Shell Spirax S4 G 75W-90

ShellShell Spirax linegear and transmission75W-90

Semi-synthetic API GL-4 75W-90 gear oil for car manual gearboxes, meeting the requirements of VW TL 501.50.

Classification
Product line Shell Spirax 45 oils
SAE viscosity 75W-90What SAE means
Base oil semi-synthetic
Intended use gear and transmission
API class What API means
Approvals
Meets the requirements of
  • VW TL 501.50
What an approval means
Typical properties
Viscosity at 40 °C 64.2 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C 14 mm²/s
Viscosity index 228
Pour point -42 °C
Flash point 134 °C
Density 868 kg/m³

The car maker has not officially approved the entries in the “Meets the requirements of” row.

Description

Shell Spirax S4 G 75W-90 is a semi-synthetic gear oil from the Spirax line for synchronised manual gearboxes in cars, chiefly Volkswagen Group transmissions.

The oil is rated API GL-4. No official car-maker approvals are listed for it; it meets the requirements of VW TL 501.50.

Typical figures: 14 mm²/s at 100 °C, 64.2 mm²/s at 40 °C, viscosity index 228, pour point -42 °C, flash point 134 °C, density 868 kg/m³. The low pour point keeps gear changes smooth in freezing weather.

Application

Manual gearboxes in cars, including Volkswagen Group transmissions, where the manufacturer specifies a fluid to VW TL 501.50.

Worth knowing

Volkswagen features in this oil’s entry, but not as an approval: Shell’s data sheet says it can be used where a fluid meeting VW TL 501.50 is required, so this is the oil maker’s own statement. According to the same data sheet, the oil was developed for VW’s service-fill requirements for gearboxes of the Volkswagen Group’s cars and light commercial vehicles, and was formerly sold as Shell Getriebeoel EP 75W-90.

The other Spirax 75W-90 oils in the catalogue combine GL-4 with GL-5 and MT-1 (S4 AT, S5 ATE, S6 ADME) or do without GL-4 altogether (S6 AXME), and VW TL 501.50 does not appear in their entries. So for a gearbox that calls for VW TL 501.50, none of them can replace this oil on the strength of its codes. The article on approvals and statements on the can shows who vouches for the word “meets” and where to find the real approval entry.

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

Sources

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    Liqui Moly High Performance Gear Oil (GL4+) SAE 75W-90

    Fully synthetic 75W-90 API GL-4 Plus gear oil for heavily loaded manual gearboxes, meeting VW 501.50 and ZF TE-ML 08.

    • API GL-4 Plus
    • ZF TE-ML 08
    • VW 501.50
    • Ford ESD-M2C175-A
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Fully Synthetic Hypoid Gear Oil (GL4/5) 75W-90

    Fully synthetic 75W-90 gear oil to API GL-4, GL-5 and MT-1, meeting MB 235.8, ZF TE-ML 05A and SAE J2360.

    • API GL-4
    • API GL-5
    • API MT-1
    • ZF TE-ML 21A
  • Liqui Moly

    Liqui Moly Top Tec MTF 5400 75W-90

    Synthetic 75W-90 API GL-4 gear oil meeting the requirements of VW 501.50, MB 235.72 and BMW MTF LT-4.

    • API GL-4
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    • BMW MTF LT-4