Honda Car Forum

My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
(180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.

Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?

Randolph wrote:
> My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
> particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
> (180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>
> Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
> premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
> MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?

_only_ use honda z1 atf in a honda automatic transmission. they use
different clutch mechanisms to any other type of automatic and they need
a specialized fluid accordingly.

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 03:40:01 GMT, Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote:

>My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
>particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
>(180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>
>Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
>premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
>MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?


I have read/heard that also....believe the Honda fluid is best for the
synchros.

However, I ran Redline MTL in my 5 speed Acura Integra and when I
traded the car with close to 90,000 miles, it was still shifting
smooth as can be. Perhaps I was lucky, perhaps it takes longer for
the problems to crop up; I don't know.

If in doubt, change your manual tranny fluid to Honda MTL and see if
that clears things up.

I forgot to state that the transmission a a manual 5-speed. Kind of
important. isn't it?

jim beam wrote:
>
> Randolph wrote:
> > My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
> > particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
> > (180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
> >
> > Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
> > premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
> > MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?
>
> _only_ use honda z1 atf in a honda automatic transmission. they use
> different clutch mechanisms to any other type of automatic and they need
> a specialized fluid accordingly.

Randolph wrote:
> I forgot to state that the transmission a a manual 5-speed. Kind of
> important. isn't it?
>
> jim beam wrote:
>
>>Randolph wrote:
>>
>>>My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
>>>particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
>>>(180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>>>
>>>Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
>>>premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
>>>MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?
>>
>>_only_ use honda z1 atf in a honda automatic transmission. they use
>>different clutch mechanisms to any other type of automatic and they need
>>a specialized fluid accordingly.

kinda.

Randolph wrote:
> I forgot to state that the transmission a a manual 5-speed. Kind of
> important. isn't it?
>

------------------

Mentioning your mileage is a helpful idea too. Your old tranny lube may
just be exhausted. (or some clown already put non-honda stuff in it)Put
in Honda MTF and see. It's not like you're buying five gallons :-)

'Curly'

motsco_ _ wrote:
>
> Mentioning your mileage is a helpful idea too. Your old tranny lube may
> just be exhausted. (or some clown already put non-honda stuff in it)Put
> in Honda MTF and see. It's not like you're buying five gallons :-)
>
> 'Curly'

Good point. '94 Civic Si, mileage now at 104k, transmission fluid
replaced about every 30k, last time at 94k at independent shop that
swore they used Honda MTL. No noticeable change in tranny behavior after
the 94k change.

Googleing, I found that the complaint was not seal failures as I
remembered, but a bearing cage failure. I found one report of this, but
no cause and effect analysis. I found a number of reports from people
having used Redline MTL in Hondas over long distances with no issues.
Redline tech support recommends their MTL for the Civic in Northern
California's moderate climate.

I'll change to Redline MTL some time in the next week or so unless
someone points out a compelling reason not to.

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

motsco_ _ wrote:
> Randolph wrote:
>
>> I forgot to state that the transmission a a manual 5-speed. Kind of
>> important. isn't it?
>>
>
> ------------------
>
> Mentioning your mileage is a helpful idea too. Your old tranny lube may
> just be exhausted. (or some clown already put non-honda stuff in it)Put
> in Honda MTF and see. It's not like you're buying five gallons :-)
>
> 'Curly'
>

I guess I was a clown for following the recommendation of 10w-40 for the
manual tranny in my '91 Civic in the owner's manual. I started using
Honda MTF after reading on RAMH that the older API rated oil was
appropriate, but the newer formulations have dropped some of the
ingredients that were good to the trannys before.

Mark

I'd play it safe and only use the Honda tranny oil. Considering that I live
up north (Canada) and the shifting quality is acceptable in extreme cold,
I'd stay with the Honda stuff. If shifting is poor in your car, I'd get the
oil flushed out (couple times if need be) until it gets back to normal.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (5 speed, 210000km, original tranny & clutch).

>
> Good point. '94 Civic Si, mileage now at 104k, transmission fluid
> replaced about every 30k, last time at 94k at independent shop that
> swore they used Honda MTL. No noticeable change in tranny behavior after
> the 94k change.
>
> Googleing, I found that the complaint was not seal failures as I
> remembered, but a bearing cage failure. I found one report of this, but
> no cause and effect analysis. I found a number of reports from people
> having used Redline MTL in Hondas over long distances with no issues.
> Redline tech support recommends their MTL for the Civic in Northern
> California's moderate climate.
>
> I'll change to Redline MTL some time in the next week or so unless
> someone points out a compelling reason not to.
>
> Thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.

What tranny you have? A VW?
"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:41ABEC70.7CFC988D@junkmail.com...
> My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
> particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
> (180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>
> Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
> premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
> MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?