Transmission Fluid: Redline, Amsoil or Royal Purple?

[JP 91iS]

I was just wanting some feedback on what you guys are running. I'm looking at Redline D4 ATF vs. Amsoil MTF vs. Royal Purple Synchromax.

My trans has the red label ATF sticker.

Redline D4 - it's an ATF thats suitable for Dexron III, which is what BMW recommends

Amsoil MTF - recommended by a few people on bobistheoilguy forums after having used redline

Royal Purple Synchromax - an oil that was formulated to be used in manual transmissions that require ATF

[tjts1]

I used redline MTL even though its not recomended as an ATF replacement. There is some debate about whether or not to use ATF or gear oil in these transmissions. One thing is for sure. Never ever mix the the two.

[JP 91iS]

What is the recommended fluid specification for our transmissions?  I can't find anything more than it needs ATF.

[szed03]

I've ran various oils in my trans.  Royal Purple Synchromax, a mix of Synchromax and RP 75W90 and a mix of Redline MTL and 75W140 NS.  All were perfectly fine with varying results concerning shift effort, smoothness ect...Neither of the ones mentioned caused any grinding in my trans.  

If you don't track/autox your car often Royal Purple Synchromax is the way to go. But if you do track/autox often, run a mix of Synchromax and 75W90.  Very good results and allows much easier cold temp shifting than the Redline mix I mentioned.  You can also run the mix of Redline D4ATF and 75W140 NS, again only if you're running the car hard at high temps.

What you DON'T want to mix are GL-4 fluids with GL-5 fluids.

[JP 91iS]

So on BITOG I have been getting a majority towards Amsoil.  I hear people use their MTF with good results.  If I went with them, do you think I should try the MTF or stick with ATF?

[AcSchnitzer318is]

I am using amsoil right now with decent results.  I have used synchromax in the past with excellent results.  Either one will get the job done.  If I were to change my fluid tomorrow, I'd get synchromax.

[JP 91iS]

I am using amsoil right now with decent results.  I have used synchromax in the past with excellent results.  Either one will get the job done.  If I were to change my fluid tomorrow, I'd get synchromax.

Cool.   Which Amsoil are you using?

[Wise Old Dog]

+1 on the synchromax. Good stuff

[E30tii]

I've got Redline MTL in mine. Haven't tried anything else though.

[JP 91iS]

I've got Redline MTL in mine. Haven't tried anything else though.

Why did you go with MTL over the ATF?  What about their MT-90?

[E30tii]

Why did you go with MTL over the ATF?  What about their MT-90?

I read somewhere that it worked well in our transmissions. It might have been on R3V.

It was probably a thread much like this one where someone asked for recommendations on what to use, and a few people mentioned to use it.

I don't really know anything about the various properties of all the different options, but I've had no issues so far with using MTL. My transmission seemed to be smoother after putting it in, but I have no idea what was in there before, and whatever it was, it was probably really old, so I would think just about anything would be an improvement.

[EN318isPDX]

i run redline synthetic atf. works great, a lil stiff at first but nice and fluid once it warms up

[JP 91iS]

Has anybody tried using Swepco 201 or a product by Liqui-Moly (Lubro-Moly)?

[tjts1]

I've got Redline MTL in mine. Haven't tried anything else though.

+1
I'm not saying MTL is better than anything else out there. I'm just pointing out that it works. I picked it because of the lower viscosity vs MT90.