Manual Transmission Fluid

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awptickes

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I know this has been driven pretty hard, but I got some conflicting information from my Honda dealer today.

I went in, and asked to buy some Manual Transmission Fluid. The guy (a Honda certified service technician) looked at me funny, and said "It's just motor oil." When I asked to buy it, he told me "No, it's just motor oil. Use motor oil." I asked if 5w-30 is alright, and he said "Or 10W-40, or 15W-30, it doesn't matter."

Now. Knowing what I've read, the Honda MTF has some friction modifiers in it that help prolong the life of the transmission. But why should I use it if the dealer told me not to? My car is siting at 210,000 km right now, and I will probably hit 250k by the end of the year. Should I use 10W-30 and put a friction modifier in it? I can buy the MTF online, but it seems kinda dumb to ship MTF.

What should I do? This weekend I'm going to change fluids for the winter, swap out the summer tires for winter tires, do an alignment, check valves clearances, etc.
 
Why on earth do you wanna use honda mtf??


You should use "Gm Synchromesh - Friction Modified". Thats the best mtf out there.


Haha buy some quarts of that, take it to the "certified honda dealer" and take a pic of the look on his face when you remind him he told u it didnt matter what you put in there.

Seriously tho - synchromesh ftmfw
 
thats what i would recommend. i used that in the s2k and its been pretty good so far.
 
Right up until your transmission dies on you. There's always a reason to use the correct fluid. :huh:

Bah you know what I meant.

Non-LSD equipped tranny = motor oil/regular fluid.


LSD-equipped = GM SYNCHROMESH FRICTION MODIFIED.
 
I wrote a review a while back on the MTF I used. To make a long story short, I used 10w-30 Exxon oil, Pennzoil Synchromesh, and Honda MTF. The Honda MTF by far felt the best and got rid of my 3rd gear grind. When I had 10w-30 in my tranny it felt better than when I used the Pennzoil stuff. I haven't had a need to try the GM stuff so I can't speak on it.

However, if you do go with the GM stuff, make sure they give you 'GM Synchromesh Friction Modified' and not a few bottles of GM Synchromesh and a bottle of Friction Modifier. I read somewhere that GM synchromesh mixed with thier Fricton Modifier does NOT make or become the same as their Synchromesh Friction Modified fluid.
 
I haven't tried the Synchromesh yet, but I have experimented between Honda MTF and regular motor oil and the motor oil definitely caused notchier and harsher shifting immediately after changing it.
 
However, if you do go with the GM stuff, make sure they give you 'GM Synchromesh Friction Modified' and not a few bottles of GM Synchromesh and a bottle of Friction Modifier. I read somewhere that GM synchromesh mixed with thier Fricton Modifier does NOT make or become the same as their Synchromesh Friction Modified fluid.

:yes:

Synchromesh FM will make your shifts smooth as silk.
 
gm

where can you get the gm synchromesh with the fristion modifier in it?
 
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