It was nice out today, so before taking the motorcycle out, i decided to change
the engine oil and manual transmission fluid in the 05 TL.
The mid was yelling about 10% oil life, and A1 service, so I did the oil again.
The first change was at 2700 miles, mid was saying 60%, I did not
reset it then, I did today.
Current miles on the car is just over 5000.

The oil looked dirty, like it always does when it comes out.
I used havoline 5w20 and a mobil 1 oil filter again.

The transmission fluid change was VERY easy, a long extention with
a swivel joint on the end, and I did not have to remove any parts other
than the fill plug. The fill plug is in there TIGHT.

Below, the plastic shield came off easy, and on draining the trans fluid, it looked
quite clean, no real sediment or metal in the bottom of the drain pan.

I put in about 2.3 quarts (2 came out) of the GM mtf fm.

The transmission shifts MUCH better, as others have reported.
Its quite amazing that such similar looking fluids can have such different
effects on the transmission operation.
I would guess the GM stuff is slightly thinner than the original honda
fill, but it seems quite close.

Both the wife and I noticed the difference, and it does change the way the
car drives for some reason, my shifting seemed much better and smoother,
which has more to do with the clutch than the trans lube, but....

If you have the 6 speed, try the gm manual transmission fluid friction modified.

Brett

 

did you change the clutch too?

 

Have to ask.. why should he change the clutch?

Perhaps you meant the hydraulic fluid for the clutch.

 

b/c he said "my shifting seemed much better and smoother,
which has more to do with the clutch than the trans lube, but...."
i was a little confused w/ regards to that statement ?

 

No, actually he's right. Barring anything strange, unusual, or damaging with a clutch, replacing it will have no affect on shifting (the shifter is, in no way, attached to the clutch or any clutch component).

However, changing the tranny fluid with the GM-SFM product will definitely affect your shifting.. makes it smoother; like silk. When I did mine, the affect was minimal, probably because I waited until around the 14,000 mile mark before I drained and replaced the fluid with GM-SFM. Within the first week, I started to feel a noticably more smooth transition between the gears and with synchronizer engagement. I really is like butter.

 

Even though it works well, someone ought to get their GMSFM analyzed after 10-15K of usage to ensure that there is no abnormal wear occuring while using an unapproved fluid.

Mike

 

Couldn't hurt, but no analyses done in the S2000 tranny have showed abnormal anything. HG MTL showed significant shearing at that mileage.

 

Isn't potential warranty work out the window once you change to a non-oem fluid?

 

Depends if they find out. Technically, the fluid must’ve caused the damage in order for them to void the warranty.

Mike

 

Plus, if you're really worried about it, it only takes a few minutes to change it back to Honda OEM.

 

That would be defrauding Honda - point is, as I have posted before, I have never, in over 35 years of car ownership and high performance use, had a lubricant "analyzed" and found wanting. No one on any of the forums where I have suggested use of GMS FM has reported any issues related to warranty coverage. I recommend that scaredy-cats need not apply for membership in the GMS club.


GMS FM is amber, just like Honda's junk, and unless the lube were flaming pink, I think the whole issue of "warranty coverage" is a mind-knot. Your results may vary.

 

Both fluids seem similar, they smell a bit like gear lube, are a bit
thicker than the 5w20 motor oil, the honda lube that came out was a bit darker
than the new GM fluid, but no way acura is going to be able to tell what
is actualy in there.

Even if the transmission failed from lack of proper lubrication, I cant see
any reason to blame the fluid, as its so similar to the honda stuff.
After all, its designed to be used in manual transmissions, and there is not
much difference between manual transmissions.

Its not like an auto trans where the fluid is doing things and the trans
is filled with clutches....

Brett

 

i used redline, the flaming pink stuff!

i worked for dealers for 20+ years, and would love to go head to head w/ a service mngr or (Acura) district svc mngr
that refused to honor a trans warranty because i put a better lubricant in one of their gearboxes 40k+ mikes before i was supposed to...

 

I've changed to GM-FM....and like everyone else....the shifting is now butter smooth. I'm not worried about the warranty issue. Honda MT's are rock solid and rarely fail unlike their horrid AT's. If it bothers you that much, stay with the Honda fluid. It's junk but you'll have your warranty intact. For me....I like the GM-FM enough to make the warranty a non issue.

 

Yes, I have used the flaming MTL as well - I just did not want to muddy up up the "concerns" some have expressed on the GMS FM swap - nice to have some others come forward to say "stop the insanity". I think Jack Sprat said that even if they denied his claim at 100k miles, the improved shifting would be worth it.