Manual Transmission Fluid (Thread 2.1)

[duperdog]

Which MTF and ATF do you use?

Redline D4 ATF and Redline MTL

[D-O]

I am going to try the Motul this summer. I am guessing it will be less than great when cold, but the summer track days here in Atlanta are tough on all the fluids and I am hoping it will work well on those hot track days.

Good results at Road Atlanta yesterday. Shifted about as smoothly as it is capable of all day.

[chris719]

btw, I was running Ravenol MTF-2 for around 4k miles in my Z4M and noticed they changed the formula and it's now over 9 cSt, almost as thick as MTL, and thicker than the original 7.x cSt MTF-LT-2. I decided to switch it out for 50-50 Red Line MT-LV / MTL mix for the heck of it and when I drained it I noticed it looked terrible and almost gray. Not sure what's going on but I am not going to use it again given the silent spec change and will be monitoring for any trans issues. It shifted fine and still does with the RL blend in it.

[skylinekin]

I’ve been pleased with Motul 75W80 so far, will be sticking with it moving forward.

[bigjae46]

Just reporting back on the DCT-F...

Still feels really good and I drained a little to see what it looked like...still golden color! Redline would normally come out dark. At this point, Redline would feel notchy and would not shift very smoothly.

I think this will be my go to trans fluid. The car not seen a TON of action. I don't drive more than 15 minute sessions because...I'm old. So we'll see if it lasts the rest of the year.

[CrookedCommie]

btw, I was running Ravenol MTF-2 for around 4k miles in my Z4M and noticed they changed the formula and it's now over 9 cSt, almost as thick as MTL, and thicker than the original 7.x cSt MTF-LT-2. I decided to switch it out for 50-50 Red Line MT-LV / MTL mix for the heck of it and when I drained it I noticed it looked terrible and almost gray. Not sure what's going on but I am not going to use it again given the silent spec change and will be monitoring for any trans issues. It shifted fine and still does with the RL blend in it.

Well that sucks. Just dumped the Motul in the race car to put some Ravenol I had leftover from a few years ago. Was the best transmission fluid I've used. Guess that's out now too.

[chris719]

Well that sucks. Just dumped the Motul in the race car to put some Ravenol I had leftover from a few years ago. Was the best transmission fluid I've used. Guess that's out now too.

My car is old and it’s possible the trans has an issue, and the Ravenol was fine. It certainly did shift well with it in. I wish I had been prepared to sample it.

[Cronenberged]

I’ve put about 7,500 miles on Amsoil Synchromesh Transmission Fluid. Cold-start shifting is still slightly notchy, but it’s much better. Once the transmission warms up—and at higher RPMs and speeds—it shifts as smoothly as butter. I’m one of three people I know who are running it, and we’re all experiencing the same results. One person has been using it for more than five years and has put about 50,000 miles on it.

[D-O]

I’ve put about 7,500 miles on Amsoil Synchromesh Transmission Fluid. Cold-start shifting is still slightly notchy, but it’s much better. Once the transmission warms up—and at higher RPMs and speeds—it shifts as smoothly as butter. I’m one of three people I know who are running it, and we’re all experiencing the same results. One person has been using it for more than five years and has put about 50,000 miles on it.

The 5W30 Synchromesh?

[Cronenberged]

The 5W30 Synchromesh?

Yes but it’s gear oil and the viscosity grading is different it’s comparable to OEM just thinner on cold start.

[Pklauser]

First time going to order MTF-LT-2 from FCP and seeing they're out. Though it looks like I could buy the Mini-branded MTF-LT-2.

Curious, what's stopping people from running MTF-LT-5?

[Cronenberged]

First time going to order MTF-LT-2 from FCP and seeing they're out. Though it looks like I could buy the Mini-branded MTF-LT-2.

Curious, what's stopping people from running MTF-LT-5?

Been so long since I looked into it, but LT 5 isn’t compatible with our synchros I thought. Give AMSoil synchromesh a try

[Pklauser]

Been so long since I looked into it, but LT 5 isn’t compatible with our synchros I thought. Give AMSoil synchromesh a try

LT 5 says it's GL-3 and GL-4 compatible 75w80, so I think it should be.

I've got some Redline MTL I need to use up from other projects, so I'll probably run that for a season and see how it is.

I really miss the ignorance of being able to just run what was on the sticker on the trans.

[TexaZ3]

FFL-4 is FULLY compatible with yellow metals, so no issue using it instead of MTL-2 fluid.

[George Hill]

MTF LT2 has been on back order from BMW for a few months with no eta unfortunately.

There is some on eBay, and BimmerWorld has it in stock according to their website (at a huge price increase).