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Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:05 pm
by Import_sounds-of-mid-GA
Got to refill my new tranny before putting it in. Any suggestions? I know Redline makes good stuff as well as the syncromesh, but what do y'all recomend?
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:43 pm
by dbrick
If you're selling the car, then go with the stock stuff, 85w-90 gear oil.
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:50 pm
by Import_sounds-of-mid-GA
dbrick wrote:If you're selling the car, then go with the stock stuff, 85w-90 gear oil.
thanks, and if I'm not?
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:40 am
by SLOroadster
SWEPCO (215 I think) Better than redline, I've had 3 5th gears die with Redline, 0 with Swepco. Its expensive, but less than a transmission rebuild. Pelican Parts sells it. Most of the Porsche guys swear by the stuff (motor oil or trans/diff lube). Its really good stuff.
Will
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:25 am
by dbrick
What Will said
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:03 pm
by Daryl Smith
What?!?!

I just picked up some Redline MTL for myself and Garth!
I thought it was one of the Good ones!?!? And was recomended on this and the email list awhile back??
Garth's gonna be pissed if this stuff isn't any good....I might be forced to buy it back from him..........

Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:43 pm
by Import_sounds-of-mid-GA
Daryl Smith wrote:What?!?!

I just picked up some Redline MTL for myself and Garth!
I thought it was one of the Good ones!?!? And was recomended on this and the email list awhile back??
Garth's gonna be pissed if this stuff isn't any good....I might be forced to buy it back from him..........

How much do the 5 speeds hold?
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:24 pm
by Daryl Smith
According to the 'Texaco' maintenance sheet in the tech wiki - 5.5 pints = 2.75 quarts = 2.6 Litres!

Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:35 pm
by Import_sounds-of-mid-GA
Daryl Smith wrote:According to the 'Texaco' maintenance sheet in the tech wiki - 5.5 pints = 2.75 quarts = 2.6 Litres!

Thanks! I got 3 quarts before you answered just to make sure... looks like I did good. lol
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:52 pm
by ppeters914
Daryl Smith wrote:What?!?!

I just picked up some Redline MTL for myself and Garth!
I thought it was one of the Good ones!?!? And was recomended on this and the email list awhile back??
Garth's gonna be pissed if this stuff isn't any good....I might be forced to buy it back from him..........

Redline is good, and one of the few GL-4 rated oils still available. I haven't heard anyone but Porsche/VW folks (remember, they have a transaxle) use Swepco, but they do love it.
That said, if the tranny isn't tight, you're chancing leaking expensive ($9+) synthetic oil vs the cheaper ($3-$4) but perfectly good dyno stuff.
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:31 pm
by todd lorber
Redline is good and actually smoothed out PART of my syncro issue. However, it is a thinner oil than 90 wt. Consequently it tends to leave its mark on my garage floor.
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:16 pm
by Gregs672000
Thought I'd add on to this one... I've been a fan of Swepco 201, but when a friend and I went through the trans last year that oil got dumped, and I didn't want to wait for it to come mail order, so I used off the shelf Valvoline (as I recall). The trans has been notchy/resistant at a stop going into first (could be a few tries, maybe pump the clutch, 8 times out of 10 tries), and a little scratchy going into 2nd or downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. Some recent posts prompted me to check my gear oils in the (Mazda LS) diff and the trans. For some reason, the diff was pretty low, so I changed it and used Castro LS diff oil and Lube guard LSD additive. Then I pumped out a quart of oil from the trans and added 2 quarts of Royal Purple 75w-140 via a harbor freight hand transfer pump (works great). It was $22 a quart, nearly 3 times as expensive as standard, but this was one of those times when I decided to spend the dough. Now, since it took 2 quarts and I only drained 1, this may influence or account for my results (however, the car was jacked way up on the drivers side and I refilled until it started coming out the hole, so it may be slightly overfilled. Prior to removing the quart, I could stick my finger in the hole and bend it down slightly and could touch oil with the car at that angle, so it was not super low). I just drove the car 14 miles, and the issues are gone. It is no longer resistant ever going into first, shifts and downshifts smoothly into 2nd, and shifts smoother overall. Don't know if that's the oil, the level or a combo, but I'm happy. FWIW!

Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 4:00 pm
by DAC21
Gregs672000 wrote: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:16 pm
Thought I'd add on to this one... I've been a fan of Swepco 201, but when a friend and I went through the trans last year that oil got dumped, and I didn't want to wait for it to come mail order, so I used off the shelf Valvoline (as I recall). The trans has been notchy/resistant at a stop going into first (could be a few tries, maybe pump the clutch, 8 times out of 10 tries), and a little scratchy going into 2nd or downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. Some recent posts prompted me to check my gear oils in the (Mazda LS) diff and the trans. For some reason, the diff was pretty low, so I changed it and used Castro LS diff oil and Lube guard LSD additive. Then I pumped out a quart of oil from the trans and added 2 quarts of Royal Purple 75w-140 via a harbor freight hand transfer pump (works great). It was $22 a quart, nearly 3 times as expensive as standard, but this was one of those times when I decided to spend the dough. Now, since it took 2 quarts and I only drained 1, this may influence or account for my results (however, the car was jacked way up on the drivers side and I refilled until it started coming out the hole, so it may be slightly overfilled. Prior to removing the quart, I could stick my finger in the hole and bend it down slightly and could touch oil with the car at that angle, so it was not super low). I just drove the car 14 miles, and the issues are gone. It is no longer resistant ever going into first, shifts and downshifts smoothly into 2nd, and shifts smoother overall. Don't know if that's the oil, the level or a combo, but I'm happy. FWIW!
Swepco is about $24 a quart in a gallon jug, so you did OK if you have Swepco results.
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:48 pm
by redroadster
ND 30w might be a good choice too the Chrysler Mitsubishi s used it , most of our speed gear tapers are polished / glassy ( they were the same as a brake rotors new) and the syncros have a hard time grabbing the gears like that or like they used to do
Re: Tranny fluid suggestions?
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 9:59 pm
by Gregs672000
Yep, so far so good. I have not checked for leaks, but it should be sealed up well. It has already made the car more easy to drive, with no concern about having to get it into first when the light changes, or being super nice on down shifts. I'm surprised at how less stressful the whole thing feels... didn't know I was that effected!