GM synchromesh=ambrosia for ur tranny
04-28-2004, 05:25 PM
#31
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the thing is i had no mods. my car was bone stock at the time and they still had a hard time figuring it out. i mean how do you not know what to do with a car that you sell. anyway, i went pure and i am back to the shifting i had a long time ago. although expensive now, it is worth it in the long run.
04-29-2004, 04:33 AM
#33
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Car Info: 2012 Legacy 2.5GT-L
Ok - so for price, GM synchromesh is made by Penzoil - they also sell it in their own containers as Penzoil synchromesh, which is available for under $5 a quart - it's the same stuff.
For the Subaru transmission, I don't know - Synchromesh is defined as a GLS lubricant - the specs don't follow the GL-3 or GL-4 specifications - based upon their statements about it's appropriateness for some GL-4 applications, I would be inclined to think it didn't completely meet GL-4 specs - so I would be sort of concerned about running it in a transmission which requires a GL-5... I have always been a fan of the RedLine MTL/MT90 oils - but haven't used them in the WRX because they are only GL-4 rated - I have a GL-5 rated synthetic in there now (Motul Gear 300) which seems to work well, but isn't the "miracle cure" for the 2-1 shift at speed...
For the Subaru transmission, I don't know - Synchromesh is defined as a GLS lubricant - the specs don't follow the GL-3 or GL-4 specifications - based upon their statements about it's appropriateness for some GL-4 applications, I would be inclined to think it didn't completely meet GL-4 specs - so I would be sort of concerned about running it in a transmission which requires a GL-5... I have always been a fan of the RedLine MTL/MT90 oils - but haven't used them in the WRX because they are only GL-4 rated - I have a GL-5 rated synthetic in there now (Motul Gear 300) which seems to work well, but isn't the "miracle cure" for the 2-1 shift at speed...
04-29-2004, 08:42 PM
#34
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 31
Well I went ahead and tried the cocktail. I was changing the engine oil anyway so what the heck. I wasn't having serious issues except for a notchy 3rd gear and the occassional 1st gear grind from a stop. I used Castrol Hypoid C 75-90w and Penzoil Syncromesh. I tried to make it a 3 to 1 mixture biased to the Castrol. According to what I've read the Syncromesh is an equivalent 80w fluid, GL-4 characteristics, with the added friction modifiers. Hopefully this blend won't dilute the Castrol too much. First impressions are good but I wasn't able to get the tranny good and hot. Update tomorrow.
04-30-2004, 09:12 PM
#36
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 31
I got some serious driving in. A mix of city and highway driving. My results are that 1st and 2nd gear shifting has been greatly improved with no grinding to report. I still get that notchy feeling going into 3rd which makes me feel that it's a characteristic of my trans. Did a little spirited driving on the freeway through traffic and found the tranny never balked at any down shifts. So far so good but time will tell.
05-01-2004, 08:02 PM
#39
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 31
Day 2 and I 'm finding the car much easier to shift. I'm finding that I don't have to baby it as much as I did before. As far as the mix is concerned I'd try to go with the most 75-90w as you can. How my simple mind can figure it is a 3 to 1 mix with the 75-90w the dominate part will only reduce the EP value of the GL-5 by about 1/8th as the Syncromesh has 1/2 the EP of the 75-90w. Hopefully this will still maintain the protection for the differentials.
....
05-04-2004, 08:31 AM
#42
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Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by senomar
very interesting thread....
i'm getting my trans rebuilt as we speak. rallispec STI gears into an RS case. do you think it would be a good/safe idea to immediately start out with this cocktail?????
-cody
i'm getting my trans rebuilt as we speak. rallispec STI gears into an RS case. do you think it would be a good/safe idea to immediately start out with this cocktail?????
-cody
05-13-2004, 06:03 AM
#44
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 12.9 / 105+
Posts: 488
Car Info: black my03 5mt wrx s/w
wtlw. i've been pushing it over the last year like i'm a dealer or something! 
i swapped @ 5k, now at 23k.
as was stated earlier, use the pennzoil... same stuff, much cheaper. <5 bucks at my local autozone, and i cut it with mobil 1. convenient to pick up and cheap. have you seen the prices for neo??
as was stated, no need to use syncro-saving fluids in the rear end.
as far as gl4/5 vs gls... think about this a moment: when was the last time someone WORE OUT a subie transmission? like, the kind of end-of-lifetime tooth/bearing wear and tear one would expect from a tranny fluid that's not quite slippery enough?
now compare that number to those who have toasted synchros.
me, i'll take saving the synchros, thanks!
i could tell right off the bat that slippery synthetic tranny oil + grippy synchromesh was the way to go, especially in the colder months. it hasn't lost ANY of its effectiveness over time (and 18k miles) either.
my ratio is 60/40 mob1/synchromesh. even before i flushed fluid, i had topped off (ie a few ounces) the oem dino fluid with synchromesh and it worked its magic.
some in the dsm world use uncut synchromesh in their awd trannies. obviously a different design, but the fluid is not as non-lubricative as some think.
have fun!
ken
i swapped @ 5k, now at 23k.as was stated earlier, use the pennzoil... same stuff, much cheaper. <5 bucks at my local autozone, and i cut it with mobil 1. convenient to pick up and cheap. have you seen the prices for neo??
as was stated, no need to use syncro-saving fluids in the rear end.
as far as gl4/5 vs gls... think about this a moment: when was the last time someone WORE OUT a subie transmission? like, the kind of end-of-lifetime tooth/bearing wear and tear one would expect from a tranny fluid that's not quite slippery enough?
now compare that number to those who have toasted synchros.
me, i'll take saving the synchros, thanks!
i could tell right off the bat that slippery synthetic tranny oil + grippy synchromesh was the way to go, especially in the colder months. it hasn't lost ANY of its effectiveness over time (and 18k miles) either.
my ratio is 60/40 mob1/synchromesh. even before i flushed fluid, i had topped off (ie a few ounces) the oem dino fluid with synchromesh and it worked its magic.
some in the dsm world use uncut synchromesh in their awd trannies. obviously a different design, but the fluid is not as non-lubricative as some think.
have fun!
ken
05-13-2004, 06:27 AM
#45
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Neat thread. Thanks for all of the personal testimonials. My curiosity is piqued. 
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