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Old 04-03-2006, 01:37 AM   #1
trhoppe
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Default Track/Rally guys, what do you use for STi 6sp transmission fluid?

Right now we are using Royal Purple 75W90 gear oil in the car and after 5-8ish laps or so, the 4th gear synchro starts to get a bit crunchy unless I shift it slow. Until it gets hot though, its perfect. We need something that will last 20 laps. Any ideas?

-Tom
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Old 04-03-2006, 02:53 AM   #2
homiusang
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trhoppe
Right now we are using Royal Purple 75W90 gear oil in the car and after 5-8ish laps or so, the 4th gear synchro starts to get a bit crunchy unless I shift it slow. Until it gets hot though, its perfect. We need something that will last 20 laps. Any ideas?

-Tom
I had the Royal purple on my 350z and it was ok shifting when cold.
Aren't the RP gear oil synthetic? I heard the STi tranny doesn't link synthetic lube...

Sorry couldn't be more help, but free bump
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Old 04-03-2006, 06:24 AM   #3
david amor
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Redline Heavy Shockproof Redline Heavy Shockproof Redline Heavy Shockproof.
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Old 04-03-2006, 08:42 AM   #4
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Motul Gear FF, formulated specifically for competition trans with limited slip diffs

my RS rally car had a croonchy 2nd gear synchro, w/the good French go juice, it's now happy and quiet.

Dave G
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:19 AM   #5
JoBoo
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Motul Comp FF. its a 75w140 also formulated for LSDs. also $$$

The big problem with the sub's transmissions is heat. It doesnt deal with it very well, even with the oil pump, pan and fins... with the heavier wt you have a better chance dealing with the heat issues. also the synchros seem to like heavier viscosities for "better" shifting.

I toasted 3rd gear (5mt) last year using another brand... after looking at the failure site, the it looks like it was heat induced (long story short..) switched to FF since (in the 5mt and 6mt) and been very happy. We'll see how it hold up in the STI this year.
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:23 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by david amor
Redline Heavy Shockproof Redline Heavy Shockproof Redline Heavy Shockproof.

ding! ding! ding!

Jamie
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:31 AM   #7
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This is based on my own personal experience, so I can't say for sure it will work for you, but this is what I used...

Tried Redline 75W90NS and got the same problem you're having. Eventually got to the point where it was grinding going into 4th every time, not just when it was hot. Replaced the tranny and ran Coastal semi-synth 75W90. That worked for a one track day and about 5K miles. Next track day the 3rd->4th grinding returned. I decided to try the Valvoline 75W90 dino oil so I went to NAPA to get it. They didn't have the dino oil, but they had the 75W90 Valvoline Synthetic. Decide to give that a try. Once that was in, I NEVER got grinding again after 15+ track days and maybe 20K+ miles. It really worked wonders for me.
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:35 AM   #8
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Motul Comp FF.
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Old 04-03-2006, 12:08 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjorn240
Motul Comp FF.
how much is that stuff anyway?
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Old 04-03-2006, 12:09 PM   #10
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Or....I agree with all the above...or...you can use GM Sycromesh that has the LSD additive in it FTW..

Bill
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Old 04-03-2006, 12:27 PM   #11
dch
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Castrol B373 gear oil (as specified by Prodrive). Hard to find, had to import mine from the UK.
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Old 04-03-2006, 12:27 PM   #12
greg donovan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooby South
Or....I agree with all the above...or...you can use GM Sycromesh that has the LSD additive in it FTW..

Bill
that is what is in my car now. works just fine. but i dont track it. but that is what Mark Utecht used in his GN WRX and he didnt have too many trans issues aside from bent shift forks.
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Old 04-03-2006, 12:28 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dch
Castrol B373 gear oil (as specified by Prodrive). Hard to find, had to import mine from the UK.
how much does THAT cost?

i dont recall you havng many transmission issues. so it must work pretty good.
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Old 04-03-2006, 03:21 PM   #14
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Doug,
Aren't you using a dogbox?
rz
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Old 04-03-2006, 03:22 PM   #15
randy zimmer
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Greg,
He doesn't make it far enough to have any.
(we kid because we care)
rz
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Old 04-03-2006, 03:37 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mav1c
This is based on my own personal experience, so I can't say for sure it will work for you, but this is what I used...

