So, once again the first thing the "tranny shop" tells you is..."The tranny's toast", but in fact, it turns out after refilling with oil, it actually seems to work fairly well - maybe not perfect (yet), but MUCH better than toast Glad it's working out this way

 

This is not a tranny shop. They are a shop that specializes in Subarus. I trust this mechanic 100%, I've known him since I was 15, he just doesn't see many Porsches. he's still insisting I don't drive the car. he's going to be shaking his head at me when I go see him this morning.

 

Ah, ok - misunderstood... Hopefully he learns from this experience! Obviously, there could be some irreversible damage in there still - I just think there are too many shops that are quick to write off engines and tranny's (and whatever else) as unfixable... Who knows, maybe he got burned previously for trying to fix something he shouldn't have.

 

Why doesn't he want you driving it? Risking more damage prior to suggested rebuild?

 

Specialists hate to see things fail, or be in worse condition than they have to be if they do have to come apart. I am in the same boat, if an engine has symptoms of mechanical failure, is noisy, or if it had been ran low on oil, I'd also recommend parking it.

You might be okay if you change the gear oil several times to flush the debris out of it... With each change you should see the debris levels dropping. If this doesn't happen, then you'll be tearing it apart.

 

talked to him this morning and he said "maybe you got lucky, keep flushing it"

he's still recommending I save up for a new trans....

what oil do you guys use?

if I can squeeze out the summer and park it in the fall, that would be perfect. use the winter to swap trans

 

If this truly is the case, can we expect a shirtless pic of you like Kalash and KK with a beer in your hands?

 

Yeah, no.

 

I seem to recall when our transmission was being rebuilt that my mechanic pointed out a magnet at the bottom of the housing to catch debris. I also seem to recall that there was no way to clean it without opening it up. Am I misremembering?

If I am remembering correctly, wouldn't that keep the metal from being flushed out entirely? And couldn't that leave you open to future issues (debris gets jarred loose at some point or the magnet is "full" and new debris is free to do it's worst)?

 

That is correct. The magnet is next to the drain hole inside the transmission. Toward the rear of the car if memory serves. If not, toward the front then. Use your pinky to feel if there's any debris there.

Best oil is Porsche tranny oil, about $30/L from Sunset and you need 2.7L.

 

I use Mobile 1 Delvac 75W-90. GT3 cars use it and it is only $42 per gallon at Suncoast.

 

The Delvac is a popular one but I remember seeing reviews saying difficulty getting in 1st/2nd in cold weather so I didn't recommend that to AWD since he's in Canada. I could be wrong so maybe more research is needed. Also the GT3 uses steel synchros and we use brass.

 

The cold weather issues and longevity is the key for a regular car IMO, hence my agreement with the Porsche fluid, although pricey, being the best choice.

If your car only see's warm climates and this is going to be a regular track car where you plan on changing out the tranny fluid often, then there are quite a few other suitable alternatives. Just make sure to compare MSDS specs for shear, flashpoint, viscosity at both the lower 40deg c and 100deg C.

Personally I like to do it once and have it working like it should.

 

How often should you change the tranny fluid if you are tracking one?

 

Boy, that's a trick question. Until all the additives are depleted or you start crunching your synchro's? Don't think there's one solid answer for that one and a lot of different philosophies to it. T