I have a 1st gen CRV 5speed MT, its difficult to shift when cold, notchy when shifting to 2nd and difficult to get into reverse, otherwise the gears don't grate and the box runs fine. I replaced the gearbox oil with fresh Honda MTF around 8000 miles ago, hoping it would ease the shifting but it didn't help at all. I was planning on getting the 2nd gear syncro replaced and seemed like I'd have to just live with the difficult to shift reverse gear, then I found guys on the forum and elsewhere mentioning SynchroMesh sorting out very similar issues to mine, seems it's the way to go on problematic Honda MT.

Appears the more pricey GM SynchroMesh Friction Modified is the one to get not the plain GM SynchroMesh?
Does anyone have experience with longterm use of this oil, if the "fix" lasts?

 

Friction Modified; accept no substitutes.

As for longevity, I have nearly 50,000 miles on my TL since I put the Synchromesh (friction modified) in my tranny. My 3rd gear synchro was the issue back then, it was instantly cured making my transmission shift like new, and to this day, it still does.

 

Thanks Shipo, my gearbox has been bugging the hell out of me, my 2nd gear shift issue has made driving such a pita(even seriously considered selling the vehicle) because you use it so much and unless you get the shift absolutely spot on you never quite know if it's going to go in easily or not. Makes smooth relaxed driving impossible unless you gas it everywhere.

Does anyone know why this stuff works so well, you hardly ever find snakeoil like this that actually works consistently and is a permanent fix for an otherwise costly or impossible to fix problem??

 

In the Honda/Acura V6 6MT community this is the go-to MTF, I read a post a few years ago from a petroleum engineer who described the unique blend of friction modifiers used by GM, and why they worked. I do not remember which forum, of the several Honda related forums I follow, contained this post.

As for the efficacy of ACDelco Synchromesh Friction Modified in Honda (and Mazda) transmissions, over the years I think I've only seen two reports of this stuff not working, and then probably because the owner of the car simply waited too long to put it in and ended up damaging the synchros beyond salvation.

 

I thought friction modified was for clutch type LSDs? it is ok to use on helical and open diff cars?

 

Perfectly okay, the Accord V6 6MT, not equipped with LSD, benefits from the Friction Modified MTF just as much as the TL 6MT cars with LSD.