Castrol TRANSMAX Limited Slip Z 85W-90

CastrolCastrol TRANSMAX linegear and transmission85W-90

85W-90 gear oil for axles with limited-slip differentials: API GL-5, approved to ZF TE-ML 05C, ZF TE-ML 16E and ZF TE-ML 21C.

Classification
Product line Castrol TRANSMAX 18 oils
SAE viscosity 85W-90What SAE means
Intended use gear and transmission
API class What API means
Approvals
Manufacturer approvals What an approval means
Typical properties
Viscosity at 40 °C 175 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C 16.2 mm²/s
Viscosity index 95
Pour point -15 °C
Flash point 210 °C
Density 903 kg/m³

Description

Castrol TRANSMAX Limited Slip Z 85W-90 is a gear oil from the TRANSMAX line for drive axles with limited-slip differentials. It is used mainly in ZF-built axles fitted to commercial and off-road vehicles.

The oil is rated API GL-5 and holds official ZF TE-ML 05C, ZF TE-ML 16E and ZF TE-ML 21C approvals. All three ZF classes are specifically for limited-slip differentials.

Typical figures: 16.2 mm²/s at 100 °C and 175 mm²/s at 40 °C, viscosity index 95, pour point -15 °C, flash point 210 °C, density 903 kg/m³.

Application

Axles with limited-slip differentials, above all ZF-built axles in commercial and off-road vehicles that require ZF TE-ML 05C, ZF TE-ML 16E or ZF TE-ML 21C.

Worth knowing

The letter after the ZF list number matters more here than the name of the line. Most TRANSMAX axle oils have the classes 05A and 21A, whereas this one has 05C and 21C, and in the TE-ML 05 list class 05C means, according to ZF, an oil with additives for limited-slip differentials. For axles with a limited-slip differential, API leaves the friction requirements to the axle maker; why LS oils contain friction modifiers, and why they are superfluous where they are not required, is explained in the article on GL-4 and GL-5 gear oil.

The words Limited Slip appear in the name of one more oil in the line, Limited Slip LL 75W-140. It also carries ZF TE-ML 05C and 21C, but has 16G instead of 16E, and in addition ZF TE-ML 18 and MB 235.61. The viscosity grade differs too: 75W-140 with 24.7 mm²/s at 100 °C, against 16.2 mm²/s for Z 85W-90, so identical words in the name do not make these oils interchangeable. Among the TRANSMAX oils in the catalogue, only Z 85W-90 has the ZF TE-ML 16E class.

Data current as of Check the label and the current product data sheet before you buy.

Sources

Related articles

Other Castrol oils

All 58 oils

  • Castrol TRANSMAX Limited Slip LL 75W-140

    Fully synthetic 75W-140 hypoid oil for limited-slip and open differentials: API GL-5, with BMW, MB 235.61 and ZF approvals.

    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 16G

  • Castrol TRANSMAX Manual V 75W-80

    Fully synthetic 75W-80 gear oil for manual gearboxes: API GL-4 Plus, approved to VW TL 52532-A and VW TL 52532-B.

    • VW TL 52532-A
    • VW TL 52532-B
    • API GL-4 Plus
    • VW G 052 527

  • Castrol TRANSMAX Manual Z Long Life 75W-80

    Fully synthetic 75W-80 oil for ZF manual and automated truck gearboxes: API GL-4, ZF TE-ML 02E, MAN 341 Type Z5 and MB 235.41 approvals.

    • MAN 341 Type Z5
    • ZF TE-ML 01E
    • API GL-4
    • ZF TE-ML 02E

  • Castrol TRANSMAX Axle Long Life 75W-90

    Fully synthetic 75W-90 oil for car and truck axles with open differentials: API GL-5, with BMW, MAN and ZF approvals.

    • ZF TE-ML 21A
    • ZF TE-ML 05A
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 17B

Other 85W-90 oils

  • Mobil

    Mobilube LS 85W-90

    API GL-5 85W-90 gear oil with a friction modifier for limited-slip differentials, with ZF approvals.

    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 16E
  • Shell

    Shell Spirax S3 ALS 85W-90

    API GL-5 85W-90 gear oil for axles with limited-slip differentials, approved to ZF TE-ML 05C, 12C, 16E and 21C.

    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 12C
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Gear Oil (GL4) SAE 85W-90

    Mineral 85W-90 gear oil to API GL-4 with ZF TE-ML 16A, 17A and 19A approvals for manual gearboxes and axles.

    • ZF TE-ML 17A
    • ZF TE-ML 16A
    • API GL-4
    • ZF TE-ML 19A
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Hypoid Gear Oil (GL5) LS SAE 85W-90

    Mineral 85W-90 gear oil to API GL-5 with a limited-slip additive, meeting the requirements of ZF TE-ML 05C and 21C.

    • MIL-L-2105D
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C

Oils with the same approvals

  • Fuchs

    Fuchs TITAN GEAR LS 90

    partly verified

    SAE 90 API GL-5 hypoid gear oil with a limited-slip additive, approved to ZF TE-ML 05C, 12C, 16E and 21C.

    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 12C
  • Shell

    Shell Spirax S3 ALS 80W-90

    partly verified

    API GL-5 80W-90 gear oil for axles with limited-slip differentials, approved to ZF TE-ML 05C, 12C and 21C.

    • ZF TE-ML 05C
    • ZF TE-ML 21C
    • API GL-5
    • ZF TE-ML 12C