So I have no idea what oil is in there, all I know is that it shifts better cold than hot. The car is fine up until about 30-45 mins of driving, when the tranny starts to get hot. Up to this time I can upshift into second fine, but once its hot it starts to grab a little (syncros a bit tired). Honda MTF is pretty much out of the question as it will cost 80 bucks to put that in.

Anyway, it looks like I need an oil that stays thicker at the top end of the heat range. So taking MTF as a starting point (API GL4, 75w80) I have the choice between API GL4 75w85 or API GL5 75w90. Would it be a good idea to try the API GL5 oil or stick with oil closer to the characteristics of MTF?

 

the service manuals say to use 10-30 motor oil or syncromesh...i would put syncromesh with that lucas ****...75 whatever sounds too thick... just my .02$

 

pls dont use anything else other than honda mtf or gm syncromesh bro motor oil is crap and will kill your syncros i heard ppl use gear oil 10-w30 and they get grindy.

unluckly i have becomed a victim of the motor oil in the trans problem. before i got my ef it was my friends he did a oil change on the tranny he put motor oil the correct weight the 10-w30. then i purchased the ef of him, by the time i got the ef it had a bad tranny. the trans is hard to get into reverse grinds second and third. the first thing i did when i got the ef i did a full tune up changed the trans oil it looked like milk. put some honda mtf worked fine and then later it just grinds. now my si tranny is done so i got another si tranny of my friend luckly this one is in great shape no grinds, no leaks, no cracks and im gonna swap it in and keep using honda mtf. also honda mtf is only at the most 25 bucks where did you get 80???????

 

Lots of controversy on this topic, some say MTF, some say syncromesh, some say oil. My preference is to use plain ole dino oil. That's what the manual tells you to put in so that's what I put in. It's cheap and I've never had a trans problem because of it in 20 yrs.

 

How would 75w80 gear oil would be too thick if thats what Honda MTF is:



You can just see on the bottle API GL4 75w80.

 

Ive been using redline MT-85 in mine, works great, around $10 a Qt. moves like a 30wt oil, protection of 75w85, and ive noticed improved shift feel. stay away from full synthetics, they are too slippery and will cause gears to grind from the reduced synchro friction. DO NOT use a GL5 oil in the trans, it is acidic to the brass synchronizers and will cause you more problems in a short period of time. anything GL4 is ok.
and as long as you dont use royal purple,that stuff is like **** water, i see it trash transmissions every day (im a manual trans expert) usually from lack of lubrication properties.
i belive the haynes manuals are wrong on alot of info, i dont think motor oil is a great idea in any trans, and they reccomend GL5's for alot of brass synchro transmissions that doesnt go very well together. i dont trust them.

 

^^^^agreed with him haynes manuals suck bro and wtf what kind of mtf is that ?????? and were are you located ??

 

Is a synthetic blend ok (ie, small amount of synthetic to large amount of mineral)? The oil in question is: http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/onli...12#Description

If you click the link back to the Gear Fluids section you can see my options aren't as extensive as in the USA.

 

I have been using 10W-30 for almost 10 years in my honda trannys, never had a problem.

 

that should be just fine, thats very similar to the Redline oil that i have been using.

 

That is a metric rating from Australia which is the equivalent to 10w30. Here in the states the MTF part number is 08798-9031 and cost $5.47/qt online:

http://www.hondapartsdeals.com/produ...smission-fluid

Quit trying to confuse people...

 

Not sure what you're on about. That is the MTF that is in stock at my local Honda dealership (New Zealand) and is nearly $40 a litre.

And there is no such thing as an 'Australian rating," the oil rating system is universal.

 

In the three Hondas I've changed trans fluid in Redline MTL has made tangible improvements. If you don't want to spring for the Honda fluid, I have had good results with the MTL. I didn't like Redline MT90, so I would avoid that.

 

I don't know man. I read that here on the internets: http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthr...2-Gear-box-oil

Perhaps MTF-06 is different from our US MTF-2. Virgin Oil Analysis on Bobistheoilguy.com shows a viscosity of 7.5cst at 100*C. That is an SAE viscosity grade of 20. Not 20wX, but Xw20 (if it's a multi-grade oil)...

http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

*edit: Okay I figured it out. The bottle you showed is rated as gear oil. The scale is not the same as engine oil. Here is a direct quote from wikipedia's "gear-oil" page.

This is why they say it's a 10w30 equivalent...

Just buy the stuff from ebay or something and save a small fortune. $40/liter is retarded!!!

 

MTF FTWfixed my grind in third

 

I would love to buy some MTF off ebay, with the NZ$ strong against US$, but I can't tell if anyone ships to New Zealand.

 

if you really want some pm me i can do it for you

 

See, someone's always eager to lend a hand. All you need to do is send some sellers an e-mail & ask. Pretty much everyone on ebay ships overseas. And lots of times you can just find someone on the forum willing to help out...

And if that stuff doesn't help your shifting, get yourself some General Motors synchromesh "friction modified". This has helped cover up shifting problems for thousands of Honda heads. Part number is right there on the bottle...

 

I have tried many of the options listed in this thread, and the one i keep going back to is Honda MTF. I tried redline and took it out after a week of driving because it made things so bad.

Honda MTF is the only thing I use now. If it grinds with honda MTF, it means you need transmission work, not different oil.

 

I would also like to try some of that too, but once again I don't think I'd ever be able to get it. I've only ever seen like 1 GM vehicle here.

 

my factory 1988 honda owners manual says 10w30 is ok to use IN AN EMERGENCY but says to flush out and replace with mtf asap to keep trans life long. i can post direct quote if needed

 

AMS Oil MTF - theres 2 and on the back of one it says specifically for honda. way better than 10-30 motor oil and i haven't had a grind yet.

 

Do you guys have Holden out there? I think that is a division of GM. Give them a call and tell them about GM Synchromesh "Friction Modified". Maybe they can find you the equivalent Holden part number. Hopefully it's not $40/L like the NZ Honda stuff.

I know the GM stuff in Canada is branded as AC Delco (part# 88900399), so there is probably something else in NZ. It looks to be the same in Austrailia as well but I couldn't' find that part number...

http://www.acdelco.com.au/oil_gear.html

Otherwise just go for the Honda stuff...

 

From my person experience, I'v used 10-30 as well in all my honda transmissions and never had an issue.

Last year sprung for Honda MTF and started grinding in 3rd, figured synchros were going out. Rebuilt it this year, none of the teeth were missing or scar marks on the 3rd gear, so the only thing that was changed was the transmission fluid from 10w-30 to Honda MTF.

This was in a boosted B16 setup. So not sure due to the stress on the transmission was heating up the transmission oil too much heat for some reason *shrugs*. This is just my personal experience with Honda MTF.

 

Yeah we have quite a few Holden dealers, I'll give them a go, but I'm not holding much hope of it being any cheaper than at Honda.

Thanks