Tried Redline 75W90NS and got the same problem you're having. Eventually got to the point where it was grinding going into 4th every time, not just when it was hot. Replaced the tranny and ran Coastal semi-synth 75W90. That worked for a one track day and about 5K miles. Next track day the 3rd->4th grinding returned. I decided to try the Valvoline 75W90 dino oil so I went to NAPA to get it. They didn't have the dino oil, but they had the 75W90 Valvoline Synthetic. Decide to give that a try. Once that was in, I NEVER got grinding again after 15+ track days and maybe 20K+ miles. It really worked wonders for me.
^- that was on the 5-speed, no?
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Old 04-03-2006, 04:05 PM   #17
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Just don't put redline shockproof in your rear diff. It will hate you.

-Mike
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Old 04-03-2006, 05:21 PM   #18
LyveWRX
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Really, Why not, other than it will hate you?



(.... Ahhh.. You have a clutch type LSD not a VC......)
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Old 04-03-2006, 05:35 PM   #19
trhoppe
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So we have 3 choices, listed in terms of price
1) Valvoline Synthetic 75W90 ($10/quart)
2) Redline Heavy Shockproof ($12/quart)
3) Motul FF ($25/quart)

edit: I talked to another rep from Redline for a while, this guys seemed to know a lot more about racing fluids. For my problem he 100% recommended a 75W90NS/75W140NS mixture. He said that their shockproof fluid, as well as the RP Max Gear contains 5% friction modifiers. While helping clutch differentials, these friction modifiers will do nothing for my front helical diff in the STi and will actually cause the synchros a little longer to synch up. Their NS fluid doesn't contain those friction modifiers, so the synchros should link up quicker and not grind. Interesting.

-Tom

Last edited by trhoppe; 04-03-2006 at 05:56 PM.
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Old 04-03-2006, 06:43 PM   #20
dch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greg donovan
how much does THAT cost?

i dont recall you havng many transmission issues. so it must work pretty good.
I don't remember off the top of my head, but shipping was as much as the B373 and it's NOT cheap for sure. Yes, I have a dogbox and EMCD. The EMCD used to chatter and make all kinds of unhappy noises when we tried "regular" gear oil. The B373 makes it all happy.

And thanks Randy, I only tease the people I like, too. Or the really stupid ones... Hey wait a minute!

Cheers,
-Doug
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Old 04-03-2006, 07:39 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subie Gal
ding! ding! ding!

Jamie
Jamie, so you agree that Redline Heavy Shockproof (RHS) is a good transmission fluid? Do you use it in your 5 speed? Please help educate me... Does the DCCD in the 6 speed share the same lubricant as the transmission? So is RHS a good lubricant for the DCCD too? So is it a good differential lubricant for all the STi diffs too?

Tks...
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Old 04-03-2006, 08:55 PM   #22
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I also got a vote from a Subaru Mechanic to run the factory "Extra-S" fluid.

Gah, decisions.

-Tom
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:37 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subie Gal
ding! ding! ding!

Jamie
Ding, and ding for that too.... very good oil, been running it for a year or so, two winters, very good.
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Old 04-03-2006, 09:57 PM   #24
1.8L
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Hello,

I, too, have heard from people who seem quite knowledgeable, that the factory fluid is the answer to the broken transmission woes.

I believe, but am not certain, that ESX is using factory fluid in their uber-powerful cars. I know dragracing isn't road racing, but they did solve their exploding transmission problems with the OE fluids.

Joel
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Old 04-03-2006, 10:24 PM   #25
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I am autocrossing so it isn't to much of a problem for me, but I want to start doing HPDE's soon, so I'm interested in this thread.
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