what is the best MT oil and / or additive mix that you've run? i'm wondering because my synchros are getting old and noisy. everything works still just think its time for an oil change ^^

 

I personally prefer Lucas. Made a hell of a difference compared to the Mobil 1 stuff I had in there before (which was only about 6 or 8 months old).

 

I like using Pennzoil Synchromesh. Good shift feel and helps with the old synchro's

 

for the lucas, that's an additive right? i mean how much do you add to the oil.

 

I am running royal purple in mine. helped out a good bit but expensive as hell.

 

Lucas has quarts of trans/gear oil at AutoZone or possibly O'Reilly's or wherever else they sell Lucas products. Its not near as expensive as Royal Purple. Havent used RP but hear its very good as well. So in short, no its not an additive only.

 

Pennzoil Synchromesh here.

Also, I will confirm that the old trick of running a 50/50 mix of ATF and gear oil does wonders to revive old, worn-out trannies.

 

It's not quite 50/50. I'd say that tranny has more of a 15% ATF, 75%synchromesh and whatever other oil we put into it. Do you remember? Whatever we did, the shifts improved massively and now only grinds if you shift too fast or downshift into 2nd. It's a heck of a lot better feeling than mine, that has about an 8% ATF and the rest is synchromesh. Mine won't grind, but it's rather hard to shift into 2nd and especially 3rd. 3rd sounds funny and feels loose (in the drivetrain when in that gear). It must have been the PO's most used gear. High mileage but not abused. Yours is more like a low mileage tranny but was abused.

 

If I remember right, it was 50/50 for a while until we drained some of it for some reason that I don't remember. Anyway, the point is that it works really well. That tranny was basically junk a year ago, but I'm still using it and don't plan on switching it out until I get a TII unit to replace it with.

 

That is exactly what is going on with my trans. Any hard quick upshift into second or pretty much any downshift into second regardless of rev matching is met with a nice grinding sound. Occasionally I get a smooth downshift but it has to be slow and very careful. I'm buying a parts SA to swap in the trans from it with Sam (dj55b) so I won't be having that problem anymore. The odd thing is after I added Royal Purple to the trans it made the problem more noticeable. I tried some ATF, although I'm not sure exactly how much I put in, but you mentioned it in a thread somewhere so I thought I'd give it a shot in the hopes that my trans would last a little longer. As long as it doesn't grenade on me at Deals Gap in April I'll be happy.

 

i will try this out on friday. my tranny doesn't grind yet but it makes noises nonetheless. if it helps i will be truly happy.if it makes it worse, i will hunt you all down!

on another note... i used to clutch lock the car a lot when i first got it. it felt fun, broke traction in the rear by downshifting and not blipping. i did that until my upper control arm... wait not sure of the name.. it connects the axle to the chassis? something like that came off completely and had to be re welded.

also i used to shift without the clutch, and got pretty good at it... but that's stupid to do if you don't have to

all in all the seven is a remarkable car that takes a licking and keeps on tickin

 

I originally got the idea of the 50/50 mix from the book "How to hotrod and race your Datsun". This was the combination used by the two main race teams for the 240/260/280Z cars. I've been using this for close to two decades now, and it always works wonders.

The theory is, the ATF contains plenty of lube for the tranny, but also contains some pretty serious detergents that can/will break up the sludge in your synchros and get things moving freely again. Results are quicker/cleaner shifts.

I'm glad to see that others have tried this and benefited from it.


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Does anyone know if this is available up in Canada? Haven't seen it around, and it would probably be better than the castrol hypox-c 80w90 stuff I have.

 

I looked for it, albeit not that hard, before I went with Royal Purple. I did not find any. I would suggest calling NAPA or Carquest to see if they carry it. Canadian Tire didn't if I recall correctly.

 

I am currently using Royal Purple. I can't pass judgement on it because my hydraulics were apparently on their way out this summer. On my old FB, I switched from the stock gear oil to royal purple and noticed an increase in grinding. The FD crowd swears by RedLine.

 

Weird, mine dropped off to nothing. I was running a 50/50 mix of ATF and syncromesh and was getting alot of lag in the transmission. (the hard to shift into second/third stuff) I tore it all down and found out that the bearings and syncros were are in good shape, but the collar were warn down. Nothing I can do there outside of get a new transmission and there was no budget for that. I cleaned everything up and put in Royal Purple into the transmission and it works like ALMOST new. The lag is pretty much gone but it still feals like a old transmission. Nothing I can do there I guess. :P

 

amsoil synthetic here
was impressed with the results i switched all fluids to amsoil

 

Yeah I would check Napa, Carquest, AutoZone, Advanced Auto, Schucks, Kragens, O`Reily's, etc. If no luck, go to a GM dealership as they also have a Synchromesh fluid for some GM vehicles

 

I use 50/50 mix of ATF and gear lube (lucas)

Works phenomenal.

 

AMSoil Severe Gear oil in the tranny and rear end here.

 

I second this. He told me to do this and haven't looked back. Works excellent for me. Thanks bro!

 

dose anyone know exactly how much the tranny holds so i can get an accurate 50/50 mixture

 

1 and 4/5 quarts. Basically 2 quarts.

 

perfect~! i was just about to ask that as well.. it should also be in the fsm and other manuals but i am way too lazy. so here's the deal, my fc friend asked for my help to change his differential on friday. so that's what we did... instead of putting the oil in my car. will have to wait till monday. then i will tell you if it helps with my miniscule problem.

but truthfully thanks everyone, especially ken, you're my hero ... also thanks to billy he's awesome