Well.... once again the Haynes book has proven what a half assed rag it really is.

GM put out a TSB in 88... In short, All 86.5-88 Muncie 5 speed transmissions Fiero/FWD are to use Synchromesh oil.

I can't find any official info on the 4 speed and Isuzu 5. ALLDATA says these get GLS, which isn't motor oil or ATF....

Anyway I just posted an update to the stick article in my cave. There are a few links for the Syncro oil in it. GM isn't the only source of "approved" synchromesh fluid.

To make this more annoying... GM saw fit to not list the tranny oil in the owners manual. It just says see maintenance schedul for that.... like any one actually has those handy...

If anyone does have access to either the Pennzoil fluid reference book or actual GM mantenance schedules, please add that info here.

(The Pennzoil reference, or something like it, is used in allot of Quick Lube shops. It lists all the fluids by year/make/model of car.)

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Screamin Yellow Zonkers... If it's Screamin and Yellow, I ain't eatin it.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 08-14-2001).]

what brand would you recommend then?

I agree that the haynes book sucks.
How can you tell if its a muchie? Ive always used motor oil with no problems.

matt87GT

this is why i spent 16 bucks on the chilitons best book i ever bought

I wouldn't buy a Haynes manual to wipe my a$$ with... Chilton's is great, factory manual is excellent.

Red Line MTL rules.

Best!
Ben.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

I talked to my GM dealer about synchromesh the other day. $13 a quart. He said with 171,000 miles on 5W-30 with no problems, don't change.

I think both books are useful. They do have different material in each. As for Syncromesh, you should be able to get it at any GM dealer for $8/qt. Try using the local club name. It's good in any of the transmissions (stick) and if you are using regular oil, invest the money and try it. You will not believe how smooth and quick the shifts are.I'm a hard sell and now I'm a believer.

from the 88 maintenance manual...

Engine Oil - GM Goodwrench Motor Oil or equivalent for API service SF/CC or SF/CD of the recommend viscosity.

Engine Coolant - mixture of water and good quality ethylene glycol base antifreeze conforming to GM spec. 1825M (GM part # 1052753).

Hydraulic Brake System - Delco Supreme 11 Fluid (GM part # 12345347) or DOT-3 Brake Fluid.

Parking Brake Cables - Chassis grease meeting requirements of GM-6031M (GM part # 1052497).

Power Steering System - GM power steering fluid, part # 1052884, or equivalent (like anyone has this).

Manual Steering Gearbox - Use lubricant meeting requirements of GM-4673-M (GM part # 1052182).

Automatic Transmission - DEXRON-II auto transmission fluid (GM part # 1051855).

Manual Transaxle (front wheel drive) - Synchromesh Transmission Fluid (GM part # 12345349) oe equivalent.

Manual transmission (rear drive) - Camaro, Firebird (5 speed) & Corvette (overdrive unit) - DEXRON-II auto transmission fluid (part # 1051855). Corvette (4 speed) and all other manul transmissions - SAE 80WGL-5 gear lubricant.

Manual Transmission/transaxle shift linkage - Chassis greas meeting requirements of GM-6031M (part # 1052497).

Key lock cylinders - lubricate with multi-purpose lubricant (part # 12345120) or synthetic 5W30 engine oil.

Auto transmission/transaxle shift linkage - engine oil.

clutch linkage pivot point - engine oil.

etc...

Tim

Tranny ID.... In my cave.

Texaco very probably makes the stuff you get from GM. They make allot of stuff for GM.

Pennzoil meets GM specs so no problem there.

Various people use Redline and like it.

Now that we have the info, you should be able to find one or more of them thru some parts stores. This might be a bunch cheaper than dealers. Also, people doing allot of tranny work can get Pennzoil, and I think Texaco, in 5 gallon pails.

I use Pennzoil and got it from my local quick lube shop (Pennzoil dealer) for $4/qt.

Pennzoil makes an approved syncromesh oil:
http://www.pennzoil.com/prdsmktg/products/yourcar/gearoil.htm

Has anyone ever found this in a store? What price per quart?

Rodney Dickman

I have never found syncromesh oil for sale in any store and I am always looking. I called Pennzoil info line about 2 years ago about this, they told me that Wal-Mart was going to start handling it, never happened. The dealer sells it $10.00-$13.00 quart. One Pennzoil quick lube place I tried did not have it. I will have to check the other ones. Maybe someone should buy a 55 gal drum and repackage it into quart bottles and sell it at swap meets, hint, hint.

I searched for a Syncromesh equivalent at all the local parts stores in Alabama, including Autozone, Advance, Walmart (as if they count), and a little dinky one. Nobody had it, so I got it from the local dealer for $9 a quart. Small price to pay to use the right stuff, I say. I wish I could get it cheaper, but since I couldn't, I just bought it.

Bryce
88 GT

I just put a car together with a known good 4 speed trans and Mobil synthetic gear lube. The trans is now grinding on the 3-2 downshift almost evry time. Something it didn't do before. I'm going to switch to Syncromesh and see what happens. I don't think the synchros are designed to work with synthetic oil.

The problem isn't so much synthetic but which one.... Most "Gear" oil, regular and synthetic, is in the API GL 5 service group. While it's often listed as compatible with manual transmissions, it's not right for many of them. It's way stiff, especially cold. I made the mistake of using GL 5 in my Ford once... I could hardly shift it. GL 5 oils are made mainly for the ring and pinion in traditional RWD axles.

I'm not sure what API group GM's fluids are in. I'd have to guess they've got more in common with the GL 4 group oils which are more common in transmissions.

quote Originally posted by rockcrawl: ...I don't think the synchros are designed to work with synthetic oil.

No they're not. synthetic motor oil at least is TOO slipry for proper syncro action.

The Red Line MTL is a synthetic, but has extra 'sticky' bits added for syncro engagement.

Not sure about 'syncromesh' wether it's petrol, or fully synthetic, but it too has sticky bits.

Best!
Ben.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

Ben, In this case we're talking about synthetic Gear oil. It's diferant from Motor oil. The gear oil he's used is most likely API (American Petrolium Institute) GL (Gear Lube) service class 5. It's that number that is likely more the problem. GL 5 is not as compatible with most transmisions as API GL 4 class oil. Redline's MTL for example is a GL 4 class oil.

All GL 5 oils aren't compatible with all RWD axles either. Most of them require "limited slip additive" to work right in most limited slip axles. The LS axles have the basicly same problem as the syncro's in a tranny.

(I've learned more about oil in the last 2 weeks then I ever really wanted to know...)

I use the GM synchromesh in my Stealth, and if it can keep that fine piece of German engineered crap of a tranny shifting smooth I'd recommend using it in any car.

Doh, that'll teach me to read posts all the way through :P

]I once got to ride in an Explorer that had straight gear oil in it's rear limited-slip. Made the most horrible grabbing/clanging noises.... (eek!)

Best!
Ben

quote Originally posted by theogre: Ben, In this case we're talking about synthetic Gear oil. (I've learned more about oil in the last 2 weeks then I ever really wanted to know...)

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"