Replacing the Manual Transmission Fluid On a 2003 Ford Focus With The SPI Engine

[macarose]

I spent the later part of this afternoon cleaning up a 2003 Ford Focus SE that I bought for the princely sum of $600 (plus a highly inflated $214 auction buy fee).

It's a surprisingly nice vehicle. After two hours of cleaning the seats look nearly new and the exterior is good enough to look less than half its age.

The shifting is perfectly fine, but I know it's going to need at least a rear motor mount (I'll probably replace them all) and I'm thinking the transmission fluid is original. It only has 81,000 miles so that's not the end of the world. But I would like to replace it just to make sure it stays on the road for many more years.

Would Valvoline Synchromesh be a good fit? I'm not sure if it's a GL-4 or a GL-4+ fluid. Also I'm thinking that it still needs a 75W-90 and VS is a 75w-80 product.

This manual transmission goes back to at least the mid-90s so I would like to stick to a product that won't have additives that could potentially harm the transmission in the long run.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The Ford spec is called M2C200-C which is a 75w90 GL4.

Liqui-Moly 22275 is a good choice that came out recently. You can find it online at a good price. There is also the Castrol-made Motorcraft XT-M5-QS, though it costs more.

Pennzoil and Valvoline seem to have stopped making their 75w90 GL4 products usable in manual transmissions

 

[GSCJR]

Ford MOTORCRAFT® Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid XT-M5-QS.

Find a dealer nearby:

https://www.fordpartspros.com/oem-p...j3wIlzBQzqa4eSmrBtwuMLPANcrYGDvyJvf6MzBhijVvA

 

[rollins.]

+1

Stick with the recommendation in the Owner's manual, p.197 :
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/03focog1e.pdf

It is Castrol's BOT 130M formulation, PAO based :

https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...ynthetic-manual-transmission-fluids.html/1000

https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrica... Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid.pdf


~$24 by Rock Auto (was ~19 three months ago,may drop again)

Can be obtained under Volvo 1161723 (available here and there...FCP or Pelican Parts )

https://websds.volvo.com/websds/str...ageName=United+States+-+English&pLocale=en_GB

...or packaged as Castrol Syntrans Mulitivehicle 75w-90 at funnier prices.

 

[oilboy123]

I think my 2016 Ford Focus S with manual 5 is the based on the same trans. MTX-75. But it takes dual clutch fluid. Nice find on the Focus!

 

[macarose]

I think my 2016 Ford Focus S with manual 5 is the based on the same trans. MTX-75. But it takes dual clutch fluid. Nice find on the Focus!

Different trans. It's an IB5. I'm trying to figure out which one of these I can get at Amazon.

Rockauto burned me one too many times so I'm sticking to Amazon and local stores.

 

[Rand]

redline mt-90?

The amazon listing is goofy and states mt-90 "mtl (manual transmission lubricant)"
but redline has a seperate product called MTL.
but the pic is mt-90

I don't think that transmission is very picky provided you use a gl-4
back when it came out we didn't have most of the lower viscosity options.

 

[martinq]

Most John Deere dealers will stock Hy-Gard (J20C) and/or Hy-Gard LV (J20D, Low Viscosity). This is a GL4 THF (tractor hydraulic fluid) that is of high quality and works very well in many MTs especially those that use brass synchro blocking rings. I've personally used this in a few Mitsubishi and Suzuki MTs to great effect, and at a much lower expense than a premium synchromesh / MT fluid.

If there is a dealer near you that sells this fluid I think it's well worth a try, if even to be used as a flush. It doesn't have to be Deere, most other mfgs and aftermarket suppliers will claim they meet J20C/D spec. Because you are in Georgia I would not use the LV J20D and try the thicker J20C fluid (Hy-Gard).

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Different trans. It's an IB5. I'm trying to figure out which one of these I can get at Amazon.

Rockauto burned me one too many times so I'm sticking to Amazon and local stores.

Amazon has a worse reputation than Rock Auto

There are some reputable sites that have the Liqui-Moly MTF in the $15 range:
ECS Tuning
FCP Euro
EEuroparts or eeuroparts on eBay (might be cheaper from ebay than from their own site)

Napa carries most L-M products, but they don't seem to carry this one

 

[macarose]

I ended up finding this...

TRIAX Synergy Gear MT 75W-90 GL-4 / MT-90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid, 1 Quart​

Very similar reviews to the MT-90 product. It was only $14.89 a quart. It's interesting to have to piece together the fluids for a vehicle that was once a consistently strong seller for Ford.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I ended up finding this...

