3rd gear grind story

Hcaruso4 · May 22, 2008, 07:50 PM

Hi guys. I wanted to tell my story of my 3rd gear grind to possibly save anyone that might currently have this problem or might have this problem in the future. I bought my car about 4 months ago with 77,000 miles on it. Its a 2002 Lancer es. I assumed that the transmission fluid was never changed so i decided to change it. I read all about the huge difference between using synthetic fluid so I tried redline fully synthetic and changed it. About 200 miles after changing it and taking it easy I tried a high rpm shift from 2nd to 3rd and experienced a grind. I have been driving for about a month now with this terrible 3rd gear grind. I couldnt figure out what was going on because it would only grind when i shifted aboved 3000 rpm and it wouldnt happen when the car was cold. It would also downshift into third without grinding. I went to a local tranny shop and explained my situation yesterday and he confirmed my thoughts that it was probably a 3rd gear syncro that i messed up but to my suprise said that putting synthetic fluid in could have made the problem come to the surface. He told me to try to put non-synthetic gear oil in like it says to do in the manual and it might actually cover up the problem. Today I put the recomended non-synthetic gear oil in and the grind is totally gone. I hope this is helpful to anyone who might be experiencing this problem.

darkmitsu · May 23, 2008, 08:08 AM

I had found a deal on redline (4 bottle 25$ shipped to me) , i figured what the heck ill do it... I also have grinds only when its cold and only if i baby shift... if i drive normal shifting between 3300-4000 the grind will not be there even if its its cold... also after the car gets up to operating temp it doesn't matter how you drive the grind are entirely gone... on the stock fluid i did not have any grinding issues , so you must be right on the fluid causing the problem... what kinda of fluid did you switch back to? mitsu fluid , or autozone offbrand?

Hcaruso4 · May 24, 2008, 07:57 AM

I used valvoline 75w-90 gear oil which is the what it says in the manual

mcgarvey · May 26, 2008, 07:05 PM

Wrong, the manual specifies 75w90 GL4. Valvoline 75w90 is formulated with GL5 additives and is not suitable for our transmissions. In fact, the sulfur in GL5 eats away the bronze synchro material. It may have covered up the problem for now, but in the long run you're hurting your gearbox.

Hcaruso4 · May 28, 2008, 05:26 AM

Ok. I guess i was wrong. Thank you for specifying this. The owners manual actually didnt come with the car when i bought it so i asked a local autoparts store and they looked it up and thats what they gave me. I am definetly going to change it then.

Hcaruso4 · May 28, 2008, 09:45 AM

I went to a local autoparts store and they told me that they have stopped making gl-4 and that if a tranny was supposed to take gl-4 then gl-5 can do no damage. Does anyone know where you can purchase this fluid?

itscypha · Jul 1, 2008, 10:42 AM

yea need to know this too synthetic is makin my 3rd gear grind

mcgarvey · Jul 2, 2008, 03:23 PM

No, a worn synchro is making your gears grind.

And to the previous post: That is not true about GL-5 replacing GL-4. They are chemically very different. Manual transmissions are sensitive to friction. Use the proper lubricant, preferably synthetic. Using a lower quality lubricant only covers up a problem that already exists and will not protect the bearings and other wear surfaces as well as a true synthetic GL-4 gear oil.

After all, Fully Synthetic GL-4 is factory fill on our cars!

mirebih · Jul 2, 2008, 03:42 PM

I dont think it has to do fluid... TurboDan instaled my new clutch, and he used OEM fluids that he bought from Mitsubishi dealer, and I still have 4th gear grinds after the new clutch, new flywheel, and new fluids...