I have a manual tranny and want to change the fluid. Different fluids are recommended if you have an LSD or not. I was wondering what I have. Thanks

 

Don't know what you have, check your option codes on the sticker in back near spare, behind carpeting. I JUST changed the transaxle fluid in my own '87 NA to Redline and it is great. Quieted down a minor howl and shifts more smoothly. Good luck

 

IIRC, if you still have the original factory tranny, you should have the option code 220 (see the sticker in the rear hatch or owner's manual). Or you can lift the car and spin the rear wheels: non-LSDs will spin in different directions. Actually, worn out LSDs will also spin in different directions. Chances are, you don't have it -- it's uncommon.

 

Whatever you do (I have no clue if you've got LSD or not) - DO NOT drain the fluid without first loosening your fill plug!!! I've heard horror stories about draining a tranny then not being able to fill. Then, I got a bad tranny in my possession and sure enough - the fill plug is bugared up!

Just a word to the wise...

Dale.

 

I use redline 75W90NS for my 968 transaxle with a torsen LSD unit. If you have a LSD it is likely to be clutch type which requires special additives.

Call Paragon and speak to Jason or Chuck. They go through a new round of "which tranny oil" every year. I called them, they told me 75W90NS for mine. Others disagreed so I spoke to Torsen and Redline, the outcome was 75W90NS.

Changing the transaxle fluid was the best change I have ever made to the car. The transaxle is smooth and quiet now. The car feels so much better.

 

I vote for Redline as well. Amazing difference when I went to it...I use 75W90NS as well.

-Steve

 

Thank you all. I am going with the Red line. Imight have to have it shipped from the USA because I can't seem to find it around here. ....And I will open the fill first. Thanks Again.

 

I couldn't find it here either. I found 2 dealers in Atlanta (a big place) and one of those was out of stock.

MT90 worked well in my LSD.

 

I've used Swepco red on my last car and that helped smoothen a lot of things out in it. The fluid is designed for track to deal with high temperatures but it worked wonders on the street

Andy

 

The Advance Auto Parts chain is starting to sell Redline if that helps anyone.

 

Swepco was my choice...and follow Dale's advice, without a fill port your a**d'out.

 

a long time ago I looked for redline fluid, and autozone told me that they could special order it. Thats as far as I went though, because the price of over $20 a quart was way too much for my budget.

 

Redline fluids can be hard to find. I went all over town asking the nat'l chains, but none seemed to carry it. I finally found a local race shop that had a counter full of redline oils (they also had the brake lines and copper-cored plug wires that I couldn't find elsewhere). I believe that the LSD trannies require friction modifiers found in the gl5 fluids (such as 75W90NS). If you can't find redline locally, paragon as well as several other online sources can get it for you.

 

The only synthetic stuff I have found locally is Valvoline and a Canadian Tire house brand. Any suggestions? Is this stuff OK or should I try to find the red Line?

 

I ordered mine from Paragon.

...and while we're on the subject, anyone have recommendations on how often to drain and re-fill when you're using a good synthetic like Redline?


-Steve