I'd play it safe and only use the Honda tranny oil. Considering that I live
up north (Canada) and the shifting quality is acceptable in extreme cold,
I'd stay with the Honda stuff. If shifting is poor in your car, I'd get the
oil flushed out (couple times if need be) until it gets back to normal.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (5 speed, 210000km, original tranny & clutch).

>
> Good point. '94 Civic Si, mileage now at 104k, transmission fluid
> replaced about every 30k, last time at 94k at independent shop that
> swore they used Honda MTL. No noticeable change in tranny behavior after
> the 94k change.
>
> Googleing, I found that the complaint was not seal failures as I
> remembered, but a bearing cage failure. I found one report of this, but
> no cause and effect analysis. I found a number of reports from people
> having used Redline MTL in Hondas over long distances with no issues.
> Redline tech support recommends their MTL for the Civic in Northern
> California's moderate climate.
>
> I'll change to Redline MTL some time in the next week or so unless
> someone points out a compelling reason not to.
>
> Thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

 

I'd play it safe and only use the Honda tranny oil. Considering that I live
up north (Canada) and the shifting quality is acceptable in extreme cold,
I'd stay with the Honda stuff. If shifting is poor in your car, I'd get the
oil flushed out (couple times if need be) until it gets back to normal.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch (5 speed, 210000km, original tranny & clutch).

>
> Good point. '94 Civic Si, mileage now at 104k, transmission fluid
> replaced about every 30k, last time at 94k at independent shop that
> swore they used Honda MTL. No noticeable change in tranny behavior after
> the 94k change.
>
> Googleing, I found that the complaint was not seal failures as I
> remembered, but a bearing cage failure. I found one report of this, but
> no cause and effect analysis. I found a number of reports from people
> having used Redline MTL in Hondas over long distances with no issues.
> Redline tech support recommends their MTL for the Civic in Northern
> California's moderate climate.
>
> I'll change to Redline MTL some time in the next week or so unless
> someone points out a compelling reason not to.
>
> Thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

 

Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.

What tranny you have? A VW?
"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:41ABEC70.7CFC988D@junkmail.com...
> My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
> particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
> (180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>
> Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
> premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
> MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?

 

Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.

What tranny you have? A VW?
"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:41ABEC70.7CFC988D@junkmail.com...
> My transmission is getting a little harsh when shifting into 2nd,
> particularly when cold. A friend with a VW says that his old tranny
> (180k miles) shift a lot better after he put Redline MTL in it.
>
> Somewhere I believe I have heard or read that people have experienced
> premature failure of the transmission seals after putting in Redline
> MTL. Is there something to this, or is this something I have dreamt?

 

Mista Bone wrote:
>
> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>
> What tranny you have? A VW?

'94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
using Redline MTL?

 

Mista Bone wrote:
>
> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>
> What tranny you have? A VW?

'94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
using Redline MTL?

 

Randolph wrote:

> Mista Bone wrote:
>
>>Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>
>>What tranny you have? A VW?
>
>
> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
> using Redline MTL?

I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.

Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

 

Randolph wrote:

> Mista Bone wrote:
>
>>Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>
>>What tranny you have? A VW?
>
>
> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
> using Redline MTL?

I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.

Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

 

Abeness wrote:
> Randolph wrote:
>
>> Mista Bone wrote:
>>
>>> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>>
>>> What tranny you have? A VW?
>>
>>
>>
>> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
>> using Redline MTL?
>
>
> I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
> 10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
> 10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
> change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.
>
> Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
> having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
> 116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
> goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
> seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

========================

The manual you're quoting is NINE years old . . .The petroleum industry
(and Honda) have come up with a lot of better ideas since then. They
wouldn't be recommending anything that would be a step backwards, I'm
sure.:-)


'Curly'

 

Abeness wrote:
> Randolph wrote:
>
>> Mista Bone wrote:
>>
>>> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>>
>>> What tranny you have? A VW?
>>
>>
>>
>> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
>> using Redline MTL?
>
>
> I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
> 10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
> 10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
> change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.
>
> Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
> having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
> 116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
> goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
> seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

========================

The manual you're quoting is NINE years old . . .The petroleum industry
(and Honda) have come up with a lot of better ideas since then. They
wouldn't be recommending anything that would be a step backwards, I'm
sure.:-)


'Curly'

 

motsco_ _ wrote:
> The manual you're quoting is NINE years old . . .The petroleum industry
> (and Honda) have come up with a lot of better ideas since then. They
> wouldn't be recommending anything that would be a step backwards, I'm
> sure.:-)

True enough. I suppose the question is, however, whether what the manual
recommends is sufficient. Obviously it was, at the time.

 

motsco_ _ wrote:
> The manual you're quoting is NINE years old . . .The petroleum industry
> (and Honda) have come up with a lot of better ideas since then. They
> wouldn't be recommending anything that would be a step backwards, I'm
> sure.:-)

True enough. I suppose the question is, however, whether what the manual
recommends is sufficient. Obviously it was, at the time.

 

Abeness wrote:

> Randolph wrote:
>
>> Mista Bone wrote:
>>
>>> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>>
>>> What tranny you have? A VW?
>>
>>
>>
>> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
>> using Redline MTL?
>
>
> I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
> 10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
> 10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
> change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.

i wonder if a regular mobil1 synth would work.
>
> Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
> having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
> 116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
> goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
> seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

hopefully. i replaced the tranny fluid on an old MG midget w/ 4speed
manual and it made a pretty big difference. lost all its notchiness.

and that was just replacing with the recommended 75/80wt gear oil.

 

Abeness wrote:

> Randolph wrote:
>
>> Mista Bone wrote:
>>
>>> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>>
>>> What tranny you have? A VW?
>>
>>
>>
>> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
>> using Redline MTL?
>
>
> I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
> 10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
> 10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
> change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.

i wonder if a regular mobil1 synth would work.
>
> Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
> having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into first.
> 116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see how it
> goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect after
> seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.

hopefully. i replaced the tranny fluid on an old MG midget w/ 4speed
manual and it made a pretty big difference. lost all its notchiness.

and that was just replacing with the recommended 75/80wt gear oil.

 

motsco_ _ wrote:

> Abeness wrote:
>
>> Randolph wrote:
>>
>>> Mista Bone wrote:
>>>
>>>> Don't do it. Use the Honda MTL or Pennzoil Synchromesh.
>>>>
>>>> What tranny you have? A VW?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> '94 Civic Si 5 speed. Any particular reason you are adamant about not
>>> using Redline MTL?
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm interested in this issue myself. The manual specifies ordinary
>> 10w-30 or 10w-40. What's the need for Honda MTL? I recently bought
>> 10w-30 (thinner for winter) for my 94 Civic EX and was planning to
>> change it soon, since I doubt the prev owner ever did it.
>>
>> Lowest winter temps here are maybe 0 F. At about 30 last night and not
>> having driven it in a week, it was a tad difficult to get it into
>> first. 116K miles. I'll probably give the regular oil a shot and see
>> how it goes. If the that's in there now is ancient, as I suspect
>> after seeing the brake fluid, I expect I'll see improvement.
>
>
> ========================
>
> The manual you're quoting is NINE years old . . .The petroleum industry
> (and Honda) have come up with a lot of better ideas since then. They
> wouldn't be recommending anything that would be a step backwards, I'm
> sure.:-)
>

might some of the newer stuff actually be *too* good? as in too
slippery, etc?