What kind of ATF is best for a stock manual transmission?

[jwater7]

It's suggested to change Manual Transmission Fluid every 30,000 miles.
What kind are you going to put in?

<img src="http://img89.exs.cx/img89/6762/redline1xx.jpg" height="100" align="MIDDLE"> Red Line Synthetic D4 ATF

<img src="http://img89.exs.cx/img89/3982/gm1qg.jpg" height="100" align="MIDDLE"> GM Synchromesh Transmission Fluid

<img src="http://img89.exs.cx/img89/750/mobile17qv.jpg" height="100" align="MIDDLE"> Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF or Mercon V Synthetic Blend

<img src="http://img89.exs.cx/img89/3953/motorcraft8ew.jpg" height="100" align="MIDDLE"> Motorcraft MERCON V ATF or Multi-Purpose ATF

or

<img src="http://img89.exs.cx/img89/2674/non6mm.jpg" height="100" align="MIDDLE"> Non-synthetic

Don't be afraid to vote!

 

[mootang]

ATF stands for automatic transmission fliud so if you have a manuall transmission you need to use gear oil

 

[badingle]

GM synchromesh by far. That stuff unreal!

Ive seen it cure grinding between shifts.

 

[jwater7]

ATF stands for automatic transmission fliud so if you have a manuall transmission you need to use gear oil

From what I've heard, Ford recommends ATF in our manual transmissions.

 

[HISSIN50]

DO NOT USE GEAR OIL. it will starve the needle bearings, etc.

i like Redline D4 (and run it).

good luck.

 

[mytight95]

ditto on the gear oil.........how many trannys have you screwed up doing that man...........

I haven't used the redline, but i think i am gonna use it when i change the fluid in a week or so.........I have drove a car with the synthetic stuff, and it was different feeling than mine......it was smoother.....


just my .02


jason

 

[1105]

ATF stands for automatic transmission fliud so if you have a manuall transmission you need to use gear oil

how much more wrong could you be... Some tranny's REQUIRE you to use ATF in them. My bosses exploder requires straight ATF put in it.

 

[HISSIN50]

with advances in machining (per cost) and robustness, tolerances have gotten smaller. it is not at all uncommon in many vehicles to run ATF (for its viscosity) in trannies and some AWD transfer cases.

 

[jwater7]

Just thought for future reference, I'd link to this interesting discussion on Lucas ATF additives:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=524212

 

[RIO5.0]

I got mine right from Ford....I was leary of swapping to syn and not having the tranny completely empty of the OEM stuff...I had read somewhere dont mix the 2???

So in went the OEM stuff....

 

[jwater7]

...I had read somewhere dont mix the 2???

Many manufacturers used to advise against mixing synthetic oils with regular oils until they realized they were denying themselves of much of their markets by doing so. Now they say that these synthetics are made so that they can be mixed without any trouble. Seems a bit fishy to me.

Oils are pre-formulated with additives. The problem comes because not all oil additives are compatible (even same brand). Incompatibility of additives can form small, insoluble deposits.

You can conduct some tests yourself for compatibility:
Mix the two oils and heat. If the mixture becomes cloudy, they're not compatible.
Mix the two oils and shake. If the mixture is excessively lighter, they're not compatible.

I personally, don't mix the two. I leave the blending up to the manufacturer.

But, as far as the minute amount left over from a drain, the affects are minimal if none.

 

[RIO5.0]

When you use the drain plug its not exactly on the base of the tranny...to me theres a significant amount thats gonna be blended...

 

[jwater7]

When you use the drain plug its not exactly on the base of the tranny...to me theres a significant amount thats gonna be blended...

Yes, you're right, thank you for pointing that out...
I'd be curious to know how to get the rest out.

 

[RIO5.0]

Yes, you're right, thank you for pointing that out...
I'd be curious to know how to get the rest out.

You'd think they'd at least put the friggin drain plug on the bottom....

 

[tmoss]

If your rebuilding, then the switch is not a problem as you'll clena out the whole case and gear assemblies. Bob Hanlon knows as much or more than anybody about T5s and he recommends synthetic in his rebuild video. I run Mobil 1 in mine.

 

[Darkhorse845]

Mobil 1 ATF!

 

[jwater7]

I've heard that AMSOIL is also top notch


Seems there's a tie right now with the votes, and not even everyone is voting...9 votes -- 189 views? Don't be affraid to vote everyone.


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