Hey guys, i know there are extensive threads about what fluid is the best for the wrx 5speed, but i'd like to ask a few questions. It's time for a tranny oil change for my 04 wrx 5 speed. I saw on scoobymods.com that the person who did the tranny oil change writeup used mobil 1 synthetic. Thus i went ahead and bought the 70w-90 mobil. Do you guys think that it would cause issues on the wrx 5 speed? Does anybody know where i could pick up the stuff needed for Uncle Scotty's cocktail? Also, does anybody have a T70 Torx bit for the drain plug?
Synthetic is not the best for our Syncros Those using the Cocktail can i ask a favor from you guys. The next time you change tranny oil i would dispose your old oil for you for FREE Ill even come pick it up if its not too far
Well, i've read on a nasioc faq that some aftermarket gear oils offer improved performance. I'm allready experiencing some issues with putting the trans. in 1st and in reverse, so i hope that an improved gear oil would make shifts smoother. I went ahead and returned the mobil 1 gear oil. After reading many positive reviews, I got Uncle Scotty's cocktail ingredients. Now i only have to find a T70 bit to get the drain plug out. It seems that it's a special order tool bit, as i am having great difficulty in finding one. Again, does anybody have a Torx T70 bit that i could borrow/buy?
Ill run the oil analysis to see if the concoctions is truly what it says. What you feel is not necessary what the gear experience. Oil analysis reveals everything (cant hide). Why pay for all these mix and mumbo jumbo if the analysis says it does the same with a regular 75W-90 Mixing oil ! Have you tried it in a glass jar and see what it looks like ? then shake it or stir it then heat it up Youll be amazed
that's what I figured, and am curious as well....when I do my 60k in less than a month, I'll see if SOG will save my old fluid for you if you really want to know...my cocktail is: 2qt redline 75w/90 1qt GM synchromesh 1qt redline lightweight shockproof obviously I have a little extra 75/90 left over cause it's not exactly 4qts...I get all this in one shot at mustangs unlimited...it shifts like a dream, but curious if it's the real deal like you are as well...
Ill run the oil analysis to see if the concoctions is truly what it says. What you feel is not necessary what the gear experience. Oil analysis reveals everything (cant hide). Why pay for all these mix and mumbo jumbo if the analysis says it does the same with a regular 75W-90 Mixing oil ! Have you tried it in a glass jar and see what it looks like ? then shake it or stir it then heat it up Youll be amazed
Yeah I've always wondered how a mixture of synthetics could be better than a single fluid on it's own. How the hell did Uncle Scotty come up with this stuff and if it really were so good, why wouldn't Redline just make and sell it as (insert clever Redline name here)?...
Make sure that its in a clean container i need only about 10 oz and prefer to take the sample in the middle of the drain - to give it a good chance of passing with flying colors
I'm really surprised that with all the people (on the other boards especially) that are running the cocktail mix, no one has done an oil analysis on it yet?? Seems like someone, somewhere would have run one and posted the results. Ming, if you get one done, post up the results please...
I have, look at my DIY thread about changing the tranny fluid. The cocktail does work better. When I used only synthetic, my car wouldn't shift back into first without coming to a complete stop. After I changed my clutch, I had to change the fluid again, and I went with the Penzoil Synchromesh and it shifted so much better. This should be added to all cars, not just our Subarus. I ordered the synchromesh from Amazon.com. http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10511 Look at my #4 post second paragraph about my analysis of the cocktail. It was edited 2/28 when I did my clutch change. Additionally, I noticed a lot of grinding when I had only synthetic, and the drain plug on the tranny had almost as much metal on from a few months as when I changed it the first time after 60k miles. So it makes a very big deal.
Nice to know that it works. There are a lot of people that use this cocktail so there must be something good about it.
did you also notice recommended oil change interval of the Cocktail ? compared to OCI of a single bottle
yeah, lots of people do, but as ming said, mix different oil types/compounds in a glass jar and heat it/shake it. just the swirly separation should give a hint as to the inconsistency of of the solution and possibly it's coverage/protection. those compounds were never intended to be together in those conditions, so what might feel right, might be cooking something that you don't know about. i'm definitely eager to find out what the analysis would bring up.
BTW, does anybody have a Torx T70 bit? :wavey: I know that somebody on this forum must have one. No store will carry one, it's a special order item. Damn subaru :grr:
I hate to seem like I'm laughing at your misfortune but it really is crazy how many times you asked that. Will somebody get this man Torx T70 bit for the love of God? :eek3: Lol......