TRIAX Synergy Gear MT 75W-90 GL-4 / MT-90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid, 1 Quart​

Very similar reviews to the MT-90 product. It was only $14.89 a quart. It's interesting to have to piece together the fluids for a vehicle that was once a consistently strong seller for Ford.

Some people on here don't like Triax

 

[macarose]

Some people on here don't like Triax

I would be interested in hearing a second opinion if there is one. The ib5 transmission is about 30 years old, so I would be curious to see if anyone has experience or even scientific data related to this fluid and older transmissions.

I guess I shouldn't hold my breath!

 

[Astro14]

I ended up finding this...

TRIAX Synergy Gear MT 75W-90 GL-4 / MT-90 Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid, 1 Quart​

Very similar reviews to the MT-90 product. It was only $14.89 a quart. It's interesting to have to piece together the fluids for a vehicle that was once a consistently strong seller for Ford.

Not a Triax fan.

Call HPL - they make a couple of good choices. Including a 75W for my Volvo R six speed of similar vintage.

If you’re flipping it, yeah, I guess use the cheapest junk you can find. Triax would be in that category. But honestly, if cost is that much of a concern, but wouldn’t even use the Triax and save yourself the labor.

But if you’re trying to set the car up to be “correct“, and spend a couple of dollars more and use the HPL you’ll be pleased with the results, besides what’s this thing take - 2 Liters? Not much of a cost.

 

[macarose]

Not a Triax fan.

Call HPL - they make a couple of good choices. Including a 75W for my Volvo R six speed of similar vintage.

If you’re flipping it, yeah, I guess use the cheapest junk you can find. Triax would be in that category. But honestly, if cost is that much of a concern, but wouldn’t even use the Triax and save yourself the labor.

But if you’re trying to set the car up to be “correct“, and spend a couple of dollars more and use the HPL you’ll be pleased with the results, besides what’s this thing take - 2 Liters? Not much of a cost.

What is HPL?

 

[GSCJR]

The Ford spec is called M2C200-C which is a 75w90 GL4.

Ford MOTORCRAFT® Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid XT-M5-QS. Find a dealer nearby.

Stick with the recommendation in the Owner's manual, p.197 :
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/03focog1e.pdf

I'm sticking to Amazon and local stores.

I don't think that transmission is very picky provided you use a gl-4

besides what’s this thing take - 2 Liters? Not much of a cost.

See above

 

[Rand]

What is HPL?

The opposite of triax which is hot garbage.

 

[Astro14]

What is HPL?

They are a site sponsor, and a great bunch of people.

https://www.hplubricants.com/category/automotive-lubricants/

Order here: https://www.advlubrication.com/

Use the code BITOG15 for a discount.

Or, better still, call them, ask Mary Jane what they can do for you. Often, they have products, or can formulate products, that aren't listed on the site above. They can tailor things to your specific needs.

 

[TiGeo]

Should be the mx75 5 spd same as '13. This stuff works amazing.

Post in thread 'friction modifier in a manual trans? Mazda mx-5 6mt' https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...nual-trans-mazda-mx-5-6mt.391540/post-7134062

 

[rollins.]

SPI ones have IB5 , there might be a sticker on the housing with code XS4R-7002-DE .

What it came with from the factory (this IB5 in 2003 focus) was Motorcraft FS (XT-M5-QS)

What Ford allows nowadays :

https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/quickref/mantransUS.pdf


If it's behaving properly - stick with the factory fill.

As for drain and refill or level check,

(~minute 26)

The "drain plug" (which is not a drain plug) should be removed with shifter in neutral according to these comments under IB5 videos :

"Yeah I have twice now…just put it in neutral & what ever you do don’t change it until you’ve put the pin back in. Torque is 25nm & you need a sealant when putting the pin/bolt back in… You’re also probably worth getting a hand pump of some kind as without removing a CV you’ll still have a bit of old oil in there..."

...or :

...he's right, the ford ib5 transmissions don't have a drain plug at all, this transmission is filled for life from the factory, the tech manuals state that fluid should be drained by removing the gearbox and drain it via the driveshaft hole, or to empty the gearbox with a suction pipe, if you do it via this hole, not everything will be drained, that bolt is for the selector shaft interlock mechanism, it has a ball detent on the end and should be sealed with thread sealer aswell when placed back, also it depends on the car on how to fill it, on some cars the gearbox needs to be filled via the breather hole on top, because the fluid goes above the height of the filling hole, and in other cars it needs to be filled 5 to 10mm below that filling hole.

This needs more research- plenty of info there. But the shifter/linkages should not be disturbed with the "drain plug" out.