i am going to be changing the fluid in my manual trans on my 97 accord, i am trying to figure out what fluid would be best to use in the trans, my engine is the f22b2.

 

Probably Honda MTF.
People have also said good things about Pennzoil Synchromesh, but I haven't used it in the Hondas myself.

 

Yea I'm going to use honda brand, so different sites ha e dif. Levelss is it 2.5 or 3.5 qrts

 

Check the owners manual for the amount. I want to say it's a bit less than 3 quarts, but I didn't own a 5th-gen Accord.

 

have '93 Accord 5 spd. - owners manual calls for tranny use of motor oil (yes!) in viscosity from 30W to 10W-40 depending on how cold it gets in the winter.
2.0 US quarts for mine; but just fill it up till its starts dribbling out of the fill hole. when car is level, which is tough for me ...

So I go to my local quick change oil place and have them do the tranny fluid drain / refill
for cheap as part of motor oil change and I have them use the common 15W-40 (diesel truck oil) that is part
of their bulk oil / sold everywhere. Works fine for me. Change every 25K, 'cuz I like having clean oil...

 

hey, so a few pointers and some info...

i did the change, and it was a breeze. it is 2.5 qts for the 5th gen.

as for the big oil vs trans fluid mystery...

the honda's and all manual transmissions for that matter should use mtf.
you can use motor oil, but it does not have the needed additives and lubricants needed for the trans, also it breaks down quicker. honda recommends motor oil for temp. use only, and also states that if using motor oil it should be changed every 10 to 15,000 miles due to advanced breakdown.

anyway, i purchased what i needed at carquest, honda mtf was $6.99 +tax per qt. and it was in stock.

now on to the next...

 

thanks phatboy, I might look at mtf next time.

But just for your info on older car versions...
original 1993 accord owners manual says
- "Use only API service SF or SG grade motor oil when adding or changing transmission oil."
- it then has a viscosity chart vs. temperature
- it recommends changing it every 30,000 miles (unless towing a trailer)

well, @ 222,000 miles the manual tranny is still very nice having used motor oil its whole life.
first 180,000 of that was 10W-30, prior owner.


just FYI. now onward and upward ...

 

Here's more of the story...

Old Honda manuals (like 1970s etc) took GL-4 gear oil or something like that.

Sometime later Honda manual transmissions were designed to use engine oil, up until sometime in the late 1990s when Honda started selling "their" MTF. My 95 Integra called for 10w-30 engine oil because in 1995 there was no Honda brand MTF.

The transmissions are still designed to take the same viscosity range, & Honda MTF is fully compatible backwards for all Hondas that call for engine oil. But it contains the EP additives so it smells like gear oil. But it isn't a GL-4 or GL-5 fluid, so don't use Honda MTF in your Subaru, 1977 Accord, or other car that needs GL-type oil.

At some point (2000 or so??) they started using some bearings or seals that actually need the EP additive, so those newer cars shouldn't use engine oil.

BTW, the viscosity numbers for gear oil & engine oil are on different scales. A gear oil of weight 70w-80 has about the same viscosity as a 10w-30 engine oil.

 

^^^ Jim, thanks for the background.
Facts win.