Confused on transmission fluids

I have a 1998 Integra GS-R. I'd like to replace the transmission fluid
with synthetic, but am a little confused. The manual says Honda MTF, of
course, or temporarily use 10w30/10w40 motor oil.

What is the difference between gear oil and transmission fluid (if any)?
The synthetics I've read about (Mobil 1, Red Line) seem to have weights in
the 75w80 range. That's a lot different than a "10w30" number...is that a
different scale than motor oil? What is the equivalent weight of Honda
MTF?

Thanks,


- Steve Yates
- "I've struck oil," Tom said, crudely.

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1. motor oil and gear oils have different weight systems so the numbers
are not the same.

2. use honda mtf - it has the right additive package - while it was fine
back in the day, motor oil has now changed formulation due to emissions
reasons and its additive package may be insufficient for long term use.

3. don't pay for "synthetics" and think you're getting anything special
unless it's something like red line. "synthetics" like mobil 1, amsoil,
etc. are based on what's called "group III" mineral oils. the only true
synthetics i know of are motul and red line - both ester based. rumors
about synthetics being pao's are no longer true - the [true synthetic]
pao element is only 5% of an additive package, not the base oil.

4. use honda mtf - it has the right additive package for your transmission.

 

It's best to use the specific oil recommended. Transmission oil needs
to be a lubricant for thick films yet an adhesive for thin films. If
you put a really good lubricant in the transmission, the synchronizers
don't do anything. Oil that grips too much could strain tightly fitting
parts. You also need additives that bond properly with the metals used
in the transission. Having the wrong additives will result in crud
clogging the fine grooves in the synchronizers. Without the grooves
working, the synchronizers slip on a thick film of oil rather than grab
on a thin film.

 

Here's a site with some information on what transmission
fluid to use in one's Honda's manual tranny, and why. It
does not answer all your questions but it might shed a
little more light on them.

http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id20.html

 

Thanks, Jim, Kevin, and Elle. I saw basically the same thing as this
elsewhere, but it seems to be comparing Honda MTF with motor oil, which I
wasn't even considering. There are other sites discussing how to replace
transmission fluid that suggest Red Line, et. al., resulted in smoother
shifting. It sounds like this group is pretty much saying that Honda MTF is
better than synthetic MTF so I shouldn't bother with it?

- Steve Yates
- What do you get when you cross a Sysop with*^*(#%$&*@#%NO CARRIER

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Stay tuned. Your point (synthetic vs. the Honda OEM) has
come up here before, and what you say above turns out not to
be how everyone felt, IIRC.

I drive my 91 Civic LX (manual tranny) pretty gently, so I
do not have an opinion on this particular aspect of the
tranny fluid debate.

 

Older Honda manual transmissions will benefit from RedLine. I put it in
my '83 five speed that has a noisy input bearing and it quieted down
considerably. I also use RedLine exclusively in all the transmissions
(conventional and automatic) in my vintage cars.

JT

 

Ditto. I've run RedLine MTL for over 100K miles in an '87 Integra and
'89 Legend; both with excellent results.

 

Be nice and Be good to it. Give it the best and it will take care of
you.
With a lot of miles for your money.
Honda's just love Honda fluid. :grinyes: :lol: :grinno:
Remember factory OEM parts and fluid only hurt one time.
You get to changing around with after market stuff and you can get bit
in the rear many times.
MT said that

 

I notice there aren't too many takers for that side of the
discussion.

- Steve Yates
- Old Philosophers never die, they just kant.

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The usual fine suspects responded. I do not know what
the basis is, exactly, for saying the Redline is superior.
How much does the Redline cost?

In-depth, persuasive discussion of one being vastly superior
over the other has not taken place here. It's more that
folks have used other MTFs and, as you read, with success.

For all I know for my style of driving my 91 Civic, the
motor oil prescribed by the original owner's manual (and
not the Honda OEM MTF now recommended by Honda, among
others) would have continued to be fine. I only switched, at
about 182k miles, a couple of months ago.

 

I should correct myself...there were a few Red Line fans who posted
but mostly in the context of older cars and Red Line being better than
engine oil.

I'm still not really sure which Red Line product would be correct, as
they make at least five transmission oils. Honda doesn't seem to give a
weight for their MTF oil. The Red Line products appear to all be around
$8-10, give or take.

Thanks,

- Steve Yates
- Bad Command! Bad, Bad Command! Sit! Staaaaay...

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