So I have finally ordered the GM Syncomesh Friction Modified fluid (PN 12377916) and put it my car. Definitely a nice difference from oem fluid at 75k. Kinda sucks that I had to buy a box of 6 quarts when I only needed 3 and that special order took 2 weeks to come in. **MOD EDIT**

 

I might be, what does it do? get rid of the slight tremor i have been noticing? Forgive me< i have only had the car 3 weeks and have not drivin it often.

 

Please post a thread in the Black Market in the Off Topic section of the forum if you have anything to sell.

 

Ok moved to Black market. Sorry.

 

Hopefully you didn't put three quarts in your case 'cause that is not what a drain and fill takes.

 

I'm still procrastinating this fluid change. I'm doing the oil tonight, I'm going to take a good look at how to access the fill plug and make sure I'll be able to remove it without pulling the battery, etc. Every time 3rd gear gives me a bit of resistance it makes me cry inside.

 

^Do it,when i first got my tl i used to think i was being lazy to shift it into 3rd and it always popped out. I switched to the GM fluid and my 3rd gear has never popped out since then,even when i do lazy shifts it never pops out. Shifting is silky smooth too.

 

I'd get it changed, the fluid exchange made driving the TL soo much more comfortable. Not having 3rd gear pop out ever is huge difference from having it pop out almost every time!

 

With the right tools, you don't have to remove anything on the top side. This is a simple task.

 

^ ya I got to the fill bolt without removing anything you just need long enough extensions and breaker bar.

 

The only thing I think I may need to pick up is a swivel.

 

Yes you should use a swivel. And make sure you use a torque wrench.

 

Ok, I would like to hear from some folks about how their transmission is doing after thousands of miles with this GM fluid......

 

I did my first drain and fill at 15,500 miles and I did use GMSFM fluid then and each time since then. My '04 manual TL now has 84,700 miles on it. Now I need to say that I never had any of the problems or concerns others have reported before my first drain and fill. My transmission performed as I would have expected any manual transmission to perform, which is to say flawless. It still does. I do know that my operating techniques have no doubt played a heavy part in my tranny's health since most all of the problems reported, and the TSB, have involved the third gear set synchronizers. The techniques I use virtually eliminate any undue wear to both clutch components and synchronizers.

 

I first used the GM fluid in my '08 TL-S at about 20k mi after having 3rd gear issues and trying new OEM fluid. The change was dramatic and has been great for the last 57k mi.

 

Good grief dude, just read one of the other 20 threads on how good this stuff is....

This is just what we needed, another frickin' GMSMF thread. The other 20 threads weren't enough?

 

lol...when I saw this thread I knew you were going to post something, surprised it took this long!

 

If you bought 6 quarts, wait about a week, and change it out again. Ideally, you'd do the drain/fill 3x.

 

^ the 3x3 is really only beneficial for the automatics. When you drain the trans fluid from a 6MT, you drain and then replace virtually all of the fluid, unlike the autos.

 

 

I didnt put all 3 in. I took out little more than 2.5, and put in about 2.7.

 

While you guys are doing this fluid change you may want to invest in a magnetic drain plug. Picked one up at my local auto parts store for 5 bucks (just grab a washer from Honda/Acura as the nylon garbage that comes with the cheaper magnetic plugs won't work)

 

If your case is level, as it should be when doing this, a drain and fill takes 2.3 quarts, which is 2 quarts 10 ounces (rounded). A rebuilt/dry fill takes 2.6 quarts. You've overfilled.

 

this stuff works like a charm! i didnt have any issues with the 3rd gear popping but i changed it because its cheaper then acura OEM fluid and plus i heard good things about it. I did notice smoother shifting.
^^southernboy is right. you over filled! 2.6 is for an overall. 2.3 for drain and refill!

 

Almost all of the tiny metal filings you're likely to find in your manual transmission fluid is going to be from your synchronizers and those are not ferrous metal so they are not going to be attracted to a magnet. And nearly all of these filings are going to be evident in the first drain... unless you don't know how to operate the transmission in a manner that significantly reduces synchronizer wear.

 

Truer words may never have been spoken

 

Not only TLs, but people have been putting synchromesh in hondas for over a decade without issues.

If honda MTF is good in all MT hondas, by default Syncromesh should work without problems.

I mean you can put 5w-30 motor oil in an emergency even.