Honda manual transmission fluid...

[DesperateSP2]

OK car gurus, here's the deal.
My faithful old Honda car is in need of new trannie oil. Honda recommends using only their own MTF, of course.
Not being over enthusiastic at the idea of being financially raped by Honda (I also need new rear brake shoes, air and oil filters) and being bent as awlays to spend as little as possible on the car to waste money on bikes I am out for cheaper alternatives.
Will a normal, API GL4 rated semisynth or mineral oil do the trick?
Thanks!

[wibbly]

if it's a manual then i'm sure any good synthetic 75w90 gear oil will do...

[sburns2421]

I'm one of the cheapest people I know, but when it comes to my cars (Honda & Mercedes) I just buy their brand. I know it is just branded stuff made by someone else and costs twice as much as it should, but after replacing my power steering pump on the ML when I put synthetic ATF in instead of the M-B oil (internet said it was OK, even superior), I changed my mind.

Spending an extra $20 every 30,000 miles is worth it to me.

[DesperateSP2]

Thanks for the replies.
The big problem is that Honda MTF is becoming harder to find than a seat on the subway during the rush hour.
Honda stopped marketing it in 1 liter containers as they used to and now only sells 200L drums to dealers. Problem is there isn't a single Honda dealer in my area I can turn up to with an empty 5L can to be filled (and slip a banknote in the head mechanic's pocket, of course ).
Amazon.com has some on sale but the shipping fees would simply make it as expensive as a full service.
Anyone knows of a good online source?
Thanks!

[Jami6989]

Originally Posted by DesperateSP2

OK car gurus, here's the deal.
My faithful old Honda car is in need of new trannie oil. Honda recommends using only their own MTF, of course.
Not being over enthusiastic at the idea of being financially raped by Honda (I also need new rear brake shoes, air and oil filters) and being bent as awlays to spend as little as possible on the car to waste money on bikes I am out for cheaper alternatives.
Will a normal, API GL4 rated semisynth or mineral oil do the trick?
Thanks!

Just head over to S2KI.COM, those guys know everything.

[DesperateSP2]

Jami thanks for the tip.

[Jami6989]

Originally Posted by DesperateSP2

Jami thanks for the tip.

No prob, my brother is a mod over there so I stop by every once in a while to tell them how I just whooped an S2K on the way to work.

[Luck Runs Out...]

In ten plus years of owning Honda cars, some of which put almost 300 HP through a stock D series transmission, I have never been let down by good 'ole 10W30 synthetic. Gear oil (75W90) is way too thick, and you'll be crunching synchros on every shift. Just find some 10W30 synthetic from your favorite brand (I used Castrol GTX), and change it out every 60K or so.

[DesperateSP2]

Thanks everybody but yesterday evening I popped in to get some spares (brake shoes, air filter etc) at a Honda dealership 25 miles from home. Very nice chaps, they found a few liters of MTF in the warehouse to give me so problem solved for a while!