1994 Honda Accord Manual Trans Fluid

qdeezie · Mar 21, 2015

Hi, my brother has a 1994 Honda Accord (non-VTEC) with a 5 speed transmission and he wants to change the fluid in the transmission. He's been asking around and can't get a straight answer as to what he should be using.

I checked around a bit and from what I'm seeing, it's saying 10w30 motor oil and I am having a hard time coming to grips with this....

Is this what's required or is it something else? I'm open to suggestions with brands and whatnot.

Mr Nice · Mar 21, 2015

MTF is better, smoother shifts.

cpayne5 · Mar 21, 2015

I just put some Pennzoil Synchromesh in my son's '96 Accord. Readily available at the parts stores and cheap.

901Memphis · Mar 21, 2015

A dedicated MTL is much better, the 10w30 motor oil is a huge compromise and not ideal.

I would record Redline 75w80 GL4, it's the recommended replacement for 10w30 MT applications.

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

JHZR2 · Mar 21, 2015

I recall that our 94 integra 5 speed said in the manual that 10w30 could be used as an alternate, but we always ran a honda mtf from the dealer.

I always hated the clutch in that car, but the shifter was as slick as could be under any conditions.

Chris142 · Mar 22, 2015

Why are you concerned about motor oil in it? It works fine if that's what's recommended by the maker. The car has had motor oil in the trans for 20 yes.why change now?

Doog · Mar 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
A dedicated MTL is much better, the 10w30 motor oil is a huge compromise and not ideal.

I would record Redline 75w80 GL4, it's the recommended replacement for 10w30 MT applications.

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

+1

901Memphis · Mar 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Why are you concerned about motor oil in it? It works fine if that's what's recommended by the maker. The car has had motor oil in the trans for 20 yes.why change now?

Better shift feel for starters.

CharBaby · Mar 22, 2015

I do remember older Honda/Acura standard transmissions recommending 10W30 motor oil. But today, the oil is different possibly requiring a MTF. And IDK if using todays 10W30 would be good enough 21 years later. Or, since the change to SM or SN!

Tegger · Mar 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
10w-30 motor oil

10W-30 motor oil was specified before ZDDP was reduced for the 1995 model year. 10w30 is NOT recommended any more, on account of the reduction in ZDDP. 10w30 has not been recommended since 1995, so you're looking at old information.

Honda sells an excellent MTF that is rich in the additives that the Honda manual transmission needs. It has the ZDDP that used to be in motor oil, and is designed specifically for use in a transmission, not an engine.

Greasymechtech · Mar 22, 2015

Motor oil has changed. Friction modifiers for MPG... lower additive levels for emissions... 5w30, 10w30, and 10w40 were common recommendations for MT trans back then, but really usable anymore.

Pennzoil and Valvoline have pretty good synchromesh manual trans fluids available in local autopart stores. BG Synchroshift, Redline MTL, and Amsoil MTF are some great full synthetics.

Honda dealer also has a good MTF, but may be a little thin for an older transmission.

In a pinch, rice rocket JASO wet clutch motorcycle motor oil is about the only non-MT specific fluid I'd attempt to use.

Nissan and Hyundai have 75w85 GL4 MT fluids. These are closer to a 10w40 but will shear into a 10w30.

badtlc · Mar 22, 2015

get with the times and use a dedicated MTF for synchronized transmissions. Can't go wrong with Redline MTL.

dlundblad · Mar 22, 2015

If 10w30 is what the factory is saying to primarily use, use it.

antiqueshell · Mar 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
If 10w30 is what the factory is saying to primarily use, use it.

NO.

That information from 1995 is NO LONGER ACCURATE!

Like others have said the formulation of current
10w-30 motor oil is significantly different than it was twenty years ago and no longer provides adequate protection and performance in a manual transmission.

Use one of the current major brand synchromesh MTF products like Pennzoil, or Valvoline versions, it will perform better and offer good protection for soft yellow metals.

slacktide_bitog · Mar 22, 2015

10w30 is indeed what the owners manual calls for.

In 1996, Honda started using their own MTF, which is essentially motor oil with some extra additives, most likely because of the API mandating reduced ZDDP from SH-on. However, even since Honda has been using their own MTF, they still state that motor oil can be used as a backup if Honda MTF is not available. Recently, within the past 5 years or so, has Honda started thinning out their MTF, and their backup motor oil recommendation is now 0/5w20.

I'd probably use Rotella T5 10w30 in Honda MT's more than 10 years old.

Here is a link to the 1994 Honda Accord owners manual.
Check out page 149

qdeezie · Mar 22, 2015

Do you all think that running a 10w30 such as Rotella or QS Defy or maybe even M1 HM for a few thousand miles to clean it out a bit (never been changed before from the looks of it) will hurt before going with a dedicated MTF?

asand1 · Mar 22, 2015

I took a 15 minute drive with 5W30 in the transmission prior to filling with Pennzoil SM. Honestly the 5W30 in the Nissan felt pretty good. Just get the cheapest motor oil you can for a quick flush, or skip it altogether.

artificialist · Mar 22, 2015

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Do you all think that running a 10w30 such as Rotella or QS Defy or maybe even M1 HM for a few thousand miles to clean it out a bit (never been changed before from the looks of it) will hurt before going with a dedicated MTF?
No, because transmissions don't encounter the same contaminates as engines do. Instead, transmissions mostly become contaminated by large metal wear particles.

I'd use Honda MTF. They created it because they saw 10w30 engine oil wasn't ideal for their transmissions.

Tegger · Mar 23, 2015

Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
even since Honda has been using their own MTF, they still state that motor oil can be used as a backup if Honda MTF is not available.

In the Owner's Manual, yes.

But that's meant as a temporary, emergency fill, to be replaced by MTF "as soon as possible" originally, and now "as soon as convenient".
In both cases warning is made of stiffer shifting on account of the oil not containing the correct additives.

And, here's the standard text that appears in EVERY Honda factory shop manual since 1995:
Always use Genuine Honda Manual Transmission Fluid
(MTF). Using motor oil can cause stiffer shifting
because it does not contain the proper additives.
Motor oil is not specified even as an emergency fill.

Since the OP has time on his hands, he should use the correct stuff, which is MTF.

Gito · Mar 30, 2015

Own 91 Civic Hatchback 3dr Si. If you are not going with Honda MTF then you can try this excellent alternative: Motul (Motylgear 10w-40,Technosynthese)

https://www.motul.com/us/en-US/products/oils-lubricants/motylgear-10w40?f%5Bapplication%5D=141&f%5Brange%5D=25&f%5Bviscosity%5D=28

1994 Honda Accord Manual Trans Fluid

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