproductive.

I'll stick with the approved oil despite the mess and effort it may take. Next Winter I'll take my gearbox apart and see what seven years of Castrol Syntrans Transaxle in my ownership have done. For the time before that, I unfortunately cannot speak. I'll set it up to as good a condition as I possibly can and go from there with the same oil. Then We'll see in a few years more if there's been any ill effects using this particular oil.

But still, thanks to Castrol Technical Department in UK Headquarters for making it clear.

Cheers,
Redfox

 

[esprit888]

All makes sense except the part where they say that unopened synthetic transaxle oil has a shelf life 3-5 years, Oil goes off? Also from the reply Castrol do confirm that Castrol Syntrans transaxle oil is now superseded and branded as Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle, and is a better product. I'm getting a headache

 

[carbuff]

unopened synthetic transaxle oil has a shelf life 3-5 years, Oil goes off?

The recommendation of folks on BobIsTheOilGuy who amass large 'stashes' of discount name brand oil and fluids, is simply:

"Shake the bottle before pouring"

Supposedly the additives can settle out after long periods on a shelf.

+++++++++++

PS: THANK YOU @redfox for your research results from a few posts back.

 

[redfox]

Esprit888: No, I didn't say that the coming new Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle is a better product than the outgoing one "Castrol Syntrans Transaxle". I wrote that they are exactly the same.
I wrote that the man I spoke to from Castrols Headquater's Technical Department (The tech guy, not the sales rep), told me, that the present oil Castrol Syntrans Transaxle is a better product than the long gone Taf-x.
I now feel asured that I can order and use the new version, as it shows up.
The shelf-time was apprx. up to 6 years. The 3-5 years is normal extent of shelf life before being sold (and used).
If you think a little about it, it is interesting to give it some thoughts as to how long (time) these oils can be used inside a gearbox (Un1) before degrading because of use AND time.
Anyway, I change mine every year regardless. But that is just me.
But yeah, it can be a little bit annoying all these re-naming and what not.

I hope that is clear, so no misunderstanding arises.
All in all, I think that Castrol's answer I recited in the above, is pretty clear and is good news to those of us, who want those oils.

Atwell: you're wellcome

Cheers,
Redfox

 

[esprit888]

Esprit888: No, I didn't say that the coming new Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle is a better product than the outgoing one "Castrol Syntrans Transaxle". I wrote that they are exactly the same.

Right, that's what i was conveying, that the present Castrol Syntrans Transaxle (now being superseded) is, according to the Castrol Tech, a better product than TAF-X and that as the Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle is the same as the brand name it supercedes, it is therefore also a better product than TAF-X (didn't mean better than Syntrans ) Either way it sounds like a suitable oil will be available from Castrol, but whether this re-branding exercise has made buyers look elsewhere remains to be seen. I'm going down to shake my oils

 

[redfox]

Meanwhile, there is a new small twist surfacing, that I am going to look into and report back about, ha ha. Oh well. We'll see.

Cheers,
Redfox.

 

[esprit888]

Ahh the intrigue If your going to say that TAF-X is being manufactured again i'm going to choke

 

[redfox]

Ha ha, no, I am referring to a Castrol official paper that have showed up, and which I now possess, from July 2018, that speaks about an existing oil called Castrol Transmax Manual Transaxle... That is the same name as the one Castrol says is now new and superseding the Castrol Syntrans Transaxle - the outgoing present day oil... How could two different oils have the same name, and two oils have different names for years?
Something is very strange here, and I just wrote to Castrol, and asked for a written explanation and I will hold them accountable if something happens to my gearbox.
More later as the story unfolds.
Cheers,
Redfox