What manual transmission fluid are you running?

[Roadhog]

At first I had mine filled with Redline MT-90, supposed to be really good. I would get constant grinding if I tried to shift fast from first to 2nd at higher rpms.

So I did some reading and found that a lot of people are switching to the "GM Synchromesh" which is yellow metal safe. So I decided to go grab a couple quarts from the local GM dealer for $14 a quart. Drained the Redline, found a little synchro dust (eheh grind) . Filled the transmission with the GM stuff, which is a little thinner than the Redline. :shock: Decided to go for a test drive doubtful that anything would be fixed... Proved me wrong. The transmission now shifts like butter. No matter what I do I cannot get it to grind.

Dunno how it is for the life of the transmission. But I've been running it for ~1000+ miles and it still shifts perfectly. I assume if it does cut the life of the transmission, it will still last longer than if it was grinding. :shock:

[Mikewire]

Well, I was dumb and ran a GL-4 only tranny fluid for about 20K miles. I didn't know the difference. So, I changed it a few months ago and it's been crappy...it still grinds a little bit and is stiff when cold. Honestly, my tranny has never been very smooth, even when we first got it. I think I need to try the syncromesh, but I couldn't find it anywhere in town...not even the GM dealership carried it. So I settled for Delo, which is really close to syncromesh. I had to buy a case from a distributor in town

[Roadhog]

Ah, I forgot to ad the the Pennzoil Synchromesh is supposedly the same exact thing as the GM stuff. If you do go for the GM stuff, make sure it doesn't have the friction modifiers.

[73veedubya]

i know this is kinda a old thread but what ever..i use royal purple synchromax 75w90 and my tranny has never ran better

[Roadhog]

I just put in Amsoil MTG in my new trans, best fluid ever...

I've heard bad things about Royal purple, that it sheers easy, and loses viscosity really fast.

[Dubber]

How often should we replace the tranny fluid? im at 60k... good time?

[MK 4 GTI]

Why not run VW stuff.......is it too expensive??????? hard to get????????

[MK 4 GTI]

How often should we replace the tranny fluid? im at 60k... good time?

What car??? If you haven't the manual, I can find out.....

[ValveFloat]

I just put in Amsoil MTG in my new trans...

Ditto, just changed the gear oil in the R32 and went with Amsoil. Shifting into 2nd is maybe just a little slower when cold, but once warmed up its very good.

Why not run VW stuff.......is it too expensive??

It is very expensive, and there are a million opinions about whether its good or not. There are a few different VW gear oils, and some of them, particularly the ones specced for Mk4s are pretty low viscosity, according to some tests someone on TDIclub did.

[Mikewire]

How often should we replace the tranny fluid? im at 60k... good time?

It's really a "lifetime" fluid, and you will find no service interval on changing the fluid, but many people change it. I suppose you could change it anytime, but unless its contaminated it's not necessary - the case it sealed so nothing can get in to dirty it up...except the shavings from your gears, syncros etc. Joe and Spence autox so they change theirs often I would imagine.

I changed mine at 75K or something like that, and I have changed it a couple of times since. I may also try the amsoil if I can find a dealer in Billings, or just order it on the web.

To change it you either need a 17mm allen wrench or the security style socket which I think is a torx. Mine's a 17mm so if you need to borrow my wrench you can.