Just stirring the conversation - but I switched to this stuff from Pennzoil Synchromesh(which was also great, was due for a change) last summer and ever since I have had a lot more transmission whine. Transmission shifts great and feels fine - but the whine is an interesting side effect for me. Anyone else experience this as well?

Transmission is still original at 102k miles, but I just find it odd that I noticed it immediately after switching fluids over.

 

That be the good stuff though I didn't use this yet. I stuck with MT-90 on the change from factory at ~ 40K miles (first change).

 

Whine is usually worn internal bearings which is common on an S1 trans with moderate or more use/miles, first time I heard someone thinking this oil resulted in it though

Edit: 102k, yeah that's bearings and it never should have had synchromesh fluid in it in the first place




.

 

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. The whine begin with the fluid change, which might just mean a change in general was the culprit and not the oil that I put back in. Losing the viscosity of the old oil that probably had some metal particles floating around to thicken it up a bit is probably why it wasn't as noticeable before the change.

Edit: on topic of Synchromesh though - I know a couple people who have gone almost the entire 100k life of their transmissions with the Synchromesh fluid to no ill effects.

 

Just for conversation's sake, here's my experience.

Rebuilt the motor in the 8 a total of 3 times, it's a long story, and have had Amsoil 75w-90 Long Life gear lube in the transmission for about 6,500 miles. I found that I didn't like the way the transmission shifted, it would grind upon hard acceleration shifting, and didn't want to downshift into 1st at all and 3rd and 2nd weren't much better. This is a GL-5 fluid designed for differentials but I figured it didn't matter for an old(er) transmission.
Fluid PDF: Amsoil 75w-90 Long Life gear lube

Swapped it to Amsoil 75w-90 Manual Transmission fluid and it seems to be doing much better. Smoother shifts, better downshifts, no grinds on hard acceleration shifting. This is a GL-4 fluid designed for manual transmissions and transaxles. It's been in the car for about 1,000 miles now and I feel like it is doing much better.
Fluid PDF: Amsoil 75w-90 Manual Transmission gear lube

I'm not an Amsoil fanboy. I just buy it because I get it cheaper than parts store fluid now that I'm a dealer, and only buy it for myself. When you're maintaining a Saturn, Suburban, Audi Allroad, RX-7 and RX-8 fluid adds up quickly and gets super expensive. Any way to save money is a good way!

 

 

Reread the post, spelled it out pretty plainly:

I wouldn't buy it if it wasn't cheaper than parts-store prices. I used to run Mobil-1 products forever in my nicer vehicles, Valvoline in the ones I didn't care so much about. I still use Mobil-1 oil filters when I can't get the filters I want/need.

 

You claim to not be biased in favor of a product you sell... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

This is throwing the thread way off topic, but I'll respond anyways for clarification.

I do not sell Amsoil, I just use it at home for personal projects. I've never sold it to anyone else, I just hold the "Dealer" title in order to get it cheaper for myself. So I am not biased towards it, I just use it because it's cheaper than the parts store fluids. I used to, and still use, Mobil-1, Castrol, Pennzoil, and Valvoline products when necessary.

 

I like it and did the same a long time ago. Just too much of a bother to order and ship it imo.

If I said it once, then this must be the millionth time; oil brand etc. is way over-rated and mostly marketing schlock driven.

 

Well I did forget one exception, and that’s the Motorcraft GL4 trans fluid. Still haven’t found anything else as good at proving that snickety-snick gear shift feeling, bwa-hahahahaaaaa ...

 

 

2004/2005 it was GL-5 for the gearboxes.
2006+ they changed it to GL-4.

Didn't change the gearbox; just the oil spec.

 

 

Yah, but the spec didn't change.
Skip to page 10-4.

 

My transmission whines, 89k miles. I'll change the fluid out for a fresh GL4 soon. Long term I plan to move to an S2 gearbox.