Redline MTL didn't go the distance

[Craig in Canada]

undummy:

I'm not bashing MTL, I'm puzzled as to why it didn't even make it 15,000km (I've been noticing poor shifting for a while) when it's worked so well for me in that past, as have other selections from Redline.

You raise good points about additive clash. I inquired with Dave @ Redline and he made no claims that there would be issues switching from RP but who knows...

I did check the fluid level and it was bang on. I had a little RP leak out of my selector seal at one point (just enough to make the transmission wet) and when shift quality started to go south with MTL I wanted to make sure I wasn't loosing some and unaware - I wasn't.

One OEM fluid (LT1) is like ATF, the next two revisions (LT2 and LT3) seem to be thicker.

Why did I switch to MTL? I've heard the argument many times in many place that ATF trades shift comfort for longevity compared to MTL/MTF viscosity fluids. I thought I'd give it a try. When in good shape (like now) the MTL shifts even better than ATF in my opinion. I also wanted a fluid designed for manuals with synchros, that meant pretty much only RP Synchromax in ATF visc, or MTL, MT90, MTF etc... I had also heard a lot of sketchy things about RP products and decided to try something else when my interval was up, since it really didn't do anything amazing for me.

Redline MTL (fresh) offers some of the best shifting I've had to date, and was the only fluid to free up my sticky 5th gear shifter return when subfreezing. I don't have a URL for this problem any longer, but it's known issue with many ZF 5-speeds like mine.

Craig.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Update:

I was able to exchange an MTL I didn't need and for a difference of $7CDN (on sale) I picked up 2L of D4ATF and put it in. I've saved the MTL that has
This is the first D4ATF I've purchased since the purple label scheme has been used and it smells weird. It was sealed and looks brand new, but it smells "toasty" instead of like ATF or gear oil (like MTL).

The observations of my wife and I on the new MTL was that sometimes it's much better, and sometimes it was just as bad as before the most recent change. It doesn't seem to vary based on temperature, so I'm at a loss. I was thinking of trying Amsoil MTF but didn't take the plunge on that yet since Amsoil doesn't recommend it for my transmission. Pablo's pointed out that that may just mean it's not fully tested or guaranteed, as opposed to "not recommended" but still...

With the fresh D4ATF I can tell it's a little thinner, some parts of shifting are easier but sometimes I still feel the occasional oddity. I haven't yet been able to go over the linkage with someone in the car moving the shifter to determine if any parts have a lot of play.

Something that I would sometimes feel with the MTL was like the synchros are doing their job, but sometimes do it suddenly. There would never be any crunching, but as you were engaging a gear you'd bring the synchros together, feel some resistance (rotation not yet matched), then feel the feedback of a little bonk (rotation suddenly matching?) and then it slips into gear. I could feel the inertia of the shafts feeding back through the shifter. I wouldn't feel that every shift previously, but I'll be watching the D4ATF.

 

[mechtech2]

Transmissions can be a little picky with fluids and shifting quality.
I don't doubt the value of the Redline fluids for protection, but swap another brand in there to get the best shifting. That is one of the joys of driving.
I will try one of the new Amsoil sauces for my next transmission change. I'm sure Pablo will recommend an appropriate fluid for you .

 

[Spewn]

Regarding shipping to blackstone; It'll cost you <$5, I just bought my postage the other day. Exchange rate right now means the analysis will cost about $25cdn, so a total of $30.

 

[Pablo]

I guess I'm still skritching my crusty scalp on the "recommend" thing. Let me ask, does Redline guarantee that D4 or MTL will work? I’m pretty sure they don’t say, well if you have notchiness in 10K miles, or whatever – we will replace your transmission or the fluid. No they say, if the fluid is defective, we’ll make you whole (now I can’t say if this means new fluid or new transmission)……

 

[Craig in Canada]

Hey Pablo, I was going to shoot you a private note but got sidetracked at the office before I could. Thanks for digging into the "recommended" business for me. It's probably true that it would be fine, but I'm not quite ready to go to a non-recommended fluid just yet.

What I've done is for $7CDN gone back to a fluid that I've used previously with success to evaluate what's going on. If I drain out the D4ATF in the end I still use it in my power steering. Of course that'll be a couple of years worth

So, instead of everyone saying "I'm sure it would be fine", has anyone here been running Amsoil MTF in a late-90s/early 2000s ZF 5-speed manual BMW transmission for any length of time? I guess I'll start another thread if I have to...

Craig.

 

[RustyH]

Hi Craig, I think starting another post would be a good idea. I'm also curious as to what other BMW owners have used in this transmission. I have a 2002 530i and finally got the nerve to use something other than BMW MTF-2. I put in RP Synchomax and definitely like the result. Still a speck notchy, but 95% better. I had trouble getting into 1st and occ 3rd. I have only had trouble in 1st once, none in 3rd since the change. But, I would also like to know if anyone as tried Amsoil MTF. Redline and RP seem to be what most use instead of BMW fluid just from reading a few forums.

 

[Hammer]

Quote:

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Hi Craig, I think starting another post would be a good idea. I'm also curious as to what other BMW owners have used in this transmission. I have a 2002 530i and finally got the nerve to use something other than BMW MTF-2. I put in RP Synchomax and definitely like the result. Still a speck notchy, but 95% better. I had trouble getting into 1st and occ 3rd. I have only had trouble in 1st once, none in 3rd since the change. But, I would also like to know if anyone as tried Amsoil MTF. Redline and RP seem to be what most use instead of BMW fluid just from reading a few forums.

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I'm using Specialty Formulations MTFglide in my BMW's transmission. it shifts like a dream with as all the transmissions I've put it in shift like a dream. Unfortunately, Molakule has decided not to continue the business at SF so this excellent product isn't available any more.

Hammer