What's the scoop on Redline tranny fluids?

[Snortin93]

For years I've heard numerous people talking about Redline MTL & MT-90 being fantastic products for standard transmissions. I'd never heard a negative comment, and after reading Jeff Lucius' recommendations and suggestions for the products, I went out and purchased all the fluids necessary to change my tranny, transfer case, and differential fluids.
Then I noticed a couple of current threads on the international 3Si board, that a number of people have suggested that the Redline products have destroyed the synchro's in their transmissions. If it was just one person, I probably wouldn't pay much attention, figuring that it was probably coincedence. However I'm now questioning whether I should put this stuff into my recently purchased 93 TT. Has anyone in Canada had a problem using Redline MTL/MT-90, and what is the general consensus about these products?
:confused:

[fou]

I’m not using it, never tried it.

I’m using mopar 90w140 synthetic, good stuff.

One of my friend is a pit mechanic for an off road rally team and he informed me that most of the AWD cars are using it.

[Monopoly]

fou are they using mopar or Redline???

[fou]

Originally posted by Monopoly
fou are they using mopar or Redline???

Mopar 90w140 synthetic

[Monopoly]

when i get my TC recall done in spring i'll get some of that and tell'em to fill'er up.
doe's the dealer sell it?

[fou]

Yes, but it most likely be a special order!

I got mine from a Dodge dealer and they had to order it from the Dodge performance catalogue.

[Diablo]

I use redline in my TC and differential.
It felt good immediately when I put it in a year ago....no complaints so far. My trans is most likely an original, and with over 200k kms on it, I think I'm one of the luckiest ones! Esp. the way I drive.....all year round, too!
With so many synchro's dying in our cars, I dont know how you could just blame it on the fluid. By the same token, I dont know if fluid can ever be a "band aid" for a dying tranny either....

[Monopoly]

Diablo where did u buy Redline from?

[Diablo]

I bought it at Performance Improvements....In my opinion, they charged extortionate prices...but I had a spare Sat. morning, and didnt want to wait a week for shipping from the states. It would have been cheaper to import it I think.

[BigBoi]

I have 50/50 mix of MTL & MT-90 in the tranny and transfer, I noticed it easier to shift at first

But I also have heard the "new" words on Redline, I dunno what to think?:rolleyes:

The first time I heard anything against redline was on THIS (http://www.3si.org/portal/forums/showthread.php?threadid=128239&pagenumber=1) 3si thread!!!!


Fou can you get that stuff at any odge dealer,

Anyone ever hear of that BG Synchroshift stuff??

Mike

[Snortin93]

On the international 3Si board, they indicated that the BG Synchroshift stuff was exactly the same as the GM Synchro, so you should be able to pick it up at any GM dealership. I've thought about changing directions and putting that in instead. I'm having some work done by a shop in town that does a lot of work with Stealth's and Supra's and they swear by the Redline stuff and hadn't ever heard of any problems with it. I'm still :confused:

[turbosarebetter]

I've tried all three, redline, GM syncro mesh and the Mopar 90w140 synthetic. Personaly , I liked the redline the best. It made everything smooth and there was a noticable difference right away. I think a payed $14 a bottle, and it was worth it.

[Monopoly]

i wanna try some Redline! Where about's in Toronto is Performance Improvments??? Never heard of it...

[Diablo]

Performance Improvements is a small chain, the one I go to (when I have to) is on Queensway and Islington. Do a search on Toronto.com....c'mon, you guys are supposed to be the internet generation!
As to the complaints, I havent read any, but it doesnt surprise me for a couple reasons.

1) A lot of the guys in the US tend to do mods on their cars, bash the hell out of them, then whine why it didnt last forever? "Oh yeah, those new turbos, SAFC, exhaust, and slicks that you see in the video of me doing a wheel burnout down a mile down Rt.66, had nothing to do with me burning out my trans....IT WAS THE REDLINE FLUID!"
Main reason? No offense to anyone here, because we've all been there, but they're a bunch of kids who fell into some money, enough to buy the car and some mods, and never budgeted for the after effects of racing and general wear and tear on a 10 yr old sports car. If each person put aside the same amount of money for repairs as they do mods, noone would complain. Its just not as fun to save for repairs as it is toys.If you have this attitude, get a Honda or Stang and a frequent buyers card at your local junkyard...Its like a buying a puppy, a dog house, tons of food and toys for him/her, than freaking out when you have to take her to the vets (sorry, this recently happened to me, so I gotta let it out somewhere!) lol....

