tranny fluid

hey guys. i tried a search and had no findings. need your advice. i have a 92 plymouth laser rs (NT, 2.0, 5 speed). what manual tranny fluid do you like? haynes calls for 75/85 gear oil. i have heard redline (MTL?) is hard on synchros. do you like GM synchromesh (it gets up to around 110* here - tucson, and i have read that it may not be able to withstand the heat in regards to shear, etc. i dont even know how thick the stuff is though - never seen it). i thought it was more like ATF though in terms of consistency.....? :uhoh:

so what im asking is what do you like to run (especially folks in hotter climates). and i read somewhere that GL4 is better than GL5. is this true? please share any and all info (links, threads, etc). like i said, i tried searching to no avail. i really appreciate it. thanks guys. :)

how about just some web sites with such info. i am having trouble finding even that. i appreciate any and all help. thanks

Alright, we're starting to use the vfaqs! Sweet! lol :D That link basically covers it all. Nice work ashah

Ash, thanks for the info. that was what i read before asking my question (i do read the Vfaq's as recommended prior to posting). that was where i came up with the 3 fluid choices and confirming the GL4 part (i have read differently elsewhere). i wanted some experience with what people use and what the pros and cons are (like shortened synchro life with one [redline] or the other), and so on.

what do you guys run and what do you know. i run redline D4 in the T5 in the stang, as MTL has a rap of killin synchros in the T5's (they use Mercon auto tranny fluid, however). one will never hear that from redline or published in vfaq's (redline has subsequently changed their recommendation for t5's to d4). that's the kind of thing i want to hear. i was hoping someone could point me to forum threads, etc with that sort of info.

BG Synchros shift is the best fluid for 95% of DSMers. Start there. No problems with synchros or otherwise. 12 bucks a quart.

BG Synchros shift is the best fluid for 95% of DSMers. Start there. No problems with synchros or otherwise. 12 bucks a quart.
ahhh now you speak up. :p LOL, J/K. i picked up a couple quarts of redline MT90 this morning. :banghead: i just went with what the author of one of the VFAQ articles says he uses. since temps are 90* or more (up to 110) for 8-9 months a year and never below about 50, i chose the thicker "MT90." it is rated as 75W-85, 75W-90, whereas the MTL is thinner. the book calls for 75-90, Gl-4, so thats the route i went.

any experiences/stories with redline killing synchros, etc? i read that somewhere, but i am familiar with redline, whereas not at all with BG or GM (synchroshift) (hence my posting this thread). is the BG worth getting over the redline? where do you get BG? i havent seen it in speed shops. i have not checked their site for disributors. is it mail order only? i got the redline for 8 bucks a quart. the book calls for 2.0 quarts, the owners manual calls for 1.9. is this in the right neighborhood? thought it would take closer to three. many thanks guys :)

I have never used redline, so I Cant help there. BG is fairly thin compared to normal gear oil, so you probably made the right choice if you are in a hot climate. The tranny should use 2.3 quarts. THe tcase is about half quart. I can fill both with 3 quarts. But I dont do that when I am using BG, since I feel its too thin for hte tcase. After doing a clutch/tranny/motor swap, I fill up with cheap gl5 from walmart to make sure there are no leaks before I add in the expensive stuff. Its quite common to tear an axle seal when pulling the tranny ;)

I have never used redline, so I Cant help there. BG is fairly thin compared to normal gear oil, so you probably made the right choice if you are in a hot climate. The tranny should use 2.3 quarts. THe tcase is about half quart. I can fill both with 3 quarts. But I dont do that when I am using BG, since I feel its too thin for hte tcase. After doing a clutch/tranny/motor swap, I fill up with cheap gl5 from walmart to make sure there are no leaks before I add in the expensive stuff. Its quite common to tear an axle seal when pulling the tranny ;)
Kevin, thanks for replying. :biggrin:
that's what i was waiting for (i cant find the BG in town, so i cant go shake the bottle, etc to feel how thick it is).

your response sounds real good to me (smart with the cheap fills after work). and thanks for the fill capacity. im thinking i really may be around 2.0 quarts, as i am two wheel drive (gotta be some extra capacity for you, since the trans has more room and extensions for AWD stuff for you, no?

i read a lot of stuff, and a fair number of people use the bg in the transfer case, but i totally agree with you. there are no synchros, so why not use something heavier and maybe with some shock proof properties (i dont know much about the AWD cars, but that is how i think with rear ends on my RWD cars). just me.

the thing i dont like about the BG and synchromesh is that they seem to be one size fits all. redline has a million different products. i read a lot last night on all this stuff. from what i gather, synchromesh (made by pennzoil) has several flavors. one is reportedly for just viper T56 trannies=expensive. i knew that it was recommended for use in Tremec (either 3550 or TKO, i think it is TKO). an auto trans fluid is sposed to be used in that tranny. i read other ATF applications where synchromesh was called for. that tells me it is thin.
(also so you know, as mentioed, there are several synchromesh products. the stuff DSM's like was mentioned as being a blend [i dont know the accuracy of this]. there are also products by texaco and havoline that have the exact same flow specs, etc, but are cheaper [thought to be repackaged]).

i have saved some of this info if anyone wants links to read it.

i had difficulty locating much of any info on BG. it seems they also offer one product. people swear by their cleaners, BTW. i finally found their homepage and it was less than informative. there is one authorized dealer where i live, and it is apparently not a store, as all that is listed is a PO box in the ghetto and a phone number. i am just leary of the one fluid for many cars (can be used in autos, manuals needing atf, manuals needing a gear oil viscosity (~70-90 weight) GL4 type product, etc.

i never know if what im reading is from a dealer of the product, etc, so its hard to get a real opinion. i have read several places that redline eats synchros. i dont know though, if people using redline expect too much, and beat the tar out of the gears autocrossing, etc. i have read the same things in applications for borg warner (now tremec) T5 transmissions in mustangs, etc.

i saw enough people using redline (though some said there was no difference) to give it a try. some love it, some have synchro gripes. in any case, i would think redline would still prolong tranny life over organic fluid being used (according to VFAQ too). and i can get it locally. i need to do a clutch soon, so i will need to be able to top off and done like being stranded waiting for mail order.

that said, there is a resounding liking of BG in MANY applications. i did not read one bad thing about it. sounds like that was good advice to use it. :)

like i said, i cant bring myself to use a product that is so thin compared to 85W-90 or 85W-140. i know my trans get hot as heck when it is 110* here. and even when it is cold (40-50*), i always let the car warm up before driving (it has to live outside now). now if i lived where it gets to between 0* F and freezing, i would definately need something thinner. i would NOT try mt90 were that the case. but if the bg, etc is good for such cold temps, i cant help feel that it would be lacking viscosity in 110 temps. whatcha think?

thats about it. just figured since i spent awhile researching it, i would share some of what i found. as mentioned, im not saying its gospel, just what i read. and i do have some links if anyone wants them.

feel free to keep the opinions and experiences coming, as it seems some have to try a few to find one they like and that works well.
thanks again. :smile:

BG is one of those things where it just works. We dont have to sift thorugh different kinds, or mixing up different concoctions, just dump it and go. But every car is different. People in hot climates love BG, but you are probably doing the right thing putting some more thought into it. The thing to remember is that if it doesnt work out, you can always try BG or something else later. I've also found that fresh mitsu fluid is pretty good to! Not many people ever try that on purpose. ;) You're definitely making sound decisions, good luck with it. :)