Gear oil ?

[Megell]

I could sure use some advise from you fellow Subaru owners. I recently moved from Colorado where it is usually cool to cold to Tucson AZ. where it is usually warm to very hot. My question is, should I run heaver gear lube in my manual trans. The reason I'm asking is that I notice after I drive for a while and the gear oil get heated up that second gear feels more and more "notchy" when I shift. I have tried double clutching, shifting even slower from first to second and it still does not feel smooth and sometimes actually grinds a little bit going into second. The car is a 91 ej22T, 5 spd with 188K.

Subaru service was done on the car in Colorado at 168K and clutch and fluids were replaced at that time. Is perhaps the lube 75/85 (?) they used is not heavy enough for down here?

What do you guys suggest? Take it to Subaru to have heavier oil installed? Do it myself with heavier oil and see what happens. I'm very easy on clutch's and shifting. I don't know why it's starting to grind going into second after things get heated up.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike

[idosubaru]

You might want to first check it just to verify it has good clean gear oil in it and you're not loosing any.

 

I'd try a high quality synthetic gear oil in the weight range recommended for that climate/useage in the owners manual. RedLine MT90 comes highly recommended by folks for helping stuff like this. but i've never used it. You can search for it here and see experiences with it.

 

It's very easy to change, though I hate using funnels but not a big deal. It's easier than an oil change, no filter. Drain via plug, refill via dipstick tube and you're done.

 

I'm not a trans expert but pretty sure that's your synchro's causing that. I've had a few do that and it always seems like second is most prone(keeping in mind i've owned over 30 Subaru's, some very old). I don't think it actually spells any likely future problems or doom, it's just annoying.

 

Shift from 1st to 3rd if someone is with you and your pscyhe is on the line!

Edited July 19, 2009 by grossgary

[Olnick]

Some of us swear by Redline 75W-90ns. You might want to give it a shot.

Try a search on here--it's been talked about a lot over the years.

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78245&highlight=redline+90ns

[Megell]

You might want to first check it just to verify it has good clean gear oil in it and you're not loosing any.

 

I'd try a high quality synthetic gear oil in the weight range recommended for that climate/useage in the owners manual. RedLine MT90 comes highly recommended by folks for helping stuff like this. but i've never used it. You can search for it here and see experiences with it.

 

It's very easy to change, though I hate using funnels but not a big deal. It's easier than an oil change, no filter. Drain via plug, refill via dipstick tube and you're done.

 

I'm not a trans expert but pretty sure that's your synchro's causing that. I've had a few do that and it always seems like second is most prone(keeping in mind i've owned over 30 Subaru's, some very old). I don't think it actually spells any likely future problems or doom, it's just annoying.

 

Shift from 1st to 3rd if someone is with you and your pscyhe is on the line!

 

Thanks Grossgary, I checked the manual and it sez use 90wt. for hot climates. So, I thought that might help with the 2nd shift. I do shift to third from 1st occasionally when I start feeling the need, but with a turbo it takes a light foot. I hope I don't have a second gear syncro going bad.

I don't really know anybody that will ride in a 18 year old car with me so I don't have to worry about my ..pscyhe being on the line.

I do use Mobil 1 in the engine but not sure that a synthetic in the trans. might make the problem worse. I used Amsoil for a gear lube change in my old 86 Toyota Turbo pickup truck and it would not shift without grinding the gears after that. Amsoild tech. mentioned something about a syncro thing that might happen when the oil is to slick. I don't really remember the exact words , but it makes me uncomfortable thinking the same thing could happen to my Sub.

Mike

[idosubaru]

You should probably search here and see what other folks say, as there seems to be good success with Redline Synthetic and others in Subaru's. Of course you could always just start with switching weights and seeing if that helps. If not, then entertain the idea of changing to a synthetic.

 

Of all the "grinding" Subaru synchro's I've heard of, I've never heard of one actually failing on a daily driver. If you're not tearing it up I doubt you'll have any failures or that it'll get worse.