when to add gear oil

how would i know to add gear oil to my tranny:confused: itz makin noises and itz not my throw-out bearing.....was just at a friends shop and they just changed out an integra tranny b/c they told him to add gear oil and he never did....help is appreciated:D

If it drives crappy I guess you could always refill it. It's easy. Take off the starter and under that is the fill hole. You drain the tranny by removing this bolt very low on it. Then you take off this other bolt and fill the tranny until fluid pours out of that hole. Thats it. Mine drives really good with new fluid.

Everytime I shift into 3rd my syncro grinds. You guys think if i change the tranny fluid that will go away ? Or and i going to have to live with that awfull noise?

It might fix it. Throw in some Lucas Oil and that could stop the grinding if its not too bad.

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER

NEVER use gear oil in a Honda/Acura Transmission. Honda SPECIFICALLY states not to use anything other than 5w30 or 10w30 conventional motor oil.

If your trans is making noise, and your oil level is good, there is nothing you can do except to properly service the transmission.

My friend works at grease monkey and he says the best oil to use for a honda tranny is 10w30 MOBIL 1

Im not sure if synthetic is bad for the trans or not.

I do know that Honda oil is 10w30.....I've seen it in person.

All it really is, is a re-packaged oil bottle with honda info on it. I think its valvoline, not sure though.

what about all those guys who throw the GM shit in it?

the level should be at the bottom of the fill hole w/ 5w-30 or 10w/30 motor oil.

yeah i had a question about tranny fluid. is that gm syncromesh stuff ? where do u get it?

Honda doesnt recomend oil for thier manual trans...they recommend thier own manual tranny fluid...but to each his own i guess....\


gunnmen01

All you have to do to check the tranny is get underneath and you will see 2 bolts on the tranny, i think they are like 22-24 mm or maybe just a bolt with a square hole in it, like you can put a ratchet in. Well common sense tells you that the bottom one will drain the tranny and the top is used to check it. the fluid should be right below the hole, or sometimes it will start pouring out, either way its good, just replace the bolt and then try and figure out what else could be the problem.

Note: That requires no disassembly of anything.

the drain bolt is a 3/8's ratchet and the fill bolt is above and behind it....its a 17 mm bolt...


gunnmen01

Originally posted by gunnmen01
the drain bolt is a 3/8's ratchet and the fill bolt is above and behind it....its a 17 mm bolt...


gunnmen01

yours is 2 different sizes. I work at a oil changing place so I deal with this shit all the time, they are all usually the same, including mine. I just forgot what it was

Honda doesnt recomend oil for thier manual trans...they recommend thier own manual tranny fluid...but to each his own i guess....


You're missing the point.....Honda Manual Trans fluid IS oil. Its 5w30 conventional motor oil.....And of course they're not going to recommend anything else, because they want you to buy the HONDA oil....:rolleyes:

so honda MTF is just regular motor oil

on to the next questions, can u use syntheic oil in your tranny ?

and can anyone give me more info about this gm syncromesh thing i hear about ? i mean does it work ? should i use it now ? or only use it when my tranny starts to grind ? all the info u got will help

I have read several posts here saying that GM Synchromesh fluid quieted manual transmission noises, and made for easier shifts, so try a search, Civic Killer.
I've been wanting to try it too, but it's like $16 a quart.
You don't need to take a starter off to check the tranny fluid. I just pull the fill bolt and stick my finger in there. If it's damn near spilling out the hole when you pull the bolt, that's good.
Filling is easy. Just get a funnel with a long tube on it. In an emergency one time, I put a condom with a hole in the tip over the top of a quart of oil, and used that to get it in the damned side-ways fill-hole.
Flunky
PS-I read synchromesh was good for quieting worn synchronizers, too.

IIRC, The GM p/n for Synchromesh 12345349

The bastaads who are charging $15/qt are trying to make cash selling it as one of their fat margin items

You can get it from GMPartsDirect.com for $5.65/qt

Originally posted by alexdog69
IIRC, The GM p/n for Synchromesh 12345349

The bastaads who are charging $15/qt are trying to make cash selling it as one of their fat margin items

You can get it from GMPartsDirect.com for $5.65/qt

There ya go...someone pulled up that info for me. I almost ordered some, cuz my 3rd gear grinds a lot too..I wanted to test it in the DX tranny for a few thousand miles which I will be removing when I do the ZC swap. However, I am not even supposed to open my hood at my townhouse, so I wasn't sure when I'd get a chance to change it. :rolleyes:

Yo alexdog - welcome to the board...you have quite the collection of vehicles there dude :eek: - Welcome...nice first post :wave:
Originally posted by 90civicrider
Everytime I shift into 3rd my syncro grinds. You guys think if i change the tranny fluid that will go away ? Or and i going to have to live with that awful noise?
I think that if you aren't having trouble with your tranny, 10w30 or a synthetic like Mobil1 would be fine. But if the shit is grinding all to hell, it isn't going to get any better with regular oil, so you might as well try the GM Synchromesh.

I still think I am going to try it in my DX, because if it works, I'll toss it in the Si tranny attached to the ZC. :devil:

Also, I checked out my manual, and the capacity is 1.9(refill) - 2.0 qts.(rebuild) - and they recommend 10w-30 or 10w-40 SE or SF grade...I am pretty sure that Mobil1 (or any synthetic oil) exceeds that spec...they are up to SJ or higher now.

i went out and got 5W-30 Quaker State Full Synthetc......anyone see any problems in me using this:confused:

uummm no....i work at a honda dealership and the drain bolt on ALL hondas from the factory is a 3/8's drive ratchet, and the fill bolt is a 17 mm bolt. If yours is any different then someone put the wrong bolt in it at some time.....


gunnmen01

p.s. honda manual tranny fluid isnt motor oil either....

