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Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:17 pm
by beretta
I know this has been answered before but i can not find it...

What type of oil can be used for a manual transmission ?

It calls for SyncroMesh and is a dealer item only its $15.00 / liter here. i need to top mine up and i dont want to spend that kind of money this time as i would like to drain it and give it a little rinse out with some fresh fluid but dont want to waste 45 bucks for 3 liters of oil.

Can engine oil be used ? the syncroMesh stuff looks like engine oil its brown in colour and just as thin.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:43 pm
by woody90gtz
Trans oil is not something to cheap out on, get the syncromesh. I know of a local guy who killed the syncros and bearings in his truck 5spd by not using the correct oil.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:57 pm
by Barry
Pennzoil makes syncromesh. It works well. I usually go half syncromesh half conventional 5w30

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:58 pm
by SuzukiGhostRider
Use Syncromesh. Pennzoil makes a syncromesh that meets the GM manual trans requirements. I've used it in my Getrag's and all is well. I did my research on it first. It's good , unlike their motor oil,lol.

And it's $7.50 a quart US.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:37 am
by weba
I've been using Redline MTL for years and years.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:40 am
by SuzukiGhostRider
Yes, and while that is a good substitute for GM Syncromesh, it's not really any cheaper. It's $14 a quart. I think the point here is the kid wants to save a few bucks while doing the right thing.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:16 pm
by beretta
i bought 2 liters of syncromesh today. for some reason it seems cheaper then the last time i bought some and from the same dealership..

$12.45 each. i drained the trans, put both in and was still low so topped it up with less then half a liter of 5w 30 oil. I got almost 2 full liters out of it. has a slow drip from somewhere i never notice puddles or anything like that but the bottom of the trans is always wet.

Re: Oil for Manual transmission

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:44 am
by SuzukiGhostRider
Two likely causes imo are output shaft seals (where your cv joint enters the trans) or loose drain plug. Really not too many places for a manual trans to leak from.