crazyhondahead

i wass told that engine oil is better then gear oil in a 5 speed trans.so i just wanted to know before a do anything stupid to my tranny.

98civdx

Honda MTF

97sohc_d00d

syncromesh is what i used works perfect

kaiba

You can use motor oil 5w30 or 10w30 forgot which one. But it's best to use OEM Honda MTF.

Turpid Porpoise

Royal Purple Synchromesh is what i use.

alphalanos

+1 honda mtf. if motor oil was the best they would come like that.

94EG8

Until '96 they did. '88 - '95 D-series transmissions tend to work best with 10W30 (which is what Honda put in them, they didn't have their own MTF at the time) Run Honda MTF in a '96+ tranny though, 10W30 can cause notchy shifting.

94eg!

iTrader: (2)

Honda MTF is good stuff if your trans is in good shape. I run it my 89 CRX, 05 TL and 97-ITR swapped hatch. If you have shifting problems, then go for General Motors Synchromesh "Friction Modified". This really helps with stiff or notchy shifting problems (even if it pops out of gear). My wife's 03 Element had an occasionally notchy/popping 3rd gear after a dealer rebuild. Once I swapped in the GM stuff, we NEVER had a bad shift again (40k miles).

I'm thinking of putting it in my TL soon cause it gets stiff every once in a while. I wouldn't mind a little smoother shifting...

Libertariat

I used synchromesh on and off for my last few changes and couldn't notice any real difference between it and Honda MTF except that synchromesh left my wallet a lot lighter.

95EG2

the best to use is honda MTF
i use pennzoil HD-30w

Kista20

I used the old honda mtf in my 97 and it was notchy so I switched to penzoil sncromesh and it shifts very well. Honda has since revised their formula and the new stuff is supposed to be wonderfull and I bought 2qts for when I replace the clutch in the 99 but from what I can tell everyone raves on the new stuff.

das

After I replaced the bearings in my 5speed ( 93 CX ) replaced with hd MTF --- 0 problems - after I replaced th clutch too , it's like driving a new go cart all over again .
Stick with OEM - a buck or 2 more is worth it for piece of mind !

spoolie

I've used regular 10w30 engine oil in at least 30 Honda transmissions....no problems. It cheap and inexpensive to change often.

crazyhondahead

thanks for all of yall help guys

honda.lioness

Because of changes in motor oil chemistry starting around 1990, the correct lubricant to use in any Honda manual transmission is OEM Honda MTF. What happened around 1990 was that "the oil companies voluntarily reduced the amount of zinc content in most of their products after research indicated the zinc was responsible for premature deterioration and damage to catalytic converters." (See Is that Additive Really a Negative?, Road Rider Magazine, 1992.) But certain zinc additives are said to assist in "extreme pressure" conditions. (See Wikipedia, Motor Oil.) Thus a new lubricant with the right amount of zinc was needed. Today Honda Motor Company's literature states that the manual transmission fluid to use is Honda MTF. This overrides what older Honda automobile owner's manuals say about using ordinary engine oil (10W-30 or 10W-40) in the transmission.

More info reinforcing this appears at http://sites.google.com/site/hondali...ualtrannyfluid

virgineg6

Lol so if i put regular engine oil in my tranny its gonna deteriorate my cat!!?

94eg!

iTrader: (2)

No, but you will be missing the recommended zinc high-pressure lubricant.

94EG8

I've seen that argument before. However if you talk to any of the guys that build D-series transmissions everyday (mista bone in particular) they'll tell you using MTF in '88 - '95 D-series transmissions results in premature bearing failure. Honda will obviously try to push their MTF over 10W30 seeing as how it makes them more money.

cehcivic15

and its not the zinc that harms the cat, its the phosphorus that is the carrier for the zinc. if they could find another carrier for the zinc then they would bump of the zinc again

honda.lioness

Bror Jace points out that those using Redline, for one, drive their trannies harder. Also at bobistheoilguy.com, Jace counters that mista bone is a "very knowledgeable guy but kids who abuse their cars bring them to him. He knocks them apart and finds torn up trannies … and blames the MTL many are using." http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...33291&page=all .

When I see comments by Bone saying older trannies were designed for 10W30 (http://www.ht-archive.com/showthread.php?p=40310831) without acknowledging that industry wide (and so says everyone, not just Honda), today's 10W30 is not the same as that in the early 1990s, then to me he loses some credibility on this point.

Honda pushes using only an OEM ignitor and OEM ignition coil too. My experience is the OEM versions of these last longer. I won't bash an OEM product just because it is OEM and so the dealer has to use and promote it.

Just saying. I guess time will tell more, since the newer models' owners' manuals urge using the Honda MTF and data on these trannies is accumulating.

hafast

Great Thread, Ive rebuilt 1 transmission, used acdelco sycromesh as a lubricant as recommended by the mechanic that assisted me (wanted to learn to do it myself) No problems 56,000 kms not a grind I didn't cause myself.

Just replacing transmission fluid recently I am in a new town and haven't been able to find the ACdelco Syncromesh anywhere but I did find a Penzoil Syncromesh... think its fine?

Otherwise ill probably use Royal purple Variant if I cannot find the GM Brand.

talked to the parts guy at Gore Motors Honda and he said Honda MTL but at the time I just didn't have the cash on me to buy it, 11.57 a Liter.

4skinGsr

HONDA MTF! FTW!