Which transmission fluid?

[eddiebear]

Im going to be changing my trans fluid for the first time and i was wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I have around 130k miles on my car.

[tinman5]

OE tranny juice for something like $20 a quart, Redline, Amsoil if you can get it, Royal Purple if you like purple or my personal preference, GM/Pennzoil Syncromesh.

[303EP]

Redline MTL. It's a GL-4 fluid so it's good for the brass synchros in the tranny. I've been using it for about 20k miles now with no issues. I've tried Honda and Amsoil Synchromesh before and Redline has been the best so far. I got mine for around $13 a quart on the website FCP Groton: http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/22953/nm/Redline+MTL

[Ba82Ep3]

130k? Assume its the first time the fluid has been changed. Change it with Honda MTF (or a conventional 5w30) initially, run it for 5k miles, THEN put in your expensive fluid of choice. You really wanna try and flush all of the old fluid out of the trans before you add the good stuff.

[superchargedk20]

Is running Honda mtf not a good idea ?

[Ba82Ep3]

Honda MTF works well for DD use. I could never get it to last longer than a thousand miles... or one race day. In the 06Si i had, i burned up fresh Honda MTF on a 4 mile touge with s2000's. The trans didnt even wanna shift, and you could smell it BAD lol

The synchromesh i use... psh no issue. I can bang gears all day long. lol

[superchargedk20]

What do u use? Penzoil?

[urthworm]

i used honda fluid with my used k20a engine/tranny for 3 years.. nothing but abuse. Raced it every weekend and when i did drive it to work hit a couple gears to redline aleast 4 times. Also did 4 or 5 crest runs. hmtf did me good. ive been using synchro mesh now, but mainly just to test the hype. So far i like it but dont see a huge dif from honda.

[Ba82Ep3]

GM synchromesh with friction additive (same stuff they use in superchargers). I use the pennzoil synchromesh for break in and flush.

Urthworm... youll notice a huge difference with the carbon snychros. If you have an unopened CTR trans then you have brass syncs. The k20z3 trans was the first to have partial carbon syncs (updated).

[urthworm]

Urthworm... youll notice a huge difference with the carbon snychros. If you have an unopened CTR trans then you have brass syncs. The k20z3 trans was the first to have partial carbon syncs (updated).

I actually just had my tranny rebuilt with Synchrotech Carbon synchros.. doesnt even feel like the same trans anymore. It honestly feels indestructible :mbiggrin: I havent used hmtf since the rebuild so i cant really compare the old from new.

[Ba82Ep3]

I was skeptical, but the ITR trans feels so much better with the carbon syncs in it! Remember how slow the brass syncs were in the EP trans? Ugh... id hate to go back.

[ep3colin]

I only use Honda mtf, every 12k miles I change it

[superchargedk20]

I actually emailed Dave at Synchrotec to get his opinion, I told em my setup and he recommends torco rtf. It's $20 a qt. But if thats what the experts recomend I'm going with it

[lemonhead228]

130k? Assume its the first time the fluid has been changed. Change it with Honda MTF (or a conventional 5w30) initially, run it for 5k miles, THEN put in your expensive fluid of choice. You really wanna try and flush all of the old fluid out of the trans before you add the good stuff.

Yea this woukl be your best way since you're way over due on changing it. I prefer flushing it with honda mtf than with redline. Some good stuff

[Ba82Ep3]

I actually emailed Dave at Synchrotec to get his opinion, I told em my setup and he recommends torco rtf. It's $20 a qt. But if thats what the experts recomend I'm going with it


NICE. You using brass or carbon syncs?

[poeticfinesse21]

In for an interesting thread.

I've been using honda MTF since I bought the car with 145k and I'm a couple hundred miles shy of 190k now. I've changed the fluid 3 times since I got the car and I've been putting off doing it for the 4th time due to not having a garage and the 12 degree chicago weather :mfrown:

[superchargedk20]

Carbon he quoted me 2150 for a rebuilt trans with lsd and carbon synchros , then another 500 if I wana do the wpc treatment on the gears

[Ba82Ep3]

Thats not bad... if you figure almost $1k of it is for the LSD. Torco eh? Ill have to look into that...

[superchargedk20]

Thats not bad... if you figure almost $1k of it is for the LSD. Torco eh? Ill have to look into that...

Yea. It's expensive though. But whatever I'm going with it

[Ba82Ep3]

Its cheaper than a trans rebuild. lol Id rather spend the coin on kick ass fluid to protect that investment yanno?

[Dookie2022]

dude just use honda mtf. safest route to go. its made specifically for our trannies.

[icee753]

im running low boost and probable about 230 whp, but i get a actional grind into second but when fluid is clean it goes away it happens about every 15k miles. I currently use HMTF, any suggestions on what would be better? any input would be good thanks guys

[tinman5]

If you are going through this with such frequency try ANYTHING else. Give the Pennzoil Syncromesh a try first as it is probably the cheapest most readily available and move on from there.

[icee753]

That's weird I don't usually like penzoil products but I guess that stuff works pretty good? Maybe I'll give it a shot?

[Lucid Moments]

I have been using the Penzoil Synchromesh for quite a while now with no problems. And I beat on the car pretty damned hard, but not all that frequently.

[RxPhi]

ive been using acura mtf and switch over to Penzoil Synchromesh and it felt smother good stuff

[T_Virus]

amsoil manual synchromesh transmission fluid.