Bartender: One Scotty's cocktail please.

[DS1]

Motul makes good stuff but it's pricey.

I'm testing out the Amsoil right now in my manual.

I like the Valvoline because it's inexpensive and effetive.

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[06wrxtr4me]

I am a fan of the USC as well and ran it for ~17k miles no problems. I just switched it out in favor of a 50/50 blend.

I did a ton of research on different types of fluids and compiled the results in this thread. There is even a testimonials table with links to positive and negative reviews.

[strohausii]

^ Thanks for posting that link, I'll read the other 3 pages later, but I like the part where you actually made contact with the Amsoil engineer.

[Asinine]

I think now that all is said and done, I'm going to go with either the Valvoline synth (it gets cold here sometimes) or Amsoil 75W90.

It's starting to shift a little rough into 1st and 2nd gears these days, and I have almost 30k miles on LubroMoly 75W90

[DS1]

06wrxtr4me- Your thread is a good read but all the research you showed was from Amsoil or Redline Oil, a little biased I think

[shwaggin]

...I just looked up Castrol Hypoy C on Amazon, and it appears that lots of Subie owners are buying their cocktail supplies there. The related items even include a T70 Torx bit!

[06wrxtr4me]

Originally Posted by DS1 Motorsports

06wrxtr4me- Your thread is a good read but all the research you showed was from Amsoil or Redline Oil, a little biased I think

It started as a kinduva comparo between the 2 and I had no one who ran anything abstract. I will gladly update the thread with data on other MFG's.

If you read page 2 post 22 thru 28, I have many different MFGs.

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showth...4288720&page=2


What other MFG's would you suggest I add?

Have any links to Motul 300 reviews?

[stanton]

That Amazon page is funny.

06wrxtr4me - be careful saying certain products are equivalent just because of certain matching specs.

I have another data point. Took advantage of warm(er) weather over the weekend and change my transmission fluid. I didn't have the ingredients for the full cocktail, so tried Amsoil Severe Gear 75-90 (SVG). It's not as good as fresh cocktail, but much better than what I remember from the stock fluid. Within the gap of performance between stock and the cocktail, I would place SVG at about 65% there. A lot "freer" than stock, easier to get into gear (like reverse) when stopped, and can get into 1st while moving and double-clutching, but syncros don't grab as fast on both upshift and downshift.

[ringe]

Originally Posted by neilschelly

I'd like to ask that all the talk about other mixtures, other fluids, general non-cocktail discussion go elsewhere. Create your own thread with your own discussion and own insights about fluids. If you have actual related information to Uncle Scotty's Cocktail, post it, good or bad. But this thread has gone so far to hell in the last few pages that it's a candidate for off-topic at this point.
-N

Actually, I am glad to see someone with first-hand experience dealing with this in a professional way the way Dylan has. This whole idea of a "cocktail" is fundamentally flawed, starting with the statement, "Don't mix fluids from different manufacturers in your transmission!"

Add to that the use of fluids that don't protect your gears properly, others that have the viscosity of honey when cold and apparently seperate from the rest of the mix, and you end up with effectively 50% fluid that's supposed to be there and 50% fluid that ain't.

The guy with the 06 2.5i needs to leave well enough alone. "Chatter" is a description of clutch operation, not tranny operation last time I heard it used.

[Asinine]

Or we could all stop arguing and buy a Toyota/Scion/Honda.

<--- was amazed at how nice those MTs feel compared to a WRX.

[DS1]

Originally Posted by ringe

Add to that the use of fluids that don't protect your gears properly, others that have the viscosity of honey when cold and apparently seperate from the rest of the mix, and you end up with effectively 50% fluid that's supposed to be there and 50% fluid that ain't.

Well said!

-Dylan

[Superorb]

Originally Posted by Asinine

Or we could all stop arguing and buy a Toyota/Scion/Honda.

<--- was amazed at how nice those MTs feel compared to a WRX.

Scion = Toyota...

But I agree... Nothing is more silky than a Honda gearbox. I miss mine.

[DS1]

^^ ditto

[skydes]

The stubborn Subaru 5MT just adds to the car's character right???

[Superorb]

Originally Posted by skydes

The stubborn Subaru 5MT just adds to the car's character right???

In a negative way unfortunately.

[fengrr]

Originally Posted by ringe

Add to that the use of fluids that don't protect your gears properly, others that have the viscosity of honey when cold and apparently seperate from the rest of the mix, and you end up with effectively 50% fluid that's supposed to be there and 50% fluid that ain't.

Ringe, are you saying that this cocktail doesn't work as well as a stock fluid.

[jhargis]

Originally Posted by fengrr

Ringe, are you saying that this cocktail doesn't work as well as a stock fluid.

