Hey, beleive me, I, of all people, know that this has been posted before, but my keyword search just isn't cutting it right now.

My tranny is drained, and I need to fill it!
I've heard of people using ATF in their trannys- supposedly works much better than regular gear oil?
I can't get redline around here without ordering it, so that's not gonna happen.
Should I use mobil 1 sythetic gear oil, (I think I've seen it here..) or ATF, or regular mineral oil with a good additive? (suggest?)
Thanks!

 

I have mobil one in my gearbox and rear. Works good.

 

ATF is for automadit trannsmissions, just use regular gear oil.

 

cough up the extra cash for the mobil 1.

 

I got Royal Purple in mine and I noticed a nice difference in the performance....smoother.

Go for the good stuff.

 

Redline MT90

 

Mobil1, as in the synthetic 75W90 gear oil? That stuff is horrible, it made my transmission grind. The high sulfer content of that stuff chews up the synchros.

 

ya you can't use "gear oil" in the tranny. you need something is is ment for trannys. it'll eat it up.

I don't think you want to use ATF... too thin. some hondas can use it but that's because it's around the weight it calls for in there manual.

 

yeah thats true my old hoda actualy called for 10w-30 in the tranny! i dont know how they do it

 

In addition, if you use ATF in your MT, seal will be damaged and as everyone says too thin.

 

if you want something light weight like ATF but still with the proper shear, order online Redline super lightweight gear oil.

Acts like a ATF but with the proper shear and film strength of a 85W90.

 

redline mt-90, make sure whatever you get that it's gl-4. unlike gl-5 which has sulfur that is bad for brass/bronze synchros that rx7s have, gl-4 is safe for those type synchros.

 

I use the lucas additive for trannys and castrol 10w-30. Works perfect, ended my second gear grind and made first easier to downshift into and to get into first at all when cold was impossible at first but there's no problem now

 

Honda acutally has its own manual transmission oil, its is a little bit different than 10w30. Some manual transmissions actually do call for atf, like the ford mustang. Mobil one gear oil is pretty good, but if your transmission works perfectly fine, regular gear oil would work just fine.

 

The older cars actually do use different weights of motor oil for their transaxles, front wheel drive cars tend to use motor oils for tranny lube. Honda MTF is a more recent development, and is a godlike lube for Honda manual transaxles. It kinda supercedes motor oil in the older units too.

 

this sounds like Royal Purple's Synchromax. it says its for manual gear boxes like motor cycles and other trannies that call for straight weight motor oils.

 

ford uses atf in all their manual transmissions. the ranger/f150 trans is actually a mazda transmission. I have been considering going this route because internally all manuals are basically the same, even on a motorcycle (I run atf in my yz 7 yrs now without probs). bearings in the trans are just bearings atf works with bearings in an auto trans. as for the synchros and blocking rings they are primarily brass and atf works with them too in the ford arena. I cant see any reason why atf won't work.

 

my owner's manual says GL-4 or GL-5. and i use mobil one. but i haven't had the best of luck with my trannys.

 

I've always used GM syncromesh, works great, cured a 2nd gear grind. About $9 a quart at any GM dealer..worth it IMO.

 

Trannies that run ATF are submerged. you cannot run atf in a gear oil type tranny, as it is way too thin. gear oil only fills the tranny about 1/5th of the way, then is sprayed around to lube the gears. Transaxles that have atf are filled all the way to the top with it, so that all the gears are constantly sumberged in it, which is nice, but wont work for you.

pat

 

how does that explain fill plugs on atf manuals that are midway up on the case just like gear oil trannies. both typs have the secondary shaft partially submerged in fluid and are both slung the same way.

 

id like to see one like that. every one i have ever seen is filled from near the top (fords use the speedo gear as a plug) , and completely or almost completely submerged in the atf.

pat

 

actually, i went to my local speed shop and axed for it and they didnt have it.. .they gave me Royal Purple's Synchromax. it specifies its for manual trannies, however, im not sure if its good enough for our trannies. i may have to just order some MT90 from Summit.

ATF does thin out quite a bit. it has the consistency or viscosity of water when its at operating temp. so this Royal purple stuff kinda worries me.

how much Synchromesh do you use? just fill the tranny straight, or a mix?

 

I work on fords all day
this taken from a 2003 ranger manual
"Lubrication



The M50D-R1 transmissions are designed so that the internal parts operate in an oil bath circulated by the motion of the gears and shafts. All parts are amply lubricated if these procedures are followed:


Maintain the correct fluid level by inspecting it regularly.


Change the fluid at recommended intervals. For additional information, refer to the Owners Literature for the recommended intervals.


Use MERCONŽ Multi-Purpose Automatic Transmission Fluid XT-2-QDX meeting Ford specification MERCONŽ.



High operating temperatures increase the lubricant's rate of oxidation and shorten its effective life. When the average operating temperature is high, the transmission may require more frequent fluid changes. The following conditions in any combination can cause high operating temperatures:


operating consistently at slow speeds


high ambient temperatures


restricted air flow around the transmission


exhaust system too close to the transmission

 

notice the fill plug is about half way up on the case at most