{{Official Trans Fluid Thread}}

[wrx wagone]

I've seen a bunch of trans fluid threads floating around (read many of them) and I'd like to have a single spot for members to share their ideas on what worked and what didn't. Please list what you've tried and the results in the format below. Be as descriptive as possible.

Things I've tried:
1. Mobil 1
2. Amsoil
3. Redline

Results:
1. I changed to Mobil 1 from the stock fluid at about 16k a year ago. It felt to me that the ease of shifting was improved. I kept the fluid in the car for about a year and 15k miles. I had no problems during this period. The shifting was never "steller" but offered an improvement over stock.

2. I changed to Amsoil from the Mobil one above about two weeks ago. I immediately noticed that the transmission would take longer to go into gear between shifts. I now have to be VERY ginger with the shift into first or the syncro will grind. I have less than 1k miles on this oil and it needs to go in the worst way.

3. I mixed 2 Q of Redline Lightweight Shockproof with ~1.7 Q of Redline 75W-90NS Gear Oil. I've had this oil for about one week. In that time the shifting is noticeably improved. Overall it doesn't feel much different than the Mobil 1. I will update this the longer I have the fluid in the trans.

[06wrx4me]

I mixed up a batch of "Uncle Scottys Cocktail" but a full synthetic version in my 06 TR at 15k miles.

1 qt Redline lightweight shockproof
1 qt Amsoil syncromesh
2 qt Amsoil 75w90 gear oil.

NOTE: 5MT CAPACITY IS 3.8 QTS USE GEAR OIL AS TOP OFF FLUID. DO NOT DUMP IN ALL 4 QTS. PUT IN 3.25 AND CHECK ETC.

I have been using it for 10,000 miles and it works 10x better than stock. Took away the notchiness of the shifts, engages smoother etc. Note: 06 5MT tranny's shift slightly better from factory than the 02-05 5mt due to a slight redesign. Therefore the change wasn't as drastic as it was in the 02 below.


Also mixed the normal "Uncle Scottys Cocktail" from Nasioc and put it in an 02 bugeye 5MT at 40k miles.

Previously it had been filled with fresh Valvoline 75w90 gear oil. Shifting with Valvoline was awful, first gear ground every time on the 2-1 shift and reverse felt impossible to find.

So we put in USC which is:

1 qt Syncormesh fluid (pennsoil, gm or amsoil)
1 qt redline lightweight shockproof
2 qt castrol Hypoy C 80w 90 gear oil.

NOTE: 5MT CAPACITY IS 3.8 QTS USE GEAR OIL AS TOP OFF FLUID. DO NOT DUMP IN ALL 4 QTS. PUT IN 3.25 AND CHECK ETC.

Worked amazing. Felt like a miracle cure. First gear shifted up and down like it was double syncroed, reverse was easy to find consistantly, and shifting was way smoother. I highly recommend it on 02-05 5MT's. Been using for 3-5 k miles now with no decrease in performance.

Vendors for USC:

Togg's

http://www.tognottisautoworld.com/de...ookieSupport=1

They have everything to make a full syn version, and carry Most major brands of synthetics for you die hard M1, Redline, Royal Purpal, Kendall, Castrol, Valvoline, Amsoil, etc. SYNTHETIC fans.

Pepboy's sells the Castrol Hypoy C as well as the Pennzoil Syncromesh.

www.amazon.com also sells the ingrediants.

Also check your local vendors.

[pweizman]

Things I've tried:
1. Mobil 1

Results:
1. I changed to Mobil 1 from the stock fluid at about 16k a year ago. It felt to me that the ease of shifting was improved. I kept the fluid in the car for about a year and 15k miles. I had no problems during this period. The shifting was never "steller" but offered an improvement over stock.

I am running Mobil 1 also. I agree with your description. Not great...but better than stock.

I still get first gear grinding if I am not careful.

Later,
Patrick

[wrx wagone]

Bump. What have you guys tried? What did you like?

[Trainrex]

My experiences.

1: I switched from stock to Mobil-1 to help a slightly lazy 1st gear synchro.

Result - Better at first, then progressively worse.

2: I then switched to Redline.

Result - No improvement whatsoever.

3: I then switched to Amsoil.

Result - No improvement whatsoever.

4: Back to good 'ol Valvoline.

Result - Drastically improved. Right back where I started with a slightly lazy 1st gear synchro.

I'm done changing trans fluid.

[houdini]

I'm running the cocktail as well, and it's amazing. I had a friend (who didn't know about the change) get in and play with it a bit, he immediately said "oh, shifting is nicer! What happened here?"

