ATF or Synthetic gear oil

sleeper123 · Post by **sleeper123** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:27 pm

Just a quick question. I have an 02' SE with 5 speed and it calls for ATF +4 or equivalent fluid for the transmission. I have never know a vehicle using ATF in a stick shift but I have only owned older vehicles like datsun 510's. I just want to know if it is ok to use synthetic gear oil instead.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:39 pm

Not a good idea. If the manufacturer says to use ATF + 4 you use it. Gear oil is way to thick and will make it harder to shift on our cars, but I know some people do it.

sleeper123 · Post by **sleeper123** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:50 pm

It is thinner being synthetic. I will go ahead and use the ATF. The ATF is much thinner than sythetic and will free up some horse power as well.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:09 pm

gear oil is stil a big no-no for our manual transmissions.

this is a big debate.

in my opinion you can use the following fluids:
-ATF+4, Mopar, Valvoline or any other brand that has ATF+4
-one of the many syncromesh fluids out there including: Redline MTL (thats what i have in my car), AMSOIL Syncrhomesh, Royal Purple Synchromax, Pennzoil Synchromesh, as well as a few others.

check out this thread we had recently: http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=19186&highlight=

MoparNeonMan · Post by **MoparNeonMan** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:58 pm

Royal Purple FTW!!

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:25 am

MoparNeonMan wrote:Royal Purple FTW!!

thats what I just put in my SRT, great stuff, but expensive.

MoparNeonMan · Post by **MoparNeonMan** » Tue May 01, 2007 2:39 am

-CgPeon- wrote:
MoparNeonMan wrote:Royal Purple FTW!!
thats what I just put in my SRT, great stuff, but expensive.

Especially when you have to put it in 4 times in a 2 month period

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Wed May 02, 2007 12:17 am

I ran the Valvoline Synthetic ATF+4 last year into winter. Had it in the Power Steering too. When down near zero power steering was whining and the MTX felt like Molasses compared to Mopar ATF+4 that came in the car. Never again.

I am now running Amsoil ATF in the MTX (very happy) and will be doing the Power Steering again soon.

Thunderstruck · Post by **Thunderstruck** » Sat May 05, 2007 1:23 pm

I just had to refill my 05's MTX because of a CV joint swap out. The factory service manual was very specific about what to use and what not to use. What it said to use was AF+4 with a small amount of limited slip additive.

It was specific about NOT using engine oil or gear lube in place of the specified fluid(s). Because of shifting issues and warranty issues.

Use what you want but realize the transmission was designed around the use of a specific lube and that anything that deviates from that is subject to issues.

Post by **racer12306** » Sat May 05, 2007 4:01 pm

very true, gear oil or motor oil will cause problems.

but a synchromesh fluid will not.