Does anyone here know how Pennzoil Synchromesh compares to GM Synchromesh?

My local Autozone has Pennzoil Synchromesh for about $5.00 a quart vs. my local dealership at $10.00 a quart, for GM Synchromesh.

Is GM Synchromesh synthetic? Is Pennzoil Synchromesh synthetic? I looked at the Pennzoil bottle and it did not mention synthetic anywhere. I know it’s not really that big of a deal in the manual transmission, but I would still like to know.

While on the subject, if anyone else here has had good experience with other brands of Synchromesh, please elaborate on your findings.

Thank you

GM fluids, just about all of them, are made by Chevron/Texaco. (Texaco before the merger.)

Pennzoil and Quaker state are now the same company. You'll find quarts under both brands. It is also available in Buckets under Pennzoil brand.

All the Synchromesh fluid is made to the same GM specifications. People around here have used both and I don't think anyone has found any difference.

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RIP Crew of Columbia. 01-Feb-03

Ditto........GM....Ford.....Chrysler......all of them buy products from other manufacturers and have their labeling put on them. Not only the chemicals, but alot of the hard parts too like bearings and electronics......etc.........

Phil

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87 FIERO GT 2.8 5spd
0-60 in 6.8 seconds!

i have heavy motor oil in my 5 speed what difference is that stuff gonna make?

glad Pennzoil and Quaker State merged, makes it easier to remember that both of them have very high guanities of parafine wax. I wouldnt want them in my engine or anything else I valued

they are great oils as long as you change it every 3000 miles.

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84 SE 2m8
85 GT (dead)

My research says that Pennzoil is the only supplier of Synchromesh.

my getrag 5 speed has advanced auto 20w50 in it right now, how much smoother will it shift if i switch over to syncromesh? right now its kinda dragging in third, but i think my slave or master is dying also.

matthew

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: they are great oils as long as you change it every 3000 miles.

Sorry, beg to differ. Ive seen Pennzoil cars that were changed religiously at 3000 miles, you changed the oil with a spoon. One guy i knew pulled valve covers off a chevy and they were so sludged up, oil barely would run down into crankcase. Taking oil pan off, sludge was an inch deep in bottom and pickup screen was almost totally blocked. You can use it, but I wont.

I have been using the Oreilly or Autozone yellow container synchromesh that says Pennzoil on it. Is this crappy tranny fluid for our manual 5spd cars? I thought it was pretty much the same as GM synchromesh? is it not, and should I refrain from using it? Lmk.

Amir

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Maroon 1987 GT 5 spd: 2.8L
Ferrari Red 1988 Formula 5 spd: 3.4L

My Website: http://www.members.cox.net/rare88/

Change to Synchromesh fast! You will notice the difference. I was using the Mobil 1 for a long time unknowing this and I lost years of nice shifting. Hard 1t geting in, grinding 3rd in cold mornings, all that went away. Do a search on this. It was discussed to great extent long time ago. Go for it

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Great, I’m more confused now than before
So far there seems to be quite a bit of contradicting opinions.

The only fact I can deduce is that I can’t go wrong with GM Synchromesh.

Paying an extra $15 dollars to be on the safe side is cheap insurance; however, I think I’ll wait to see how this thread wraps up.

In the meantime, here are some more questions:

Does Pennzoil Synchromesh contain paraffin wax?

Rare87GT: How long have you been using Pennzoil Synchromesh? Have you had any problems since using it? Did it make a noticeable difference in shifting effort from your previous choice of lubricant?

Thank you

Just wanted to note that my comment was to Synchromesh in general compared to a Mobil 1 5W30. Not between different brands of Synchromesh ;

My Formula gets nothing but GM Synchromesh. The difference between it and motor oil is outstanding!

Roger, you are making all of these guys paranoid for nothing.

They are talking about transmission fluid and you are talking about motor oil. Do you know if Pennzoil Syncromesh is parafine based like the motor oil?

Even if it is parafine based the fluid tmperatures in a transaxle are much lower and the maintinance schedule is much longer.

I personally am using the Pennzoil stuff because it is more than half the cost of the GM stuff.

P.S. I read a report once that said parafine based oils were better in some applications because the sludge buildup trapped particulate matter and kept it away from moving parts.

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I ran Penzoil oil in my cars for years (now I use Mobil 1) and never had problems. It's not a bad oil. There are worse ways to go with oil than Penzoil.

To each their own.

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Mike

I have used the Pennzoil Synchrosmesh for a while now. Should I change now to the GM synchromesh to prolong the life of my tranny? My 87GT grinds in 3rd gear to when I shift hard is that a cause of using the pennzoil stuff rather than the GM stuff? I have it in my Formula too and it works just fine but I mean I have never tried the GM stuff. Is it time to switch? Let me know as I know everyone says the GM stuff is the best.

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Maroon 1987 GT 5 spd: 2.8L
Ferrari Red 1988 Formula 5 spd: 3.4L

My Website: http://www.members.cox.net/rare88/

thats true, im talking about motor oil. It may be quite a diff story not being exposed to combustion. But to me, if I find any products that are bad in any way, i stay away from the manufacturer and anything they produce. Armor All is another example

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: thats true, im talking about motor oil. It may be quite a diff story not being exposed to combustion. But to me, if I find any products that are bad in any way, i stay away from the manufacturer and anything they produce. Armor All is another example

if that were true roger we should all stay away from pontiacs they have this product called the aztec that sucks ass and is probably the uglies vehicle made today.

(i liked the old VW bus vans better)

matthew

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison:Armor All is another example

I agree with you completely on that one! If armor cost what it was worth they would be paying people to use it.

quote Originally posted by Rare87GT:Should I change now to the GM synchromesh to prolong the life of my tranny? My 87GT grinds in 3rd gear to when I shift hard is that a cause of using the pennzoil stuff rather than the GM stuff?

The third gear grind is inherent to the design of the tranny. I can elaborate for you if you want but that isn't the subject of this thread. If you really feel like trying the GM stuff go ahead. I really think you will be wasting your money but that is just my opinion.

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quote Originally posted by Jefrysuko: The third gear grind is inherent to the design of the tranny. I can elaborate for you if you want but that isn't the subject of this thread. If you really feel like trying the GM stuff go ahead. I really think you will be wasting your money but that is just my opinion.

Please elaborate on this third gear grind noise when you go into 3rd when you are shifting pretty fast. I have a custom short shifter too as well. It doesn't sound like it is a grind at all more of a just barely missing a shift kind of noise. Is it my syncros? I was thinking about having the tranny taken out again and putting new syncros in it? Let me know what you know about it all and the 3rd gear grind problem I would love to know what I need to do to fix it. Later.

Amir

quote Originally posted by Rare87GT: Please elaborate

PM sent

Does anyone have a GM part number for the syncromesh fluid? My dealership says they don't have a reference for the Fiero. Thanks!

Part Number for the GM stuff is 12345349

You won't find it refferenced to the fiero by asking the people behind the parts counter. If you want to find the TSB that links Synchromesh to the Fiero trannys look in Orge's Cave.

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