"Elle" <honda.lioness@earthlink.net> wrote in
news:8xbwf.4628$%W1.1753@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net:

> "TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote

<snip>


>
> A 1.5 foot breaker bar should be sufficient, though as
> always, be careful. Brace yourself so you don't get hurt,
> etc.



And make certain the ratchet square is well seated. You don't want to round
off the square in the bolt.


>
>> To fill, you need to have the car LEVEL, and you'll need a
> pump to attach
>> to your lube bottle (a lot like a hand-soap bottle pump).
> The pump needs to
>> have a clear vinyl hose that goes into the fill hole.
>
> Gravity feed works fine for 88-91 Civics; no pump is
> necessary.



Gravity works fine for my car too, and I used that method for years. But
I've since found it's easier using the inexpensive hand-pump.



>
> Buy the clear tubing at Lowe's or Home Depot for a few
> bucks, tops, probably. Three feet should be plenty.
>
>> And use Honda MTL, not "gear lube" or the 10W-30 specifed
> in the workshop
>> manual.
>
> Elaboration: Reports are that superior shifting occurs with
> the Honda MT fluid. More importantly, there are many claims
> on Usenet that 10W-30 and -40 have changed since about 1991
> such that their chemistry is deleterious to the
> transmission. I don't buy that--yet.



The anti-wear additives (ZDDP, for example) that used to be present in
motor oils have been greatly reduced or eliminated in the interests of
protecting the catalytic converter. Transmissions have no cat issues, so
Honda MTF has loads of anti-wear additives (hence its distinctive odor).



> I have always used my
> 91 Civic's manual-specified 10W-30 or 10W-40. No problems
> after 173k miles. Anyone saying there will be problems down
> the road is speculating based on rumor innuendo. (Unless
> someone finally has coughed up a reputable citation on the
> subject.)
>
> If Honda thought 10W-30 or -40 today is dangerous to the
> transmission, I think they would have said something.



They have.

An example from the '02 RS-X manual (pg 13-4):
"Always use Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF). Using motor oil can
cause stiffer shifting because it does not contain the correct additives."



--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/