My car now has 100,000 miles on it, and as soon as the weather stops sucking, Im going to replace the trans fluid. I know its 1.8L, but Im looking for whats recommended to go in (aside from Royal Purple. I will NEVER run that)

Go with the $4/L stuff from GM thats semi synth, or is there something better out there?

 

Hope that helps. And yes the F23 Getrag manual transmission does use ATF.

 

I knew it was ATF. But So I need to find a Pure Dexron 3 fluid then?

 

Basically find a Dexron 3. Don't get like a Dexron 3/4 or a fluid that says it's compatible.

 

Go to a GM dealer and ask them for 2 bottles of

Manual Transmission Fluid GM P/N : 88861800 (US), 88861801 (Canada)

Its really the only thing your going to find other than the royal purple or redline brand stuff. And because its the direct GM recommended fluid you don't have to worry about screwing up your trans. My 2 cents

 

Wrong.

It is not P/N: 88861800

It's DEX-VI ATF.

 

When i went to the parts department, the gentleman there looked it up and directed me to the GM syncromesh, I dont off hand have the part number. Thast what ive been using and it works just fine. so far.

 

If you go to syncromesh or gear oil you will burn it up from lack of lube. The transmission is designed for ATF, which is very thin. Thick oil like syncromesh or gear oil can't get through the lube passages sufficiently and will cause it to overheat from lack of lube. Feel free to try synthetic ATF if you feel so inclined.

You've been using the wrong ****.

I have the Cobalt repair manual, and I also work at a Ford dealership, they all use the same program for information (AllData), and I know it says P/N: 88861800, both in the repair manual, and at my work, which is GL, but that is not right.

 

Huge :facepalm:

 

 

so you cant use like a synthetic dex merc trans fluid?