I've read a few of the threads about using MTF in a manual that calls for ATF. Thing is I didn't find anything on the T56 in fbodys, vettes, and the GTO. Any opinions? Anyone actually own a car with this transmission and has some real world experience? I've used Honda ATF in my Firehawk for many years and never had a problem. I am mainly curious about using MTF.
GTO 6 speed
- Thread starter Firehawk409
- Start date
- Status
I own a Cobra with a T56. My question is why do you want to try a gear lube, which has completely different lubrication properties than an ATF? The sychronizers will not work the same, your transmission temps will probably rise, and if you unknowningly use a gear lube with moly, then be prepared for your transmission to start slipping. I use ATF as all the car manufacturers and Tremec call for, so what do you know that they don't? It even has this huge label right on the side on the transmission explicitly saying not to use any lube other than Mercon/Dexron III.
If it calls for dex/merc iii , maxlife is one of the best value for money out there. 15.99 at your AutoZone for a gallon and its synthetic.
Originally Posted By: SVTCobra
I own a Cobra with a T56. My question is why do you want to try a gear lube, which has completely different lubrication properties than an ATF? The sychronizers will not work the same, your transmission temps will probably rise, and if you unknowningly use a gear lube with moly, then be prepared for your transmission to start slipping. I use ATF as all the car manufacturers and Tremec call for, so what do you know that they don't? It even has this huge label right on the side on the transmission explicitly saying not to use any lube other than Mercon/Dexron III.
How will MTF make a T56 start slipping? I could see how maybe battery acid might do that, but MTF?
I own a Cobra with a T56. My question is why do you want to try a gear lube, which has completely different lubrication properties than an ATF? The sychronizers will not work the same, your transmission temps will probably rise, and if you unknowningly use a gear lube with moly, then be prepared for your transmission to start slipping. I use ATF as all the car manufacturers and Tremec call for, so what do you know that they don't? It even has this huge label right on the side on the transmission explicitly saying not to use any lube other than Mercon/Dexron III.
How will MTF make a T56 start slipping? I could see how maybe battery acid might do that, but MTF?
Geez relax people....I just read this thread.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1074235
So i was curious about if anyone tried it in a T56. I know what the label says, and I know it calls for ATF. It has nothing to do with me knowing something the manufacturer knows. It's about asking, learning and trying different things.
I ordered some more amsoil today for my next oil change. I should have just added the transmission fluid too. Anyone used their product?
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1074235
So i was curious about if anyone tried it in a T56. I know what the label says, and I know it calls for ATF. It has nothing to do with me knowing something the manufacturer knows. It's about asking, learning and trying different things.
I ordered some more amsoil today for my next oil change. I should have just added the transmission fluid too. Anyone used their product?
Last edited:
I'm using the Pennzoil DexIII ATF in my GTO's T-56. No issues to report.
Originally Posted By: cchase
I'm using the Pennzoil DexIII ATF in my GTO's T-56. No issues to report.
Have you noticed any wax build up? I went to get it but the guy at Autozone said anything from Pennzoil will cause a waxy build up. Especially on a high performance car.
I kid I kid....
I'm using the Pennzoil DexIII ATF in my GTO's T-56. No issues to report.
Have you noticed any wax build up? I went to get it but the guy at Autozone said anything from Pennzoil will cause a waxy build up. Especially on a high performance car.
I kid I kid....
The thicker MTl fluids should help with gear and bearing wear. And also much better for a transaxles differential.
Some T56s use carbon fiber/paper synchros, and some use brass/bronze.
The former is the strongest reason why why ATF could be preferred.
But note that many have success with real dedicated manual trans lubes.
Some T56s use carbon fiber/paper synchros, and some use brass/bronze.
The former is the strongest reason why why ATF could be preferred.
But note that many have success with real dedicated manual trans lubes.
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
The thicker MTl fluids should help with gear and bearing wear. And also much better for a transaxles differential.
Some T56s use carbon fiber/paper synchros, and some use brass/bronze.
The former is the strongest reason why why ATF could be preferred.
But note that many have success with real dedicated manual trans lubes.
How would I know what my synchros are made out of? Do you feel its worth using MTF for a daily driver that gets driven pretty hard occasionally and will rarely ever see the track. I know ATF would do just fine. I used it in my Firehawk for over 10 years. I'm just a bit curious about MTF but I don't want to ruin my trans.
Any specific MTF you recommend? Amsoil seems to be priced decent and I have my 1 year membership. I looked at torco's site and their stuff is out the box high, but I guess if its worth it then maybe its not so bad.
The thicker MTl fluids should help with gear and bearing wear. And also much better for a transaxles differential.
Some T56s use carbon fiber/paper synchros, and some use brass/bronze.
The former is the strongest reason why why ATF could be preferred.
But note that many have success with real dedicated manual trans lubes.
How would I know what my synchros are made out of? Do you feel its worth using MTF for a daily driver that gets driven pretty hard occasionally and will rarely ever see the track. I know ATF would do just fine. I used it in my Firehawk for over 10 years. I'm just a bit curious about MTF but I don't want to ruin my trans.
Any specific MTF you recommend? Amsoil seems to be priced decent and I have my 1 year membership. I looked at torco's site and their stuff is out the box high, but I guess if its worth it then maybe its not so bad.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: yonyon
Originally Posted By: SVTCobra
I own a Cobra with a T56. My question is why do you want to try a gear lube, which has completely different lubrication properties than an ATF? The sychronizers will not work the same, your transmission temps will probably rise, and if you unknowningly use a gear lube with moly, then be prepared for your transmission to start slipping. I use ATF as all the car manufacturers and Tremec call for, so what do you know that they don't? It even has this huge label right on the side on the transmission explicitly saying not to use any lube other than Mercon/Dexron III.
