Manual transmission oil: Liqui Moly 20012 GL4+

Hi folks,

I'm changing the factory fluid in my 6-speed manual transmission because it crunches going into second and third unless I really take my time. I suspect the factory put the same fluid into the transmission as the diff.

Has anyone tried the Liqui Moly GL4+ in the transmission? According to the data sheet, it it formulated specifically for manual transmissions and not differentials. NAPA carries it. They have a different "GL4/GL5" product sold as a diff lube.

(I am familiar with Redline MT-90 and have used it in a previous vehicle.)

W.

 

I have not tried that one myself but check out the MT megathread for more reviews and info on different fluids. There's a good chance if anyone's tried it, it's in that thread. Lots of good experiences with the Redline too

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...hread-all-generations-welcome.406844/page-659

 

I would just swap to redline, I did mine last year and it made a huge difference in shifts to 1st and 2nd gear

 

I’ve tried it. It’s good stuff. The 2nd gears are crunchy. At least on the 5 spd manuals they are which is what I have. It performed pretty well in the winter and summer. I can’t say I had any complains about it. After pretty much trying every manual trans fluid spec’ed for GL4 75w90 I can say I havnt noticed one is a miracle fluid and light years better than another. The only thing I noticed was that the fluid was good for maybe 25k ish where as on redline I typically get 35k or so out of a fluid change before the shifts get crunchy again. They all seem to perform well out of the bottle with varying performance with mileage. I had gotten a good deal on it at the time, I think it was $7 per liter on rockauto. I’d use it again if I find a good sale on it.

 

Looks good, similar in most specs to the MT-90 but cold performance should be better.

 

Disregard the brand...if it meets GL4 specifications, its the right stuff. Liquimoly is a high end brand. I would choose that in a heartbeat

 

I used Motorcraft XT-M5-QS in my manual, it meets Toyota specifications and made a nice improvement over the factory fill.

https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...ull-synthetic-manual-transmission-fluids.html

Rock Auto had the best price when I purchased it.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/motorcraft,XTM5QS,transmission+fluid,13630

 

My local NAPA didn't have the Moly on the shelf but was able to get it same-day, so that's what I got. Will report back soon on how it drives.

Is the torque really 27 foot-pounds on those drain and fill plugs? I started getting uncomfortable tightening the plug down and ended up torquing the drain to 25 and the fill to 23. I assume those are lubricated specs since there's no way to have dry threads in this scenario. There's something about tightening something like that with 18" of leverage (1/2" drive torque wrench) that's a little scary.

 

yes it is. I usually do 30 because I’m lazy. Lol

 

You can feel the aluminum crush washer deforming, that's it.

I've put MT90 in all my Toyota manual gear boxes in the past and present, no complaint. 94 4Runner, 99 4Runner, 2008 Tacoma, 2019 Tacoma.

 

Don't forget the perpetual rockauto 5% discount code!

 

don't have a manual tacoma but i had a manual corolla and redline mt-90 fixed all my shifting issues. stuff is like liquid gold. i'm sure any gl-4 oil will work. just don't use GL-5.

 

I used this in my 5MT and it worked great, "

$24 Red Line (50304) MT-90 75W-90 GL-4 Manual Transmission and Transaxle Lubricant (MTL) - 1 Quart.

Red Line (50304) MT-90 75W-90 GL-4 Manual Transmission and Transaxle Lubricant - 1 Quart" I will not say it immediately turned every shift into butter, but you could definitely tell it was an improvement over the old fluids. I did this at around 25K miles. It's so easy to do there is no reason not to take it on and get it done.

 

I have not used Liqui Moly before but was happy with the results of MT-90 in my 2016 6MT and now 2020 6MT.

 

+ on MT-90. Good stuff and I used in on my last change-out.

 

So is the consensus that the trans is crunchy in 2nd? Mine seems to have been since day 1…

does the new trans fluid improve that?

 

From my experience they all initially improve it but after a couple hundred miles it returns. I find driving a certain way is the cure for it. And really it’s just shifting slow into 2nd at around 2k rpm. To be frank though I have 4.88 gears and the truck will pick up and go even when short shifter, can’t speak for factory gearing

 

For me it’s just the feeling of engaging the gear. Rpm’s don’t seem to matter. However 2k rpm’s may be a bit on the low side and too slow for accelerating with traffic in this thing.

 

Yeah I know what you mean. If you have to rev it out then you have to rev it out. If it’s of any consolation I’m at 135k it still does it like day 1 and the truck is going strong. I’d like to think it’s because it’s rugged

 

That’s actually really helpful. Are you on the original clutch also ?