Transmission lubricant

[jrt67ss350]

I'd like to change out the fluid in my manual transmission. Is it OK to use ATF even though the manual calls for like 90 wt gear oil? It says ATF can be used in cold climates but will make the tranny noisier. My tranny is already very noisy (probably lots of wear since it was low on lubricant when I bought the car due to an output shaft leak), so I'm wondering if ATF would be ok to use even though I'm not in a cold climate. I can't seem to find the 90 wt gear oil they call for - all I can find in the local autopart stores is multi viscosity hypoid gear oil.

 

[mjbst111]

redline MTL is the correct weight. Anyone sell that around you? That stuff is fantastic. It is the correct weight, viscosity and kind. Any foreign auto stores around they usually sell it. Oh and I htink any advanced auto parts store can order it.

I don't think ATF would be a good way to go. I think the manual says something about needing non hypoid. or does it need hypoid.....

 

[jrt67ss350]

Well, the manual says a non-hypoid gear oil but ATF can be used if in cold climates.

 

[Big Daddy]

ATF is very thin and contains high detergents thus very nosiy. On an older transmission I would go with mjnst111's advice and use Redline MTL. I have it in all my transmissions and swear by it. No noise and smoother shifts.

 

[mjbst111]

ah thats really strange you can use ATF. I'm pretty sure fords use atf in thier manuals.

Its just scary to me though. I'd want nothing but the best in my bimmer. Redline! haha

 

[epj3]

Wow ATF is amazing stuff, esp if you can use it in your steering system, automatic transmission, and manual transmission...hehe. Seems as though we should do a group buy

 

[jrt67ss350]

Anyone have any ingenious ideas for getting the fluid in the transmission short of buying one of those overpriced bottle pumps? The method I used last time resulted in my spilling half a quart of gear oil on the driveway before the transmission was full.

Also, I might as well change the diff oil while I'm at it. What size is the oil plug allen key on an E30?

 

[mjbst111]

Anyone have any ingenious ideas for getting the fluid in the transmission short of buying one of those overpriced bottle pumps? The method I used last time resulted in my spilling half a quart of gear oil on the driveway before the transmission was full.

Also, I might as well change the diff oil while I'm at it. What size is the oil plug allen key on an E30?

huge! 17? i could go look at my key in a second... but as far as filling it, i got a long rubber hose laying around my shed and put a funnel on the end of it and ran it down the passenger side of the engine compartment to the filler hole.

I didn't have a fancy pump either.

 

[jrt67ss350]

huge! 17? i could go look at my key in a second... but as far as filling it, i got a long rubber hose laying around my shed and put a funnel on the end of it and ran it down the passenger side of the engine compartment to the filler hole.

I didn't have a fancy pump either.

LOL, that's exactly what I did and ended up spilling half a quart all over the place! I guess I'm not coordinated enough. [fake]

 

[mjbst111]

LOL, that's exactly what I did and ended up spilling half a quart all over the place! I guess I'm not coordinated enough. [fake]

haha, yeah i spilled a good amount too. When it gets full the remaining still in the hose and funnel keep on coming!

I went and looked, the allen key is a 17 mm.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Thanks man, I appreciate it!