Transmission/Diff fluid for racing
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Vancouver
I can't imagine Honda MTF is 70W80 (or 10W30 engine oil) weight as soon as I pour it out of the bottle (I need to transfer to my "squeeze bottle" for easy fill-up). It pours like ATF! I triple-checked the bottles and its not ATF (MTF #08798-9016C).
After ~10k and 5 track days, I finally decided to replace my GMSMFM. Since the GM stuff is out everywhere, I tried MTF this time and I don't like it. Doesn't shift better in the cold compare to the GM stuff as long as I time my shifts. In the warm, MTF has a higher chance of notchy shifting compare to the GM stuff if I don't time my shifts perfect. IOW, my tranny has never got so potentially notchy before.
There's one steep downhill stretch of highway I usually use to compare drag (from all of aerodynamic, driveline, engine compression, etc.). With GMSMFM I couldn't get above 100km/h (more like 96km/h) in 6th gear off throttle. If I speed up over 100km/h and off the gas totally, it'll slow down to below 100km/h with GMSMFM. With Honda MTF, it speeds up and stays at 104km/h. If I speed up and then off the gas totally, it'll stay at whatever speed I'm off the throttle (up to 118km/h, didn't try any faster). I know this is not a very controlled scientific test and many factors can skew the result but I've been on that stretch of road so many times that I know when the drag is dramatically reduced and I'm sure it's from the tranny fluid.
After ~10k and 5 track days, I finally decided to replace my GMSMFM. Since the GM stuff is out everywhere, I tried MTF this time and I don't like it. Doesn't shift better in the cold compare to the GM stuff as long as I time my shifts. In the warm, MTF has a higher chance of notchy shifting compare to the GM stuff if I don't time my shifts perfect. IOW, my tranny has never got so potentially notchy before.
There's one steep downhill stretch of highway I usually use to compare drag (from all of aerodynamic, driveline, engine compression, etc.). With GMSMFM I couldn't get above 100km/h (more like 96km/h) in 6th gear off throttle. If I speed up over 100km/h and off the gas totally, it'll slow down to below 100km/h with GMSMFM. With Honda MTF, it speeds up and stays at 104km/h. If I speed up and then off the gas totally, it'll stay at whatever speed I'm off the throttle (up to 118km/h, didn't try any faster). I know this is not a very controlled scientific test and many factors can skew the result but I've been on that stretch of road so many times that I know when the drag is dramatically reduced and I'm sure it's from the tranny fluid.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,785
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From: Azusa
Maybe it's not really 70W80, but:
The recommended substitute (10W30) is equivalent in viscosity to 70W80.
CalTex makes a synthetic oil that's recommended for use in Honda manual transmissions, that is 70W80.
GM SM, which so many people use with the S2000 and other Hondas, is 80 weight.
That's why I figured that Honda MTF is 70W80.
I didn't notice that the MTF that came out of my car was especially thin when I drained it.
Here's what someone else on the forum determined.
The recommended substitute (10W30) is equivalent in viscosity to 70W80.
CalTex makes a synthetic oil that's recommended for use in Honda manual transmissions, that is 70W80.
GM SM, which so many people use with the S2000 and other Hondas, is 80 weight.
That's why I figured that Honda MTF is 70W80.
I didn't notice that the MTF that came out of my car was especially thin when I drained it.
Here's what someone else on the forum determined.
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