2) Our synchros suck, plain and simple. No snake oil is going to make them last forever. If you put some in, does that prove that it killed your trans? No more than if you changed your seat covers. With so many awd synchros dying after even 50k miles, how can you tell if that caused it. Maybe they only lasted 30k-40k more than they other wise would have. Who knows? No oil guarantees your parts will last forever, otherwise it would be a bargain. Neither do they give you a license to bash your car with abandon with each bottle as well.
All I know is, with cars, if something feels better, it usually is. And when my synchros number comes up, which it will, I will know I did what I could to get the most life out of them.
Whew....My rant is over....
So back to the real issue.....Anybody wanna buy a coughing Siberian Husky? :)

[Scott_93TT]

I use BG Synchroshift.

Big thumbs up here!
I noticed an immediate difference.
Shifts like butter!;)

[BigBoi]

Originally posted by Scott_93TT

Shifts like butter!;)

I hope your synchros don't turn in to it though, lol

*joke*

[Scott_93TT]

Neither do I *hehehe*

[Fast Eddie]

I did the Redline fluids last summer, but i did it at the same time as my downpipe. hard to judge one change, when you did two at the same time. To be honest i didnt really notice that big of a difference. Used to have a bit of trouble finding reverse sometimes and that went away, so it must have done something.

Anyway i got it out at 'Johnston research and performance' cause the redline website listed them, but a friend of mine gets it straight from the distributor. you have to buy a case, i believe, but if anyone is interested, or wants to split a case with someone else, let me know and i can get all the info.

Fast "putting Subarus to shame in the snow" Eddie :)

[Snortin93]

Thanks for the info guys!

Since I've already got the Redline oils sitting in my garage, I'm going to go ahead and change them tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can detect any differences in the tranny.

Next upgrade...getting myself a decent downpipe and gutting the cats.......

[memystealthandi]

Mine did not start leaking until I started using redline....$1000 plus in repair bills later, I'm not willing to take the chance again. Hard to say if it was related or not...?? Could just be a coincidence.

[Monopoly]

probably co-incidence dude. Unless you over filled your tranny or somethin...was it the Tranfer case that was leakin??? You should see mine right now. The outside casing in drenched in tranny fluid...not a good sign.:(
when i get the TC recall done im gunna get them to fill it w/Redline fer sure!

[memystealthandi]

Originally posted by Monopoly
probably co-incidence dude. Unless you over filled your tranny or somethin...was it the Tranfer case that was leakin??? You should see mine right now. The outside casing in drenched in tranny fluid...not a good sign.:(
when i get the TC recall done im gunna get them to fill it w/Redline fer sure!

Yeah, it was the TC, never had a problem before. Then decided to change out all of the fluids for redline fluids. A week after changing it, I checked it, and it was completely empty, only metal shaving inside. Chances are I damaged it at the track though, and it was just a coincidence.

-R

[BigBoi]

Originally posted by Monopoly
Unless you over filled your tranny or somethin...

that is kinda hard to do cause the fill hole is on the side and you fill it till fluid runs out!!

[Monopoly]

oh wait sorry bigboi i was thinkin about the tranny...it supposed to be a 1/2 inch under the fill hole i think...anyways didn't you get the TC recall notice in the mail??? i got mine about a month ago!

i was actually gunna get my TC fixed too(before i knew about the recall...and they said it would cost me betwn $500 lowest and $800 TOPS to fix and that was at the dealership!! so i just checked fluid levels every week or so to make sure they werent dangerously low...

[memystealthandi]

If your car is a US car, I'm doubting you will get a notice in the mail. I tried to register myself as the current owner of the car through Daimler Chrysler Canada, but they said they couldn't because it was a US car.

[Monopoly]

touche! i never thought of that.