Havoline Synthetic 5W-30 as MTF

[deoxy4]

I have a friend that has moved to the wilderness of Maine. He intended to change his transmission fluid in his manual 2002 CR-V with Honda MTF. He drained the fluid and couldn't find the Honda MTF which got lost in the move. He is about 60 miles from a dealership and needed the car so he used Havoline synthetic 5w30 motor oil intending to change it out in the near term. Well that was 22,000 miles ago. He says he hasn't had any problems and has never used anything that has performed as well including Honda MTF in this vehicle.

I have used this oil as motor oil. It has a mid 10 viscosity, high flashpoint, good amount of Ca, very good pour point, very little Mo, no B but weak in Zn and P for a MTF. He claims he is going to use it again he likes it so much with the remaining 3 quarts he has left.

What harm can he be doing to his transmission? He reminds me that his prior Honda recommended motor oil as MTL and he put 286K miles on motor oil as MTF with no transmission related problems.

 

[castor]

harley davidson now advise that their brand of synthetic oil can be use in all three holes i.e. engine, gearbox and clutch/primary compartment
btw, i think it is a 20w50 oil made for them by citgo

 

[unDummy]

Most Hondas ran motor oil in the manual transmission. When the motor oil moved up the API category(SL/SM) and down a SAE weight(5w20), Honda came out with the 30wt MTFs.

Some of the newer motor oils have lesser additive packages(ZDDP/Ca) and might not protect the transmission well. But, the newer motor oils use better basestocks and newer friction modifiers, that should make up for the older additive package. Problem is that these newer friction modifiers, which help improve MPG and reduce wear, also could possibly be overly slippery for proper synchro operation. IMO, as long as the transmission shifts OK, the motor oil should be good enough. But, I'd prefer a MTF in that box, like Redline MTL, Amsoil MTF, or the OEM Honda fluids. Some say that 30wt HDEO might be more similar to the MTFs than the newer SM PCMOs.

 

[Dave Hess]

The older Hondas used 5w30 motor oil.

I would stick with the MTL , it willl shift smoother with MTL.

 

[The Critic]

Insufficient anti-wear protection due to the lower levels of ZDDP, Ca, etc IMO.

 

[Bror Jace]

"The older Hondas used 5w30 motor oil."

My '95 Civic called for 10w30.

Still, I'd use Red Line MTL or one of the Specialty Formulations fluids like MTL-P or (that far north) their GM Synchromesh equivalent.

--- Bror Jace

 

[INDYMAC]

Honda recommends Honda MTF for the '04 S2000 transmission. The manual says you can use 10w30 motor oil in a temporary pinch. I use GMSMFM now. It lasts a little longer than MTF, but will probably try MTL-P next.