Change your manual transmission fluid ASAP!!!

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by 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.

I finally got my local Toyota dealer to give me a price on OEM GL-3, $48 per quart

I had a quick laugh and walked out.

[n8dog11914]

Lol!! Ironically enough, after exiting the Subaru dealership I walked to the Scion one right across the street. Conveniently they were having some 'Scion life' car show at the dealer. I walked in to the dealership and was told they wouldnt sell the fluid to me. The best part was he said 'why dont you talk to your buddies out there in parking lot on where they got theirs'.

[billyk]

Originally Posted by GT86FI

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

I was part of the "my FRS won't go into 2nd when cold" camp. This led me to investigating changing tranny oil to fix the problem. It seems that some folks that change tranny oil experience shifting nirvana, and others say that it really didn't do much. In some cases, people report that some oil choices make getting into 2nd when cold actually worse.

I'll apologize in advance if you've already tried the technique of just remaining in 1st gear for a longer period of time to spin up the syncro when cold, but it works almost every time for me.

My previous experience was that when I leave for work in the AM in Winter weather, it's not that 2nd gear is "tough", it's actually impossible. It's like 2nd gear is totally locked-out. Dont' even mention double-clutching - that just doesn't work. I've got to skip to 3rd and try to avoid the lug. Once the tranny is warm, 2nd is great.

But I found that instead of zipping up my street in the AM spending maybe 1-2 seconds in 1st gear then struggling with 2nd, I intentionally go up the street slower, remaining in 1st, slowly accelerating without shifting and then holding it at 3k or so for a couple of seconds prior to shifting to 2nd. This seems to allow that cold syncro to spin-up, which it doesn't want to do at all when cold. With temps in the single digits, with the stock gear oil, that ice cold shift into 2nd is almost always perfect - smooth as silk. As I improve my technique, my success is increasing to nearly 100%.

Discovering this has made it so I have a lot less interest in changing my gear oil asap.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by billyk

I was part of the "my FRS won't go into 2nd when cold" camp. This led me to investigating changing tranny oil to fix the problem. It seems that some folks that change tranny oil experience shifting nirvana, and others say that it really didn't do much. In some cases, people report that some oil choices make getting into 2nd when cold actually worse.

I'll apologize in advance if you've already tried the technique of just remaining in 1st gear for a longer period of time to spin up the syncro when cold, but it works almost every time for me.

My previous experience was that when I leave for work in the AM in Winter weather, it's not that 2nd gear is "tough", it's actually impossible. It's like 2nd gear is totally locked-out. Dont' even mention double-clutching - that just doesn't work. I've got to skip to 3rd and try to avoid the lug. Once the tranny is warm, 2nd is great.

But I found that instead of zipping up my street in the AM spending maybe 1-2 seconds in 1st gear then struggling with 2nd, I intentionally go up the street slower, remaining in 1st, slowly accelerating without shifting and then holding it at 3k or so for a couple of seconds prior to shifting to 2nd. This seems to allow that cold syncro to spin-up, which it doesn't want to do at all when cold. With temps in the single digits, with the stock gear oil, that ice cold shift into 2nd is almost always perfect - smooth as silk. As I improve my technique, my success is increasing to nearly 100%.

Discovering this has made it so I have a lot less interest in changing my gear oil asap.

In some cases, technique > technology. I'll have to try this myself.

[gravitylover]

I was wondering when somebody would say "use the syncros dummy." Nice to see y'all are just about there

[billyk]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

I was wondering when somebody would say "use the syncros dummy." Nice to see y'all are just about there

I am trying!

[radroach]

I just put Motul in mine today after 45k stock fluid. Could immediately tell that all gears feel slicker, and my gearbox is quieter. It cuts down a lot on the notchiness though, going into 3rd gear feels a bit too vague, I got used to feeling the detents and syncros between shifts, and that feel isn't there as much any more.

[JB86'd]

@radroach I think as you put some miles on that fluid it'll feel a little better to you

[radroach]

Originally Posted by JB86'd

@radroach I think as you put some miles on that fluid it'll feel a little better to you

Thanks you are right! It does get better the more I'm driving it.

I used to have a certain tick where I would cringe when shifting gears on the stock fluid because it might grind. But now its so smooth in between gears, being able to relax and drive is nice.

[n8dog11914]

Well, I ordered the Subaru Extra - S fluid from Amazon but instead the 'High Performance Gear Oil' arrived. It should still be GL5 thus I won't be running it in the transmission. Anyone using it in the differential or even in the transmission?

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by n8dog11914

Well, I ordered the Subaru Extra - S fluid from Amazon but instead the 'High Performance Gear Oil' arrived. It should still be GL5 thus I won't be running it in the transmission. Anyone using it in the differential or even in the transmission?

I personally wouldn't use that stuff in my deep fryer. It's just re-labelled generic stuff you can pickup at 7-11...

Why would you purchase from Amazon, when there are plenty of qualified vendors who support this community with great pricing and knowledge of the products?

Kids will never learn.

-Mike Paisan


Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

[fx35s]

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

I personally wouldn't use that stuff in my deep fryer. It's just re-labelled generic stuff you can pickup at 7-11...

Why would you purchase from Amazon, when there are plenty of qualified vendors who support this community with great pricing and knowledge of the products?

Kids will never learn.

-Mike Paisan


Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Just wondering.
What do you guys have for fr-s/brz transmission and differential fluids?

I haven't drained either of them and I feel like I need to as I'm approaching 30k miles slowly..

Could you also pm me how much each application is? Transmission fluid drop & fill and differential fluid drop & fill.

Thanks.

[FyeaFRS]

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

I personally wouldn't use that stuff in my deep fryer. It's just re-labelled generic stuff you can pickup at 7-11...

Why would you purchase from Amazon, when there are plenty of qualified vendors who support this community with great pricing and knowledge of the products?

Kids will never learn.

-Mike Paisan


Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Lol, this guy..

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by fx35s

Just wondering.
What do you guys have for fr-s/brz transmission and differential fluids?

I haven't drained either of them and I feel like I need to as I'm approaching 30k miles slowly..

Could you also pm me how much each application is? Transmission fluid drop & fill and differential fluid drop & fill.

Thanks.

We have had great success with the Motul Gear 300 75w90 in both the transmission and rear diffy. Over the years we've tested lots of fluids. The Subaru ExtraS is probably our number 2 fluid. The only thing we found is that since ExtraS is not synthetic it will generally breakdown quicker than the Motul Gear 300. Both ExtraS and Motul Gear 300 will have smooth qualities with the ExtraS lasting about 15-20k miles in a Severe (city/enthusiastic) Service. The Motul in the same conditions will run about 30-40K miles. If you track your car we suggest at least 1x a season changing out your trans and diffy fluids as a precautionary measure. I have not checked to see if the ExtraS is both GL4 and GL5 rated for the BRZ as we've only used the Motul in both our own and customer cars for the BRZ. That's the other advantage of the Motul is that you can use the same fluid in both the trans and diffy.

We can ship you the Motul Gear 300 75w90 (4) Liters for $85 Shipped, just send us an e-mail to Sales@AZPInstalls.com and we'll get it out to you.

-mike