- Joined
- Feb 11, 2025
- Messages
- 5
So, I tried experimenting a couple of different OEM brand MTF’s/GL-4 gear oil, on a variety of different manual transmission-equipped cars. I think certain ones from Nissan and BMW, were fully synthetic by default, and also didn’t smell “funky”, so I assumed they were just fine to run. A bit more expensive compared to conventional Synchromesh formulas, with brands like Valvoline and Pennzoil.
I do recall the Honda/Acura crowd running AC Delco’s semi-synthetic “friction modified” version of their Synchromesh, as some sort of “miracle” trans fluid/gear oil… If I recall however, this actually led to more wear and tear, since it caused there to be more slippage between the synchronizers/blocking rings in the gearbox. I would see a fair amount of more metallic debris, when draining the trans fluid.
On that note, I also can’t recall if Honda’s OEM MTF was semi-synthetic or conventional, but I don’t think it was fully synthetic. It also reeks like the friction modified stuff that I had just mentioned, although Honda and Acura’s manual transmissions aren’t something unique, like Subaru’s shared transaxle design (requires GL-5 friction modified gear oil). Somewhere on here, I also read about an oil analysis stating that Honda/Acura MTF having more calcium than other gear oils/MTF’s?
I did run Honda/Acura OEM MTF in my 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, which has a factory Tremec TR-6060 manual trans (calls for ATF). I recall it shifting okay for a few days and then starting to notice a fairly quick decrease in shifting quality, so I drained it and refilled back up with full synthetic Triax GL-4 75w-80 MTF, which seemed to fix the issue.
Also, on that note, I have also ran GL-4+ (GL-4/5 compatible) gear oils in my fair share of manual trans-equipped vehicles, and have not noticed anything negative. I’ve ran Royal Purple’s Gear Max GL-4+ 75w-90, as well as Motul Gear 300 GL-4+ 75w-90 in some Honda manual transmissions, as well as the same Tremec TR-6060 I just mentioned above, for track driving and drag racing applications. I didn’t notice anything special, aside from increased viscosity/weight, which is an obvious hassle for cold start driving performance.
I do recall the Honda/Acura crowd running AC Delco’s semi-synthetic “friction modified” version of their Synchromesh, as some sort of “miracle” trans fluid/gear oil… If I recall however, this actually led to more wear and tear, since it caused there to be more slippage between the synchronizers/blocking rings in the gearbox. I would see a fair amount of more metallic debris, when draining the trans fluid.
On that note, I also can’t recall if Honda’s OEM MTF was semi-synthetic or conventional, but I don’t think it was fully synthetic. It also reeks like the friction modified stuff that I had just mentioned, although Honda and Acura’s manual transmissions aren’t something unique, like Subaru’s shared transaxle design (requires GL-5 friction modified gear oil). Somewhere on here, I also read about an oil analysis stating that Honda/Acura MTF having more calcium than other gear oils/MTF’s?
I did run Honda/Acura OEM MTF in my 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, which has a factory Tremec TR-6060 manual trans (calls for ATF). I recall it shifting okay for a few days and then starting to notice a fairly quick decrease in shifting quality, so I drained it and refilled back up with full synthetic Triax GL-4 75w-80 MTF, which seemed to fix the issue.
Also, on that note, I have also ran GL-4+ (GL-4/5 compatible) gear oils in my fair share of manual trans-equipped vehicles, and have not noticed anything negative. I’ve ran Royal Purple’s Gear Max GL-4+ 75w-90, as well as Motul Gear 300 GL-4+ 75w-90 in some Honda manual transmissions, as well as the same Tremec TR-6060 I just mentioned above, for track driving and drag racing applications. I didn’t notice anything special, aside from increased viscosity/weight, which is an obvious hassle for cold start driving performance.