Originally posted by BLU CIVIC
i went out and got 5W-30 Quaker State Full Synthetc......anyone see any problems in me using this:confused:

what about my question??

Originally posted by gunnmen01
uummm no....i work at a honda dealership and the drain bolt on ALL hondas from the factory is a 3/8's drive ratchet, and the fill bolt is a 17 mm bolt. If yours is any different then someone put the wrong bolt in it at some time.....


gunnmen01

p.s. honda manual tranny fluid isnt motor oil either....

then why are all the honda manual tranny's that come through have the same sized fill and drain plugs? I'm not saying your wrong, but just wondering. There really isn't many hondas that come through my store, mainly just big trucks, so I could be wrong.

what do u mean gunmen about that honda fluid isnt motor oil either statement, if its not motor oil, what is it then

You said it first....

I will put this to rest on monday. I will take a pic of the Honda bottle and show you guys what it is.

My info is coming from a guy who was a honda tech for 13 years before owning his own shop. He was the No.1 Honda tech in the Us for 6 years running, before he left to pursue his own business. So, I usually tend to take stock in what he says. He also owns a bitchin 4g with the full ef9 conversion (minus Rhd).

Anyways, I still say that putting anything other than Honda fluid would be bad, unless you have a tranny to experiment on...In which case, I say "fuck it".:D

Originally posted by BLU CIVIC
i went out and got 5W-30 Quaker State Full Synthetc......anyone see any problems in me using this:confused:

Yo BLU - I don't see any issues with using that..even if it is Quaker Sludge, the synthetic oil should be better than dinosaur juice ;)

I got my GM synchromesh (from gmpartsdirect.com) and replaced the tranny fluid this weekend. It is better, but mine is pretty bad, and still grinds in 3rd a little. I'll have to give you some other feedback on what I think is the throw-out bearing...mine is noisy now, and winds down and quiets (kind of a mechnical whirring sound) as a push in the clutch when sitting still..I'll see if the GM stuff helps with that.

yeah that's ur thow-out bearing...will only get louder...mine is oud:( friend said not worth it to change it sine i plan on getting a 5-spd tranny

changed my gear oil this weekend and i can tell a difference...quieter and more responsive...wanted to try that GM stuff though

Yup...my buddies told me the same thing. I had the other bearing go out in my first tranny (loud clacking grinding sound in 1st gear), and kept driving it for a while and had it replaced with this used one when I got the clutch done...now 50K later, the 2nd one is shitty too..but I guess that is all I can expect out of 12+ year old parts ;)

Hopefully my Si tranny will hold up a while :D

Alright, my bad gunnmen. I'm sure you are correct on the drain/fill plugs, I haven't got a chance to pull mine in and check it out yet, but just today there were several different cars that had diff sized drain/fill plugs, so I believe you now. If we ever meet, you have my permission to slap me, i know you want to ;):D

All it really is, is a re-packaged oil bottle with honda info on it. I think its valvoline, not sure though. -- this is 100% true. Valvoline trucks brings oil to fill the tanks & cases of oil


itz makin noises and itz not my throw-out bearing

Its probably the input shaft bearing & not worth rebuiling in my opinion, you can get a used tranny for $300 & rebuild for $700

Alright, i just kicked myself in my ass today, pulled my car in the shop today to check and make sure I didn't do any major damage when I hit a curb the other day, and to check on the plugs. I made a note to myself not to argue with honda mechanics about hondas.

I just change my tranny oil (manual) today.. I used Mobil one 10w30. I talked to a few honda dealer/mechanics and they said that was the best oil to use and u could even use a synthetic oil if u did a fair amount of speeding. It works,feels better, and wasn't hard to change at all..messy as all hell but easy.

cool...glad u got it done

Originally posted by Civicsiassasin91
I just change my tranny oil (manual) today.. I used Mobil one 10w30. I talked to a few honda dealer/mechanics and they said that was the best oil to use and u could even use a synthetic oil if u did a fair amount of speeding. It works,feels better, and wasn't hard to change at all..messy as all hell but easy.

oh yea, that shit is messy to do, well unless you are able to do it at a oil changing place like i will :D

I pulled her into the garage at work. put it on some stands and hooked it up. the messiest part was adding that last bit of oil.. i had to have someone pore it in a funnel while i held the hose in. then i pulled out and put the plug in.. had oil all down my arm and shit..

on a funnier note,, the skin on that arm is mad soft!!!

well the oil is only supposed to be right below the fill plug, so once it starts coming out, just put the plug in, no harm if some of it pours out.

I'd rather change 10w-30 than gear lube. That some nasty smelly shit!:apuke:

Originally posted by jackasssi
I'd rather change 10w-30 than gear lube. That some nasty smelly shit!:apuke:

you talking about the stuff for differintials? the 80-90W, that shit smells like ass.

you talking about the stuff for differintials? the 80-90W, that shit smells like ass.

yep that nasty shit.

Originally posted by Civicsiassasin91
I pulled her into the garage at work. put it on some stands and hooked it up. the messiest part was adding that last bit of oil.. i had to have someone pore it in a funnel while i held the hose in. then i pulled out and put the plug in.. had oil all down my arm and shit..

on a funnier note,, the skin on that arm is mad soft!!!

Sweet..I had the same shit happen to me when I did mine. My step-dad was helping me and he was like "OK, I just finished the 2nd quart", and I watched it go down the tube, and I was like "hmmm, the book says 1.9 qts for a refill", and as soon as I pulled the tube out like .1 qts flowed down my arm as I put the plug in - lol :cool:

out of first hand experience redline mtl makes your tranny feel real good. i've also used gm synchromesh and redline felt a lot better. diffnetly worth the 7.95 a qt. i would strongly recommend this.