[ERIKBROCKHOFF]

+1 for Uncle Scottys Cocktail I took the forums advice and it paid off very well and makes me happy with every shift. Noted smother shifts and most of all peace of mind as I bought a used car and had no idea what god awfull stuff was in it before. You can buy the whole cocktail off an amozon vendor. Make sure you sort out the fact that its the same vendor they shiped it in to different packages charging me twice for shiping from the same caompany call and order so you get one package.

[tom'sti]

I'm using Royal Purple, started using it at 45k, now at 50k, seems better than dino oil.

[20WRX04]

I am running Mobil 1 also. I agree with your description. Not great...but better than stock. I still get first gear grinding if I am not careful.

+1. I'm doing my 60K service this week & am planning on using USC. Does anyone know where to get Redline Lightweight Shockproof locally? Or is it only available online?

[relayer66]

Go to the Redline website and do a dealer search. It will bring up all of the dealers near you. Most of the chain stores carry some of their products but not the gear oils. You will probably have to find a racing supply shop.

[20WRX04]

Go to the Redline website and do a dealer search. It will bring up all of the dealers near you. Most of the chain stores carry some of their products but not the gear oils. You will probably have to find a racing supply shop.

I ended up having my local Advance Auto order it for me.

When I drained the tranny fluid, it looked like brand new oil. It had a nice golden brown color to it & still felt really thick. It didn't smell burnt at all either.

I used Uncle Scotty's Cocktail per the 2nd post here & I immediately noticed a difference. Smoother shifts with alot less effort & less resistance going from gear to gear, especially 1st & reverse.

[sch3838]

I mixed up a batch of "Uncle Scottys Cocktail" but a full synthetic version in my 06 TR at 15k miles.

1 qt Redline lightweight shockproof
1 qt Amsoil syncromesh
2 qt Amsoil 75w90 gear oil.

NOTE: 5MT CAPACITY IS 3.8 QTS USE GEAR OIL AS TOP OFF FLUID. DO NOT DUMP IN ALL 4 QTS. PUT IN 3.25 AND CHECK ETC.

I have been using it for 3,000 miles and it works 10x better than stock. Took away the nothciness of the shifts, engages smoother etc. Note: 06 5MT tranny's shift slightly better from factory than the 02-05 5mt due to a slight redesign. Therefore the change wasn't as drastic as it was in the 02 below.


Also mixed the normal "Uncle Scottys Cocktail" from Nasioc and put it in an 02 bugeye 5MT at 40k miles.

Previously it had been filled with fresh Valvoline 75w90 gear oil. Shifting with Valvoline was awful, first gear ground every time on the 2-1 shift and reverse felt impossible to find.

So we put in USC which is:

1 qt Syncormesh fluid (pennsoil, gm or amsoil)
1 qt redline lightweight shockproof
2 qt castrol Hypoy C 80w 90 gear oil.

NOTE: 5MT CAPACITY IS 3.8 QTS USE GEAR OIL AS TOP OFF FLUID. DO NOT DUMP IN ALL 4 QTS. PUT IN 3.25 AND CHECK ETC.

Worked amazing. Felt like a miracle cure. First gear shifted up and down like it was double syncroed, reverse was easy to find consistantly, and shifting was way smoother. I highly recommend it on 02-05 5MT's. Been using for 3-5 k miles now with no decrease in performance.

Vendors for USC:

Togg's

http://www.tognottisautoworld.com/de...ookieSupport=1

They have everything to make a full syn version, and carry Most major brands of synthetics for you die hard M1, Redline, Royal Purpal, Kendall, Castrol, Valvoline, Amsoil, etc. SYNTHETIC fans.

Pepboy's sells the Castrol Hypoy C as well as the Pennzoil Syncromesh.

www.amazon.com also sells the ingrediants.

Also check your local vendors.

hmmm i dont get it, which mix is better?
sorry im a noob
thanks

[wrx wagone]

hmmm i dont get it, which mix is better?
sorry im a noob
thanks

He didn't directly compare them. Both mixes did have positive results.

[wrx wagone]

I'm going to follow up post on my experiences with the Redline mixture.

2 qt. Lightweight Shockproof
~2 qt. 75W-90 Synthetic

I'm at 35k now and transmission has never felt better! The syncros actually work. 1st gear is an absolute breeze to get into, even at speeds around 20 mph. This became very useful at an autox event which had a VERY tight turn around and made a downshift handy. The transmission still is a touch "notchy", but overall I don't think I could be much happier with it.

I'm very much coming to the opinion that viscosity of the oil used has a direct relationship with how well the syncros work.

[sch3838]

I'm running the cocktail as well, and it's amazing. I had a friend (who didn't know about the change) get in and play with it a bit, he immediately said "oh, shifting is nicer! What happened here?"

hey
where did you get all your stuffs(web link)?
they dont even sell those ****s in delawere half of the pep boys ppl dont even kon what it is...
and which gear oil do i use if i have 07 WRX 80w90 or 75w90?
thanks