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gear oil ? transmission fluid ?

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Um4ir

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Honda Accord i-CDTI
Hi all,

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but what is Gear oil and what is its purpose as opposed to transmission fluid. The honda service book mentions changing transmission fluid but I cant find mention of how to change the gear oil and how often it should be changed

thanks in advance
Umair
 
So far as motor vehicles are concerned, gear oil and transmission fluid have become interchangeable terms.

If your car is a pre-facelift, this might be useful... http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/118-diy-full-engine-service-on-the-pre-facelift-i-ctdi-accord/ ...but if you have a facelift then have a search, as it's a different (6-speed?) gearbox and might hold a different volume of oil. You don't need a special tool to remove the filler/drain plug, as a bare 3/8" drive ratchet will fit.

I'm surprised your service book doesn't mention intervals (mine does), but if you don't know when it was last done then it probably needs doing?

As already mentioned, MTF-3 is recommended for the job, but you have to get it from Honda.
 
mine is prefacelift. I have got 3L of MTF-3 from HH. I take it I dont need this oil then ?
http://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/genuine-honda-atf-z1-gear-oil-1-litre-p-70.html

thanks

Jon_G said:
So far as motor vehicles are concerned, gear oil and transmission fluid have become interchangeable terms.

If your car is a pre-facelift, this might be useful... http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/118-diy-full-engine-service-on-the-pre-facelift-i-ctdi-accord/ ...but if you have a facelift then have a search, as it's a different (6-speed?) gearbox and might hold a different volume of oil. You don't need a special tool to remove the filler/drain plug, as a bare 3/8" drive ratchet will fit.

I'm surprised your service book doesn't mention intervals (mine does), but if you don't know when it was last done then it probably needs doing?

As already mentioned, MTF-3 is recommended for the job, but you have to get it from Honda.
Click to expand...
 
All manual transmission fluids take Honda MTF-3, tis simple. My service book says change every 75k miles B)
 
Umair said:
mine is prefacelift. I have got 3L of MTF-3 from HH. I take it I dont need this oil then ?
http://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/genuine-honda-atf-z1-gear-oil-1-litre-p-70.html

thanks
Click to expand...

That's for an automatic gearbox fella. MTF = manual transmission fluid, ATF = automatic transmission fluid. Some manuals do take ATF but pretty sure the iCDTI takes MTF.
 
Had the car serviced yesterday. All filters, transmission oil, battery and coolant from HH. Was a bit annoyed as they sent me the wrong fuel filter. I had to get a lift to another honda garage to pick up the right one. HH have asked me to post it back to them for a refund. While in the garage we were running short on time so just drained the majority of the coolant from the radiator and replaced it (just under 5L). Hope that will be ok

Car is very quiet and drives like a dream :)

I'm just wondering why other car manufacturers dont advise changing the transmission fluid in manual cars?

OB1 said:
That's for an automatic gearbox fella. MTF = manual transmission fluid, ATF = automatic transmission fluid. Some manuals do take ATF but pretty sure the iCDTI takes MTF.
Click to expand...
 
Just changed all fluids in my 7th gen remap (that was for you Jon) transmission mtf-3 &brake&clutch fluid I must admit think was a waste of time changing brake&clutch fluid 1st time I have in over 190k beakes&clutch feel no diffrent but always change transmission fluid every 30k
 
Hi everyone, i brought some MTF-3, took it to two garages both said "why u want to change the oil"??? U dont need to,
Now im confussed, its it worth it? Any ideas,
 
Depends how many miles car done with old oil.
 
The diesel Accord loves a gear oil change. When I got mine the gear change was notchy and I had occasional trouble getting it into 3rd. Got the oil changed and presto! Smooth as butter. A change is recommended every 75k (I think) but I know some folk on here do it more often. I think there's a few DIYs on here somewhere if you fancy doing it yourself.
 
It is a relatively cheap thing to do that requires little effort so I change mine when I do my oil change, which is roughly every 5-7 thousand miles.

A bit **** yes, but having owned eight Honda's and never having experienced any mechanical issues with my engine or gearbox, I will continue to do the same for years to come.

And I don't use Honda MTF, I've always used AMSOIL - http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/transmission-fluid/manual/manual-synchromesh-transmission-fluid-5w-30/
 
Paul Smith said:
And I don't use Honda MTF, I've always used AMSOIL - http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/transmission-fluid/manual/manual-synchromesh-transmission-fluid-5w-30/
Click to expand...
Not sure about other gens, but a 5w30 oil would not be a good substitute for MTF-3 in a 7th gen... it's more like 75w-90.
 
Jon_G said:
Not sure about other gens, but a 5w30 oil would not be a good substitute for MTF-3 in a 7th gen... it's more like 75w-90.
Click to expand...

Yes mate, as recommended by others and Opie oils themselves - http://www.opieoils.co.uk/t-recommendations-car-or-bike.aspx
 
Following your link I get 3 recommendations of MTFs for my 7th gen diesel...

Motul Motylgear 75w-80 gearbox oil
RED LINE Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant MTL 70W-80 GL4
Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid MTF (when you follow this link it is a 5w-30, as you say).

I would be happy to use the Motul and RedLine suggestions, but I would definitely want to double-check the Amsoil viscosity, as it is much much thinner than any other recommended oil I've seen here and elsewhere. I'm worried that Opie may have made a mistake?
 
Jon_G said:
Following your link I get 3 recommendations of MTFs for my 7th gen diesel...

Motul Motylgear 75w-80 gearbox oil
RED LINE Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant MTL 70W-80 GL4
Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid MTF (when you follow this link it is a 5w-30, as you say).

I would be happy to use the Motul and RedLine suggestions, but I would definitely want to double-check the Amsoil viscosity, as it is much much thinner than any other recommended oil I've seen here and elsewhere. I'm worried that Opie may have made a mistake?
Click to expand...

just stick with Honda MTF3 if your gearbox is manual. MTF3 is not like 75W-80
 
But what is it like then?

Logically, there should be a decent substitute for MTF-3... most likely a better option. But there's definitely something suspect about the Opie info, as their recommendations are far too wide-ranging!

Does anyone actually know the Honda MTF-3 spec?
 
Jon_G said:
But what is it like then?

Logically, there should be a decent substitute for MTF-3... most likely a better option. But there's definitely something suspect about the Opie info, as their recommendations are far too wide-ranging!

Does anyone actually know the Honda MTF-3 spec?
Click to expand...

Honda MTF-3 is light gear oil of 75w/80w viscosity, equivalent to a 10w30 engine oil. It has same additives as engine oils but with more calcium, ostensibly to friction modify the oil to have more "bite" for better synchro function.
 
I have to confess that I had no idea that motor oil viscosity and gear oil viscosity were quoted differently. But they are indeed... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_oil#API_ratings

While this almost certainly explains my confusion over the Opie oils recommedations, I have no idea why some gear oil companies (Amsoil, it appears) use motor oil ratings for gear oil?
 
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