I think he's saying that the manufacturer recommends using a particular fluid and advises against mixing fluids. The cocktail goes against both recommendations, possibly at the cost of increased wear... especially if the large differences in viscosity/type of ingrediants could even be causing seperation which may result in uneven and limited lubrication.

So yes. In effect, at least in regards to wear, I think he is saying the cocktail is likely not as good as the stock fluid... How dare he do such a thing

[ringe]

Jhargis get's the cookie.

As far as "working" as well as the stock fluid, it seems that in some regards the Cocktail works better; for example, it seems to initially smooth out shift quality, and intially permit proper syncro operation.

The key word is "initially". The fact that you guys have to drop oil every third oil change is absurd, and indicative of the poor nature of this lubricant. You claim that you're saving money with this fluid, but frankly you would save even more money just using a good fluid that may not have the same seat of the pants feeling but also isn't going to wear off in a few months.

[stanton]

To me, the more frequent exchange is worth it. I was frustrated enough with the stock fluid to stick with the cocktail for 3 years. I bought the car to enjoy it. I bought a 5-speed because I enjoyed shifting. If I have to change the transmission fluid more often, then I'm up for it.

I just spent $50 on Amsoil Severe Gear 75-90, and it's not good enough. I'll be going back to the cocktail, or something else that "works" better.

[DS1]

^^ the money you spent in fluid over the last 3 years would have covered fixing what ever was wrong with your trans.

Have you tried the Valvoline 75w90 Synthetic?

-Dylan

[strohausii]

Who else is using Valvoline Synthetic?

[Steve Nastoff]

Originally Posted by strohausii

So you are familiar with DS1 Neil?

I have a healthy distrust of anything on the internet. For all I know he's just some guy looking to get some attention by making blanket statements and increase sales.
I know he's dead on with the honda tranny stuff, and jhargis has proven himself to be a great source of information from his hands on experience.

I do remember other "Experts (Cobb)" recommending MT-1 as "best of both worlds" fill back in 2002.

I think that you mean Redline MT-90. I ran MT-90 for about 10,000 miles and I perceived a great improvement over the Factory lube that I dumped at 1,000 miles from new. I am now running 1 qt. Synchromesh, 1 qt. Redline LW Shockproof and the rest of the fill up is with Redline MT-90. Amazing difference. Shifting is effortless and very smooth. I'm staying with it. Oh, I chose to stay with Redline products in the mix for two reasons. First is my past experience with their product line and secondly I felt that minimizing the different ingredients would be a safer route.

[Spenk]

Originally Posted by DS1 Motorsports

^^ the money you spent in fluid over the last 3 years would have covered fixing what ever was wrong with your trans.

...but it wouldn't have covered his down time for the repairs.

[ImprezaTron]

Originally Posted by strohausii

Who else is using Valvoline Synthetic?

Just switched to Valvoline SynPower two weeks ago. I was reluctant to go synthetic in the tranny after the general consensus on NASIOC is NO to synthetics. Even my mechanic warned me it will start grinding and recommended I add one quart synchromesh

I have been grind-free so far and shift feel has been fairly consistent. It did not eliminate the rough feel getting into 2nd and 3rd, but that probably means I'm going to be due for new synchros. Also I'm coming from using straight Castrol Hypoy C 80W-90 and I'm wondering if the mix of residual old fluid and the new Valvoline means I'm not getting the "full-effect" (I only got about 3.25 quarts put in, which seems to be the norm). As long as the shifts remain consistent, I'll be happy with the SynPower.

Basically all synthetics are NOT created equal. M1 Synthetic, which I'm guessing most of the complaints have been coming from, even says on the bottle that it has properties to be extra slippery. Also if the cocktail is working for your application and keeps you happy, stick with it.

[stanton]

Originally Posted by DS1 Motorsports

^^ the money you spent in fluid over the last 3 years would have covered fixing what ever was wrong with your trans.

$150 pays for a mechanic to think about looking at your car . I know it's hard to keep track of everyone here and their reasons for trying transmission fluid alternatives, but I'm one of the many who were very unhappy with normal actions of the stock transmission and fluid from day 1. There was presumably nothing "wrong" with mine. It was about preference.

Let me add that over the first 30k on the OEM fluid, my transmission developed additional vibration and noise between 1500 and 2000 RPM. What should I blame that on? Transmissions wear. The vibration got progressively more noticeable until I changed to the cocktail.

By the way the stock fluid felt at temps below 15F I can't imagine that "molasses" was doing any good for the bearings. Also the stock fluid is a compromise situation because of the almost mutually exclusive needs of the hypoid gears and synchros in the same bath, so I really don't expect there to be any perfect solutions.