Whats a good a transmission oil for the 2.4 5 speed tranny? Im going to switch my oil over to synthetic, change the fuel filter, already did the air filter so now im going to change the tranny fluid while im at it, maybe over so a synthetic? or does the 5 speed not like synthetic tranny fluids?

Any recommendations would be great, thanks

 

owners manual. not sure, just make sure it meets the specific GM standards.

 

and i know some will come in and say use the search and i did and many people argued the anwsers, some say gear oil, others says auto tranny fluid. My manual all it said was ATF, but i was wondering if i could use a synthetic ATF in it.

 

ok, so yeah ATF, but in your owners manual there's a section where it gives the SAE specs/ GMspecs, plus amounts. that woul dbe your best bet, as long as the new fluid meet's the right requirements, you'll be good to go. i would reccommend RP, but i'm sure theres other opinions.

 

i see if i can find the specs for it in there, my manual is confusing, doesnt even tell me when to do half the maintance on the vehicle lol. Anyways, thanks, cant go wrong with RP anyways, i see if they carry the proper type i need. Luckily these manual trannies require less then 2 litres of fluid

 

i'll see if i can look it up real quick, i've got the manual on my laptop.

"Dexron III ATF. Look for "Approved for the H specification" on the label" <--that's straight out of the owners manual for the 2.2, 2.4 5spd manual transaxle.

 

dexron III? is that synthetic?

 

get ahold of a bottle of Dexron III and look at the SAE numbers, any other brand that also meets those should be ok.

not sure. sorry i can't help you more bro. stuck in Iraq, just what i was able to find real quick.

 

Alright thanks for the help, i look into which ones i can get for this car.

 

yep, no problem man, glad to help.

 

If I recall correctly... 05 and 06 take dexron ATF and newer years actually take gear oil

 

"Newer" as in 08's use Dexron VI.

Dave

 

an 08 with a manual takes Dex VI???

 

Yup.

My 08 owner's manual. Section 6-12. Recommended Fluids and Lubricants. Both the manual and automatic transmissions use DEXRON VI auto trans fluid.

Dave

 

well, I'll be damned

 

You can really get into it by checking http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ website. The only thing I know for sure, is that these guys confuse the hell out of me. (And everybody is a self proclaimed expert.) But there is still a lot of useful information to be mined there once you sort through the self proclaimed experts.

Dave

 

I don't trust that site since they did some test using lucas and their brand and it was clearly rigged against lucas

 

Yes, I agree, you have to be careful. Something like traipsing through a cow pasture. Step carefully!

Dave

 

You will not gain any performance by switching the fluid in your manual transmission. GM says unless there is a problem, the fluid doesn't need to be changed for the life of the vehicle.

 

also when i went to look at what kind of oil it was at the autoparts store, they also said i need to get the oil from GM for my vehicle. Over the counter oils including amsoil is only a bandaid to get your car to the shop if there is something wrong with the tranny such as leaking tranny fluid and such.

So apparently the oil is quite picky for these vehicles. Also where did you get that it doesnt need to be changed for the entire life of the vehicle? I know there are people that BELEIVE in not changing tranny fluid, but unless the actual manufacture says that, i dont follow that.

 

Automatic transmissions need the fluid changed because it takes a LOT more abuse. The inside of a manual transmission doesn't even get that hot. There is no need for it to be changed.

 

First of all, I believe the new DEXRON VI is only available through GM. (But I may be wrong.) I gather it is a more stringent specification over DEXRON III, which everybody and their aunt produces. That may explain the autopart's store statement.

Secondly, I also agree (believe) that the the transmission in these cars are "filled for life". But I just got home from work, and I'm beat. So give me a day or so to peruse my owner's manual and warranty book, (I own a 08 Cobalt 2.4 sport manual trans,) and I will see if I can dig up some supporting documentation.

Dave

 

be nice, i couldnt find much in my manual

 

any autoparts store sells Dex VI

 

who knows, im just trying to find some concrete evidence showing you never need to change the manual trans fluid