So I felt like being productive today and did some hands-on service. Besides the engine oil and filter, I changed the tranny fluid for the first time in about 10k miles to GM Syncromesh...

I can't tell you how much difference this stuff made! I was running synthetic fluid before but still had notchy 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. That notchy feeling is now gone, and all the gears feel smoother. It actually has reduced the shifting effort... almost like having a slightly heavier knob.

Thanks to Bill (Picturepro) for hooking me up with a deal on his extra fluid. Best mod I've done in a while!

 

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing.

 

I changed my fluid at about 5000 miles from Honda MTF to GM Synchromech. and have use it up to 30,000 miles when I used Red Line MTL. The traney went back to the same notchy feel it had when it was new I drove with it in the trans for about 500 miles when I could not take it anymore and went back to GM Synchromech. Oh Joy the trans was back to being as smoth as glass.
A little FYI you can buy the Pennzoil brand from an auto parts store for half the price the GM dealer will charge you It is the same thing Pennzoil makes the GM brand

 

Report back in one month...your review will change. I agree GM is good, but wears off VERY quickly, and the feel becomes worse than stock. I switched to amsoil, and couldnt be happier.

 

Well we've gotten some conflicting results so I'm curious now. S2kpuppydad said he used it for 25,000 miles and NFRs2000NYC says it's good but doesn't last long.

NFRs...how long did it last for you before it totally crapped out on you?
S2kpuppydad...did you use the same fluid for the full 25,000 miles or did you switch it a few times in the mean time?

I'd love to make the gears less notchy but at the same don't want to mess anything up.

 

You can buy the GM stuff for $20 (for two quarts), or you can buy the generic syncromesh stuff for $12 from autozone or pepboys. As long as you can change your own fluids (not hard at all), it would be worth it to try at least once.

 

Honestly, Id say about one month.....it felt GREAT brand spaking new, but after a month of stop and go traffic, highway, and city driving, it felt worse than stock. Same goes with redline. Amsoil has been great from day 1, and I have no grinding or notchiness of any kind. However, I havent tested it in freezing temps yet. Winter is just around the corner though.

 

exact same experience here with gmsmfm

 

great...I'll try the AMSOIL...thanks

 

Which ever direction you guys choose, let us know how things work out.