Do not recommend the mobil 1. My trans d3eveloped problems after using it exclusively. And changing every 20k miles. Recommend the factory (anal) or you could try the cocktail. I use the factory now and plan to change every 15000. It cant hurt and since our trans have a bad rep. I figure it is money well spent.Will check think i have t70...Not finding it may have used torx plus t60.
When I had a 5 speed box in my car I was worried about the properties of the combined fluids of the mix recomended by NASIOC. The more digging I did the less comfortable i felt with it. Especially since i had started tracking my car. Specifically I was worried about the different properties of the various fluids holding up under higher load/heat conditions. I ended up just going with Neo synthetic. Worked great, no grinding and syncros worked fine with it. On my 6 speed I just use the subaru fluid. It works, no reason to change it to anything else.
My next change may be a risk but im leaning towards Specialty Formulations MTL-R http://www.specialtyformulations.com/MTL-R.htm http://specialtyformulations.netfir...alog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=31
I also had very good luck in the 5 speed box with Motul Gear 300 oil. Would be hard to say which was better between the Neo and the Motul.
Well i went ahead and changed the gear oil. I used uncle scotty's cocktail because i read dozens of good reviews of i on nasioc. My first impressions after driving 200 miles are very good. Right after pouring the new oil in the gearbox worked much smoother. Reverse went in at the first try and i could shift in the other gears much faster. I'm not sure how much of this is because i just put new gear oil in it, or if it's due to the cocktail's composition. I have observed a strange thing though. As i put more miles on the oil, the gearbox doesn't seem to work just as smooth anymore. I've noticed that the redline shockproof rose to the top of the gearbox (it's green unlike the other oils and when i put the dipstick in now it has redline fluid on the tip). The explanation for why the cocktail works might be in the redline fluid then. Probably if you would just put redline into the gearbox it would work extremely well. But it's expensive at $12 a quart. I also had to order a Torx T70 bit online, so if anybody needs one now i can lend you one.
you should do a simple test if you have access oil (leftover) mix in a glass jar and shake it and see after a day or so see if it separated. Even it may not be separated and if you look under high power lighting and you can see haze or viscosity difference then you know its not blending. if you can see it in the DipStick that its different even after a few miles then it is definately not blending. Im no oil expert but to me thats not a good sign. I really wish it works because i like to use that combo as well if it does. The search continues
Unfortunately i don't have any oil leftover. Many people on nasioc say that it takes a while for the cocktail to mix. On the redline bottle it says that it can be used with other gear oils. And the pennzoil syncromesh is just an additive i think, so maybe it will mix somewhat. I'll just have to wait and see. If it doesn't work out i'll just get the oem stuff and switch it out later.
"many people" thats when it gets hairy and when i start questioning So now i have this question - So until the mix is blended should one drive the car ? so how does one know its blended and when does one do the OCI ? too many Q's and need supporting info. It would be interesting if you ever change it to OEM oil - would you get the same sensation
subaru fluid ftw.... I've used other stuff and it was not nearly as nice as the subaru stuff... Its one hell of a drive for me to go get it but i still do it any way... Oh and FYI, I called another subaru dealer that was closer to see if they had the stuff i needed, and they told me to come get it from them (i double checked and they were trying to sell me the completely wrong fluid). SOG is where its at...
One thing I have noticed is that the subaru gear oil seems to dislike cold weather. My trans would be stiff as all hell when it's cold outside, and it takes about 10-15 of regular driving for it to warm up. Then it starts to shift smoothly. If it's warm outside it shifts fine with no warmup needed. Does mobil 1 plus synchromesh help?
Your redline shockproof was green?!?! I use that on my Jeep transmission and differentials and that stuff has been bright red every time.
Redline was smurf blood for me. DO NOT USE THE COCKTAIL in the 6 speed. Only the 5 speeds. You guys know I have severely abused my stock tranny and it NEVER gave me any issues. It always used Scotty's cocktail.
Then what the heck was it that I put in my tranny that was blue? I put in Redline Lightweight Shockproof, Penzoil Synchromesh, and Castrol Hypoy C. This was a year ago though.
I thought the Lightweight Shockproof was Blue as well. **Something about when it turned Brown, you knew it was time to change it** Could be wrong though, never put it in anything I've had.
It was most definately blue....I just pulled the tranny dip stick and looked like smurf blood dripping off it.
Well... it might be blue, not really green. My garage has bad lighting so i can't really tell. Sorry to cause a commotion. Lol