Honda MTF is *tha bomb*!

[batever]

Ok, I drained out the 5w-30 oil that was in my tranny today and put 2 quarts of Honda MTF in.

I can't believe the difference! Wow. The tranny is almost completely silent now with the exception of reverse.

In case there are any people (besides me!) out there putting motor oil in their tranny like the original manual specified ( I know, the manual said 10w-40 oil not 5w-30 but....) , switching to the Honda MTF is totally worth it!

[deevergote]

GM Synchromesh is also fantastic. I know people that prefer it over the Honda fluid. I currently run that myself.

[renegade28x]

i heard what deev said was good too from my teacher...weird how some cars take other manuf. fluids lol always amused me

[batever]

sick dude, ive gotta try that. does it feel smoother at all?

yesssss. much smoother.

I spilled some on the ground (textured concrete) and it seemed slippery as all get out. My foot was slipping around when I stepped in it. Don't know if I'm imagining it but it seemed more slick than motor oil. In any case, it's great inside the tranny compared to what I had in there. I used to have gear noise in reverse, 1st, 2nd, and to a lesser degree 3rd. Now it seems I only have it in reverse.

[deevergote]

A good fluid will prolong the life of your transmission, and in my case, it actually helped my failing synchros in 3rd and 5th. It didn't fix anything, obviously... but it kept it from grinding as much. Of course, I had gear oil in there... very thick goo that my stepdad's Chrysler mechanics put in there without my knowledge... that definitely did some damage!

Honda transmissions are very sensitive to the fluid used.

[batever]

GM Synchromesh is also fantastic. I know people that prefer it over the Honda fluid. I currently run that myself.

good to know!

[Accrdwgnguy]

Honda also changed their fluid a couple years back, added in extra friction modifiers similar to sychromesh. Has a green label in case a dealer still has some old stock, doubtful tho.

[mayberry]

Honda gear boxes are also "da bomb". Evo guys talk shit all day about Honda's but even my $3k Shep built tranny can't compare to a stock Honda gearbox when it comes to smoothness and driveability. Then again, there's less drivetrain mass in a Honda but still. They're just so damn crispy.

/rant.

[deevergote]

Car and Driver, who has a permanent mailing address on BMW's nuts, will say that BMW could learn a thing or two from Honda when it comes to manual transmissions.
Hondas probably have some of the most accurate and direct transmissions ever.


Mitsubishi's AWD transmissions are awesome when they work, but I know the DSMs had some pretty major issues. Most DSM guys replace their transmissions and transfer cases WAY before their motors.
I haven't heard much bad about the Evo's setup, but I know it's just an evolution (excuse the pun) of the DSM's design (the early Evos were pretty much the same thing as our DSMs, just in a lighter Lancer chassis)

[Tippey764]

The tranny is almost completely silent now with the exception of reverse.

Thats because reverse is a stright cut gear. Unlike the forward gears which are a curved design ( someone correct me on the name of them ) which is quiter but weaker. As to why reverse needs to be stronger is beyond me.

[StinkinLincoln]

I use Royal Purple 10w40 but I got a bad Syncro in 3rd.....

I've hurd a lot of talk about the GM Stuff...Eather going to try it or the Honda MTF..

[deevergote]

Probably just because reverse isn't a transitional gear. You're not ever going to shift into reverse from another gear. You're always coming from neutral.

A dog box is all straight gears, right? A pain in the ass for street driving, but great for race driving in the hands of someone that knows what they're doing.



I always loved the whine that reverse made. I used to make my dad back up all the time in our old Escort so I could hear it when I was a kid.

[Losiracer2]

I would avoid the syncromesh, unless your trans is failing, like if you have a grinding gear or worn out syncro. So I would use it only as a bandaid until you can either rebuild it or get a new one. That syncromesh stuff I found out is HEAVY weight oil. Somethiing like 75w80or90. Honda MTF is closer to what motor oil is but has some unique additives, kinda like the Honda power steering fluid.

I used Redline MTL in my H22 trans and within a period of about 4 months, my input shaft or mainshaft bearing starting to fail and make noise in every gear. That could be from it being an 87k mile tranny or that I bought it used from a random guy, but I would HIGHLY recommend just using Honda MTF regardless. Its like 6-8 bucks a quart and you only have to do it once every 15k, so why not spend the extra dough?

[Accrdwgnguy]

Thats because reverse is a stright cut gear. Unlike the forward gears which are a curved design ( someone correct me on the name of them ) which is quiter but weaker. As to why reverse needs to be stronger is beyond me.

Doesn't need to be stronger, just cheaper. The noise and ease of engagement aren't a big issue with reverse since you don't use it as often as the forward gears.

[Tippey764]

I always loved the whine that reverse made. I used to make my dad back up all the time in our old Escort so I could hear it when I was a kid.

I love that sound too but im always scared im going to hit somthing if i go to fast in reverse. I like how in a manual transmission the spedometer works in reverse but not in an automatic.