Change your manual transmission fluid ASAP!!!

[JB86'd]

I'm going to be changing my diff fluid every 15k, and tranny every 20-30k. I don't believe in "lifetime" fluid on parts that are going through that much stress and operation constantly. I care about my car too much to not do proactive maintenance.

[Tenament05]

Originally Posted by Decay107

Nope, coolant is listed at an 11 year 137K mile interval, trans and diff are only listed as "inspect" with no change interval. If you get every service done by the dealer, you will NEVER get new trans or diff fluid, hence it is considered a "lifetime fluid".

I totally agree though that one should change both as a maintenance item.

I know super blue is not considered lifetime, but the VW/Audi/Porsche G13 coolant is considered "lifetime"... thought perhaps that's where you got the term lifetime from, or from the Mini Cooper farse

I don't know where you got that they'll never change your trans or diff fluid but that inspection is to determine when to change the fluids. It's not touted as lifetime fluid is what I'm getting at.

If your service department is not competent enough to recognize fluid needing change or skimps on their fiduciary responsibility to take care of your vehicle, find a new dealer.

[n8dog11914]

Originally Posted by GT86FI

Any others using Motorcraft fluid?

I'm considering to try this.

Let me know if you try it or where you purchase it. Interested in the results.

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by Tenament05

I know super blue is not considered lifetime, but the VW/Audi/Porsche G13 coolant is considered "lifetime"... thought perhaps that's where you got the term lifetime from, or from the Mini Cooper farse

I don't know where you got that they'll never change your trans or diff fluid but that inspection is to determine when to change the fluids. It's not touted as lifetime fluid is what I'm getting at.

If your service department is not competent enough to recognize fluid needing change or skimps on their fiduciary responsibility to take care of your vehicle, find a new dealer.

There is no inspection called out for transmission fluid which means the techs will only touch it if there is a problem. No preventative maintenance will be performed at the dealer and level inspections are no even called for.

As for the diff, the "inspection" is fluid level only, not quality.


For me, I'll be changing both out biennially as a preventative measure. I don't personally trust the service department to make my car last much longer than the warranty period as they have already demonstrated their alarming lack of knowledge regarding this platform. My Toyota dealer mistakenly filled my coolant reservoir with washer fluid, and my local Subaru dealer gave me a bottle of STI GL-5 transmission fluid for my car and insisted that "it's what the techs use when BRZ owners request a transmission fluid change"

[Young_makaveli]

Originally Posted by Decay107

There is no inspection called out for transmission fluid which means the techs will only touch it if there is a problem. No preventative maintenance will be performed at the dealer and level inspections are no even called for.

As for the diff, the "inspection" is fluid level only, not quality.


For me, I'll be changing both out biennially as a preventative measure. I don't personally trust the service department to make my car last much longer than the warranty period as they have already demonstrated their alarming lack of knowledge regarding this platform. My Toyota dealer mistakenly filled my coolant reservoir with washer fluid, and my local Subaru dealer gave me a bottle of STI GL-5 transmission fluid for my car and insisted that "it's what the techs use when BRZ owners request a transmission fluid change"

If you want it done right always better to do it yourself :p

[Tenament05]

amen ^

I don't know why I'm splitting hairs over this.. motul 300 is in mine and will be there to stay, ha

[yaguphire]

Motul 300 how is it when cold shifting?

[chas3wba0]

Originally Posted by yaguphire

Motul 300 how is it when cold shifting?

Sometimes doesn't want to go into 1st or R if it's very cold. No issues once you get moving though

[Young_makaveli]

Originally Posted by chas3wba0

Sometimes doesn't want to go into 1st or R if it's very cold. No issues once you get moving though

Stock fluid and shifts fine -30 degrees Celsius :p

[Sellout]

Originally Posted by Young_makaveli

Stock fluid and shifts fine -30 degrees Celsius :p

Funny. Mine wouldn't shift AT ALL with the stock fluid at anything less than 60 F.

[GT86FI]

Originally Posted by n8dog11914

Let me know if you try it or where you purchase it. Interested in the results.

I have had the Motorcraft fluid XT-M5-QS (Ford 75W-90 BO here in Europe) in the gearbox for 4000 miles now.

Impressions compared to stock fluid:

-shifts are less crunchy (2nd gear)

-2nd gear still refuses to go in when cold (below 0°C), even more than with the stock fluid

-slight resistance in all gears during shifting after fully warmed up

Overall conclusion: Gearbox feels marginally better than with the stock fluid...search for the perfect transmission fluid for 86/fr-s/brz still continues...

Motorcraft fluid should be available at least from Ford dealers.

[Sellout]

Try redline MT90 or Motul Gear300. I really like the Gear300 in mine.

[n8dog11914]

Also interested in where you guys are purchasing OE manual trans fluid GL3/4 as I went to both my local Subaru and Scion dealership neither of them could sell me individual quart sizes. They said no one purchases it from the dealer. When a customer brings in the car they just apparently order a gallon size... That was quite surprising.

I did find the GL5 Subaru diff oil on Amazon but not the trans GL3/4.

[Alltezza]

Motul Gear 300 75w90 for the tranny and Diff