How will MTF make a T56 start slipping? I could see how maybe battery acid might do that, but MTF?
Yeah I was thinking auto transmissions. Gear lube with moly probably won't make anything slip in an manual transmission, but it will still cause the other problems I mentioned.
Originally Posted By: SVTCobra
I own a Cobra with a T56. My question is why do you want to try a gear lube, which has completely different lubrication properties than an ATF? The sychronizers will not work the same, your transmission temps will probably rise, and if you unknowningly use a gear lube with moly, then be prepared for your transmission to start slipping. I use ATF as all the car manufacturers and Tremec call for, so what do you know that they don't? It even has this huge label right on the side on the transmission explicitly saying not to use any lube other than Mercon/Dexron III.
How will MTF make a T56 start slipping? I could see how maybe battery acid might do that, but MTF?
Yeah I was thinking auto transmissions. Gear lube with moly probably won't make anything slip in an manual transmission, but it will still cause the other problems I mentioned.
My 99 Camaro SS ran absolutely AWESOME with Redline D4 ATF. I saw some thread somewhere about some knuckle heads that thought MTF was a much better choice for the T56 (Despite the label on the transmission). So, being an Amsoil fan, I picked up some Amsoil MTF. Even a certain Amsoil dealer said the MTL would be best thing ever - flat out wrong.
I drove it around for maybe 50 or 60 miles, but I noticed the shifting was nowhere near as smooth and it just didn't feel "right". So I dumped it for Redline again, but when I drained it I saw lots of sparkles, lots, like a little kid spilled their glitter in my oil. To me it looked like mostly brass. I was shocked and very disappointed
Shifting improved when the ATF went back in, but it was never the same afterwards. The buttery smooth shifts were gone.
So, don't listen to anyone that thinks they know better than the people that built the transmission.
I drove it around for maybe 50 or 60 miles, but I noticed the shifting was nowhere near as smooth and it just didn't feel "right". So I dumped it for Redline again, but when I drained it I saw lots of sparkles, lots, like a little kid spilled their glitter in my oil. To me it looked like mostly brass. I was shocked and very disappointed
Shifting improved when the ATF went back in, but it was never the same afterwards. The buttery smooth shifts were gone.
So, don't listen to anyone that thinks they know better than the people that built the transmission.
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
Definitely stick with an ATF, MTL was bad news for my Camaro SS - it ruined the smooth shifting.
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
Have you tried anything from amsoil? I'm seeing some good comments about the RL D4 and I just might try that.
I just realized my power steering uses ATF. Would the D4 be okay to use for that purpose?
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
Have you tried anything from amsoil? I'm seeing some good comments about the RL D4 and I just might try that.
I just realized my power steering uses ATF. Would the D4 be okay to use for that purpose?
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I'd say that's definitely a good call. It could harm your trans if the alternate fluid you pick is too far from the ATF it's spec'd for. I always put Amsoil or Petro Canada ATF in my Saturn 5 speeds and they were pure butter, even when it was the dead of winter.
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I'd say that's definitely a good call. It could harm your trans if the alternate fluid you pick is too far from the ATF it's spec'd for. I always put Amsoil or Petro Canada ATF in my Saturn 5 speeds and they were pure butter, even when it was the dead of winter.
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
Have you tried anything from amsoil? I'm seeing some good comments about the RL D4 and I just might try that.
I just realized my power steering uses ATF. Would the D4 be okay to use for that purpose?
Yes, I have tried the Amsoil ATF, and it was good, but not as smooth as the D4. I've never tried the Amsoil MTF.
The D4 would work, but most everyone who road races LS1 f bodies uses RL power steering fluid with MUCH success (including me).
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: Firehawk409
I think I'm just going to play it safe and stick with a good atf. Worked for 10 years in the hawk. Was just curious to see if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was. Im probably going to order it from amsoil. Id like to try Torco but its crazy expensive. I think it was actually double the cost of amsoil.
I have used both, and even combinations/mixes of both in my T56.
What I have found is that either a mix of RL D4 & RL MTL, or just straight MTL will shift a little 'notchy' in the winter, when cold, until it warms up a bit. Then it is fine, as it is in the heat of summer, even when just starting out.
But the straight D4 just seems to be the smoothest ALL of the time, albeit giving up some gear protection that the MTL, or MTL/D4 blend gives.
I am NOT worried though, since the D4 is basically GL-4 rated, so it IS going to protect about the best of all of the Dex 3 rated fluids, and shear the least.
The ONLY fluid which ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WORK in my T56, and which I dumped in less than ONE day in the gearbox, was the Royal Purple SynchroMax.
That stuff made it grind EVERY gear/shift, and sounded like it was going to DESTROY the gearbox completely.
Have you tried anything from amsoil? I'm seeing some good comments about the RL D4 and I just might try that.
I just realized my power steering uses ATF. Would the D4 be okay to use for that purpose?
Yes, I have tried the Amsoil ATF, and it was good, but not as smooth as the D4. I've never tried the Amsoil MTF.
The D4 would work, but most everyone who road races LS1 f bodies uses RL power steering fluid with MUCH success (including me).
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked