paulc31082

I just filled my new (<1000 mi.) CD009 transmission with Redline MT-85.

The transmission originally came full of Nissan's Manual Transmission Fluid, and that's what I ran for the first 1000 miles or so. From day one the transmission was balky, notchy, and generally no fun to drive--regardless of temperature. It improved slightly as time went on, but not enough.

This weekend I switched to Redline's MT-85, and I will not be going back. Immediately my second and third shifts were smooth and quick, like they should have been in the first place. Fourth, fifth and sixth felt fine as well, but they always have. Even this morning with temps near freezing, the transmission worked great.

In the spirit of full disclosure, when I removed the fill plug for the transmission, a LOT of fluid leaked out, suggesting to me that the transmission had been overfilled. The factory service manual says that one of the first things to check when you have "hard shifts" or "will not shift" is whether the trans fluid level is too high. When I refilled with Redline, I filled to the fill plug, but not above. Make of this what you will.

In short, I highly recommend the Redline.

RandomHer0

iTrader: (9)

Hmmm Ive always put in the amount the manual states.

I will agree though I like Redline, I even run Motul now, and I think I prefer Redline.

Justin Yoo

iTrader: (3)

About how much transmission fluid will it take to fill up to the filler hole? Will buying just the gallon be okay?

Justin Yoo

iTrader: (3)

Nevermind, I've researched further and got my answer.

Transmission: 3 1/8- 3 1/4 qt.
Differential: A little under 2 qt.

dcains

iTrader: (15)

FWIW, I ordered my Redline for the gearbox and rear from amazon.com. Cheapest price I could find, and since I'm a "Prime" member, free 2-day shipping, too. I was surprised when I found that they actually sold it. Got my EBC Red brake pads there also.

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

Kind of ironic, i just did this in my 350z and I HATE IT !!!

My tranny was nice and smooth with nissan fluid, a little bit of an issue 1-2 at low revs but manageable.

Took out the stock fluid and added 75W-85 redline, it was perfect right after the swap, then 80 miles later the shifts feel very notchy. Shifter feels light, i was worried maybe oil fell out of the trans ? Not sure what that would feel like.

Its been about 36F out there.

I had my car fully level (4 jack stands at the same height and filled it to the drain plug, let it drain a bit and inserted the plug)

Any ideas? Im gonna go take it for another drive before it goes to nissan.

Thanks guys

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

Read some other posts, it looks like redline is causing some serious notching.

I know mine was not overfilled, so perhaps its frothing or something.

Goodbye REDline, dumping it out tomorrow at the dealer, im not getting under there with a suction gun again.

Sucks since my oem fluid looked so clean too when i took it out Ironically i just got a service coupon in the mail.

thekinn

iTrader: (18)

Let us know what you switch to, and if it improves.. I've noticed how notchy my shifting is.. especially into 5th. I have been using the mix-redline method.

paulc31082

I'm curious now too. Please let us know if things improve when you go back to Nissan fluid.

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

back to nissan fluid, runs like a champ.

The tech was telling me how i could add LUCAS additive to make it even smoother. I didnt have him add it since he told me after. Plus im not fond of additives.

It was still crap at first, and then it smoothened out nicely, 5th is a bit funny but i only drove it about 30 miles today.

I got him to put the redline in a jug so i could take it home, but i would highly recommend you guys go back to nissan oil for smoothness

Maybe people want it notchy for track days ?? I dunno but its not for me.

Cheers

bjjbadboy

wow was just about to go pick up some redline to try and smooth out my notchy 5th gear after my clutch change....maybe go with royal purple instead

paulc31082

Fascinating that we had such completely opposite experiences. I may switch back in the name of science, just to see what happens. I guess it's possible that all of the improvement I experienced was a result not of the Redline fluid, but of rectifying the previous overfilling.

I will say that in my old transmission I ran exclusively Nissan's MTF and never had an issue until the synchros went. Who knows.

Thanks for your input!

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

havent tried royal purple in mine, im at 30k with my 06 350z.

I will add that it felt perfectly fine in the morning, got to school 80 miles later after doing 70mph for a bit over an hr constant and perhaps the heat/run time thinned out the fluids?

Im glad my trans feels nice again now, i took a good useless trip driving around about 40 miles and its still nice and smooth. Ill take it to school tomorrow but i doubt it will have issues. I still have redline 75W90 in the diff i hope there are no issues with that one.

BTW the redline trans fluid was redish, oem was honey gold. I dont think it matters but thats all i could tell as the only difference, they both seemed pretty thin.

Good luck guys

paulc31082

Alright well, don't say I never did anything for you guys. I switched to Nissan MTF today after work, just to see, and I will admit that it feels way better. Which makes me wonder what the crap was going on before.

I'll update when I've got a few more miles on it.

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

I was shocked too, its pretty crazy what a difference nissan MTF makes.

The only thing i can gather from all of this is that redline oils make u want to shift at higher revs. Ie its nice and smooth if you want to shift at like 5000 rpm.

But for daily driving, the nissan MTF feels great at 2-3k shifts, perhaps after a track day the nissan MTF would be all burned out ? Who knows.

Dont get me wrong im not bashing Redline MTF, i just didnt like it for my driving habits, i did notice it was nice and smooth at high rev shifts (i guess thats where redline comes from) but then again my nissan MTF is super smooth at high revs too

I got nissan MTF for like 30$ for 4 quarts so it was dirt cheap too.

Steve-O Z33

iTrader: (10)

To the guys above who said they wanted to try Royal Purple:

It is a GL5 oil and it will deteriorate your synchros.

Linuxglobal

iTrader: (1)

O WOW thanks for the heads up, thank God i didnt even try that out

My rear diff is GL5 i believe.. but the redline was GL4.

Honestly not to sound like a wuss but im sticking to all nissan oils, they must have known something when they made it.

Z You Later

iTrader: (13)

+1 i remember reading about this while looking at some blackstone UOAs on here a while back

bjjbadboy

Wow glad to know all this, I guess I'm going to just stick with Nissan specielly at 30$ lol I just hope it takes care of my notchy 5th gear

Steve-O Z33

iTrader: (10)

I was thinking about switching to the Redline.

I tried Royal Purple until I realized it was GL5 and I immediately changed to Motul Gear 300. It was better but still was hard at times to downshift to 1st when rolling to a light or a stop sign. I had to stop completely or double clutch. 5th gear engagement was notchy as well.

Today, I put in Nissan OEM and my transmission is smooth again and I can downshift to 1st with ease. The OEM is the best, hands down.