My MTL-P arrived

[FTO-UK]

My gallon bottle of MTL-P arrived here in England about 6 weeks after ordering it from MolaKule - not too bad a shipping time and thanks to MolaKule for shipping it out promptly and USPS for not losing it. The cap had a crack in it, but fortunately no oil had leaked out.

I just drained the RL MT90 out of my Mitsubishi transaxle and pumped in the MTL-P. Its a little weird - smells funny and its a wacky damson colour. I haven't driven the car yet but will report back in due course. If it improves the notchy shift and 2-3 shift grinding even just a little then it will have been worth the cost and the wait.

Incidentally, I noticed that when driving the car (still with the RL MT90 in it) the 2-3 gear grind was very evident when the car was going up an incline. On flat road, or going downhill, there was much less chance of a grind. I suspect this is due to movement of oil within the transmission. Would anyone like to suggest a theory on this one?

 

[Bror Jace]

FTO-UK, good deal on getting the MTL-P timely and intact.

I suspect the shift problem on an incline has more to do with the physical loading on the engine, transmission and mounts.

Guys on the SpecV boards talk about shift feel changing when they switch from hollow to solid engine and transaxle mounts.

So, it probably has nothing to do with the oil.

--- Bror Jace

 

[FTO-UK]

Well, I did about 30mi driving in the Mitsubishi this morning and can confirm that the shift action is definitely better with the MTL-P than when Redline's MT90 was in there. Whether this is simply due to a lower viscosity, or to a different additive pack, I don't know. I'm sure I'll be ordering more; some for my wife's Nissan 5-speed and maybe I'll try some of the SF ATF for my Maxima.

Unfortunately I still get the odd crunch going 2-3. Its really weird because I can do a fast change up at 5000rpm 2-3 and its fine; but then I do one at 2000rpm and it crunches??? Other gears seem fine, so its not the clutch. I guess I really need to bite the bullet and get 3rd gear synchro changed - maybe later in the year.....

 

[MolaKule]

It could be the 3rd gear synchro/blocker ring system or mainshaft bearings.

Another item of interest (from the back hollows of my cranium): I once had a manual transmission that had a "crunchy" 2 to 3 upshift and upon teardown the cause was the mainshaft bearings. Sounds weird, but my BIL (a race car mechanic who helped me tear it down and rebuild) said that upon engine torque, the vibration of the mainshaft causes oscillations which interfere with both gear meshing and sychro engagement.

 

[FTO-UK]

Hmm, you have me a little worried now. Synchro parts needing replacement, I can live with. But mainshaft problems are another matter. If my mainshaft gets chewed up then I may not be able to get a replacement (car is out of production for a few years). Thanks for the tip though - I may get a gearbox specialist to give it a drive...

 

[MolaKule]

Also make sure the transmission mounts are in good shape as well.

Give the MTL-P some time and see if the slight crunching becomes reduced over time. I find it takes about 50 to 150 miles before shifting improves over other lubes.

 

[Whimsey]

It took me about 500+ miles after changing to SF's SynchroGlide from the Mercon rated ATF(Schaeffer's #204S, which in it's self was a whole heck of a lot better than the Factory Mercon which only had 14,000 miles on it when I changed to the Schaeffer's) in my F150's manual transmission to notice any major improvement. Though within 50 miles I did begin to see an improvement in shifting quality. Now I'm probably at 1500 miles plus since the change and the shifting quality is still improving. Gotta love SF's lubes

.

Whimsey

 

[FTO-UK]

Thanks for the tips guys.

MolaKule - I just submitted an order for another two gallons of MTL-P for shipment to England. I'm going to try it in my Nissan.

 

[FTO-UK]

*** UPDATE ***

After driving about another 50 miles on MTL-P I can confirm that the shift quality is definitely much better. In fact, once the oil is warm, the grind on a 2-3 shift has gone - I think I would have to 'try' to make it crunch now! What a good result! - I was on the verge of a costly gearbox overhaul - looks like I've put off that evil day for a little while longer. Many thanks to MolaKule and I shall be recommending your oil to others.