Manual Transmission Fluid Specs. (Please Read)

[KillerAccord]

Ok let me first say that this is my first Honda. I use to own Toyota and domestics, what I'm about to talk about was not like this on the other cars. I decided to drain and fill my manual transmission on my Accord a few nights ago. When I drained the fluid I noticed that it looked a little burnt. Would explain the prob. with getting into gear sometimes. I then proceded to fill it up with 85-190 gear oil. (Big Mistake) I drove around with the gear oil in it for about 3-4 days. Luckily nothing happened.
It wasn't until tonight talking to a retired mechanic for Honda that I found out that these trannys take motor oil. Some of you may know this, but people like me new to the Honda world might not. It turns out that gear oil is way to thick and it will cause you to blow out 5th gear first for some reason and then your remaining gears.
What I'm getting at is don't always listen to the parts store because I had asked them what fluid (gear oil) belonged in the tranny. The looked it up and said 85-140. WRONG!! Motor oil for our manual trannys. Shop key says: (Sae 30W, 10W-30 or even 20W-30) Hanes says: (5W-30, 10W-30) Dealer says: (10W-30) Always pay attention before starting a project just as simple a this. It could have costed me a transmission if not looking in the manual finally to find motor oil specs instead of gear oil specs. Pay attention sometimes people. Don't rush because that's when shit gets fucked up.

[TypeG]

before you do something that you haven't done before, try a little research. and buy your fluids at honda. later.

[InvaderTrax]

Most of us have made the switch from motor oil to either Honda MTF or GM Synchromesh fluid #12377916

[xwade01]

Hmm i've usually used 10w-30 synthetic for the tranny. Has always worked for me so far

[CoPilot1]

lucky you checked and didnt cost urself a tranny....

[accord91lx]

before you do something that you haven't done before, try a little research. and buy your fluids at honda. later.

sound advise. remember these words.

[N9netwoAccord]

if ever your in doubt, we're here to help you out

[F22-GURU]

Always pay attention before starting a project just as simple a this. It could have costed me a transmission if not looking in the manual finally to find motor oil specs instead of gear oil specs. Pay attention sometimes people. Don't rush because that's when shit gets fucked up.

Well it's good to see someone here has the intelligence to refer to a Workshop Manual first before finding out the hard way.
It's a pity more people here weren't like you.
As I always say. "READ THE WORKSHOP MANUAL FIRST".
If you have trouble interpreting the manual then ask for advice.

[SteveB]

85 weight gear oil is about the same viscosity as 30 weight engine oil.

They are NOT on the same scale.

[NutBucket]

Synchromesh worked great for me, much better than Honda MTF for sure.

[wed3k]

when i first drained and filled my MT, i used regular dino oil and i have to say....WORSt thing to fucking use.

grinds in like everygear and i couldnt even get into it.

drained/filled w/ honda MTF
cleaned everything up...slight grinds in 2nd and 3rd

drained filled w/ half honda mtf anf half synchromesh
better but still hard sometimes to get into gear

drained/filled again with the same
pretty much butter smooth with a little knotchyness in 2nd and reverse

so yea, if you race or are hard on the tranny, id suggest changing it more often because our trannies dont have pumps, filters or strainers....all the shit floats inside unlike an AT. (taken from SPOON)

[SteveB]

so yea, if you race or are hard on the tranny, id suggest changing it more often because our trannies dont have pumps, filters or strainers....all the shit floats inside unlike an AT. (taken from SPOON)

Then SPOON is wrong. All the junk in your trans is metal, much of it ferrous, and our transmissions have a magnet in them.

[wed3k]

Then SPOON is wrong. All the junk in your trans is metal, much of it ferrous, and our transmissions have a magnet in them.

do they, where are they located so i can clean them

[SteveB]

do they, where are they located so i can clean them

You need to open the case.

[xaxis360]

I think this is a lesson to everyone that has a car they plan to work on. Don't just buy a Hanyes.. buy the Factory Manual. That thing will answer almost every question that people ask on here. I learned the hard way and used the Haynes to put a clutch in my car about 5 years ago and ended up getting the transmission stuck half-way out because it failed to mention some Accords have a stiffening bar mounted to the engine! I messed it up so bad that I had to have it flat-bed to a dealership cause it was all f*cked up. The next time i did it, I used the Honda manual, and everything went so perfect... it all came out and went in like perfection.

Another example is Haynes and Chiltons blatent refusal to write anything about the ABS or SRS systems in our cars exccept: (They) are complicated systems and should be taken to the dealership or an authorized repair center only blah blah blah... How hard is it to pull a trouble code and replace a front wheel sensor!? "Oh it's okay.. I'll just pay the dealer $125 in labor to do it! Thank's Haynes!!!!!!!!!" Take it from the people who researched, designed, and built the car for God sake! They just might know a thing or two about how to fix it... Cause i've never heard Honda say to use 5W30 in a manual trans...