It has taken months, and a tip from a friend at Honda engineering but I found the Honda MTF spec. It is called MTF-7289. It is as I guessed a light gear oil of 75w/80w viscosity, equivalent to a 10w30 engine oil. We know it has about the same additives as engine oils but with more calcium, ostensibly to friction modify the oil to have more "bite" for better synchro function.

Problem is, it breaks down quickly, esp for those of use who drive the car hard.

Red Line MTL is a good alternative, at least from the numbers. There have been mized reports from the field. So that in a nutshell sums up what we already knew.
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Honda MTF-7289 has a counterpart made by Caltex, which is a ChevronTexaco supplier in the Pacific Rim. that may include Australia.

Here is the link that gave me the "Eureka!".
http://192.148.139.212/products_oil_detail.asp?id=107

I have not found any supplier here in the US that offers that product. It is MTF-94. So, if anyone knows where we can get it, that would be a real contribution to the S2000 scene. MTF-94 is made with base stocks that should provide vetter protection and longer life.
************************************************** **************
There is another possibility, a Castrol product made in the EU, called Castrol SMS-X. Again, I could not find a domestic source for this product.
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I wonder if our Australian and British friends can look into this? It might be possible to ship a few cases over here for analysis and field trials.

Maybe if enough of us wrote to Texaco or Castrol, we could get some of this.

Why do they only send us their 2nd-tier products? Although, I am told that Autozone has some German Syntec - you have to look on the bottle and see if it says Made in Germany. That is supposed to be much better than the US product nearing the same name.

 

Damn it, man! The Oil Journals are getting longer and longer.

 

We have Caltex here. My familiar used to own a Caltex service station many moons ago.

I'll look into the MTF-94. I just searched their website but got no results.

 

RR
you mentioned that Redline MTL might be a good alternative, BUT
Many people have tried it and said it was way to thin.
So I'm wondering if there is a "Secret" ingredient in the Honda MTF
I know many people use RL mt90, I found it to be great for HOT climates (Las Vegas), but here in Ohio, I gained muscle mass trying to shift my car(takes like 30 min for tranny to loosen up) in cold climates, and it still takes a good 10 min during warmest time of the summer. So now I run 1 quart MT90 and .5-.6 quart RL mtl and shifting is much easier when tranny is cold, but stays "proper" thru my entire driving time, including Banzi runs. the RL mixture seems to last as well, good for a once a year change.
If you can find a fluid that is closer related to what the tranny requires, I will be very interested to use it
thanks for all the searchings

 

I'll see what info I can chase up for you also.

 

this link is interesting as well, and refers back to your original link.

http://www.lrx.com/forum/messages/15180.html

[QUOTE]
MTF-94 is a 75W80, GL-4 gear oil.

See http://192.148.139.212/products_oil_detail.asp?id=107

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
API GL-4
Rover Group
MTF-94; R380, PG1 & H gearbox approvals
Honda MTF-7289
MG PG1 gearbox approval


KEY PROPERTIES
SAE Viscosity 75W-80
Density at 15�C, kg/L 0.870
Flash Point, COC, �C 185
FZG, Load Stage 11
Pour Point, �C -45
Viscosity at -40�C, cP 60,000
Viscosity at 40�C, cSt 53.2
Viscosity at 100�C, cSt 10.50
Viscosity Index 190

 

On what basis do they say it is too thin? It is no thinner than MTF, and has greater film strength, lower volatility, and is much more shear stable.

I am putting in my tranny tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for the Aussie researchers!
(Partners in WWII, Vietnam, Korea, and Iraq - wish the rest were like you guys. )

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
Damn it, man!

 

[


I know I know, but Road Rage never sleeps - it only remains just below the below the surface, or in the tall grass, waiting to strike. Bwuhahahaha!

Knowledge is power, babies, just wait till you gen-Z'ers are sitting around the nitrous bottle one night playing spin the pickle and one of you says, "so how about that Honda MTF-7289 spec?". [/QUOTE]

All that knowledge AND a sense of humor :-)
THanks for the tranny juice news. I'm inclined to go with Redline MTF, too.
BTW - I have just retired after 29 years of being a psychologist with the State of California (or State of Confusion as the case may be) :-)

 

Road I will check is that oil is sold in spain