Smoother and more accurate shifts, Motul 300 Gear Lube is a low cost easy mod and worth it:)

[neeqness]

I live in a warmer climate so I don't know personally but I've seen posts on other forums of people who loved it...and people who didn't.

My suggestion for you based on the feedback would be to decide based on how you feel about the stock fluid. If you think it feels "too thin" for you as it is then I would recommend the 300. If you are changing the fluid yourself, it's not expensive to try out and you are more likely to like it. Just remember there is a "break-in" period where it seems to feel the thickest so maybe it would be better to try during warmer temps so that it will be broken in during the colder temps. I really like how it feels broken in.

Otherwise, though if you are "ok" with how the stock fluid feels, I would probably recommend to stick with the dctf.

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[M-Sport fan]

anyone running 300 long run in north east climate long term?

I am about to do my fluids, and feel like going with something heavier, but not sure how it will be have in this 4 season area...

I've heard of some people switching back to dctf????

As crazy and as much of a bother as it may seem to be; I may just decide to use Motul or Red Line DCTF in the late fall to late spring, and the Gear 300 for the rest of the warm/hot seasons, even though YES, changing this twice a year is a waste, it's not too costly since this car takes so little fluid anyway.

I was maniacal about gearbox and diff changes (at least twice a year, if not more often) when I had my Z28, and sometimes used fluids which made the Motul and Red Line products seem inexpensive by comparison, and that car took A LOT more fluid in it's trans and diff.

I figure it cannot hurt to get all of the (break-in, AND regular wear & tear after break-in) fines/metal out of the transaxle on the FiST, and refresh fluid which may have sheared down, even if just a little bit.

 

[Manta Ray]

i do feel the stock fluid is too thin, but dont think its detrimental to life span, just sometimes i feel the tranny is louder than it should be (I have CP-E RMM so not sure if that adds to it)

 

[Manta Ray]

Just put in the 300, and drove it for a bit.

Stock fluid is...
louder, much more shift noise
first occasionally requires a little extra effort to get in (very weird, almost like gears didn't line up)
feels a bit rougher, direct?

v300
Smoother, it's seriously smooth
Less shift noise (very surprised about this)
No more tough gears, every gear slides in with little effort...
I am positive there is a bit more dampening, because everything I didn't like about the gearbox is almost gone.

FSWerks short shift kit incoming...

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^^IF we get a cold winter, you may notice a little more 'notchiness', or effort to get into the gears until the Gear 300 warms up, but, being that it has a 220 viscosity index, this may not even happen unless it drops well below 0*F.

Let us know how it is in the dead of winter, PLEASE!

 

[awwwww_shift]

First post here, and not trying to bump up an old thread, but a lot of good info here.

In addition to the 300 and the DCTF, has anyone tried the Castrol Transmax Dual?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Castrol-58...0634689&sr=8-1&keywords=castrol+transmax+dual

I have a '16 FiST on order, and am already stocking up on fluids and parts to have ready to properly maintain it. Looking into the Castrol, it seems along the same lines as the Motul DCTF in that it has the Ford Spec on it.

Also, for those questioning the amazon.co.uk link, you can order and get it shipped to the US with your Prime account(just not the free 2 day shipping).

Thanks!

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^I'm sure it is pretty good stuff, and it IS less than HALF the cost of the Motul DCTF, before shipping/currency conversion fees/import duties (if any), at least.

 

[Sourskittle]

Watched some interesting videos via Modern performance regarding the srt4 trans and fluids. Peter something was his name. Talked about zinc content and that Mobil 1 high mileage is all anyone should run in a manual trans car. Yes... motor oil.
Just another idea.
Not making claims for or against it.


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[frankiefiesta]

Watched some interesting videos via Modern performance regarding the srt4 trans and fluids. Peter something was his name. Talked about zinc content and that Mobil 1 high mileage is all anyone should run in a manual trans car. Yes... motor oil.
Just another idea.
Not making claims for or against it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Let me know how it works

 

[M-Sport fan]

Watched some interesting videos via Modern performance regarding the srt4 trans and fluids. Peter something was his name. Talked about zinc content and that Mobil 1 high mileage is all anyone should run in a manual trans car. Yes... motor oil.
Just another idea.
Not making claims for or against it.

Not all; transaxles, blocker rings/synchros are the same, and what works in one, may be totally wrong for another.

Some actually specced motor oils of various weights right in their factory manuals.

 

[Sourskittle]

Ed Peters

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=yKiqKHAyzps

Just so you guys know wth I'm talking about. This guy isn't a "no body".

He made some other videos in a similar fashion as well you may want to take the time to watch. Talks about shift cables and over shifting, shifted arms, shifter bushings, adjustments, shifter stops, syno's, friction modifiers for an LSD etc.

It's info on SRT4 stuff, but let's be honest here, ford/Getrag didn't reinvent the manual transmission just for the fiesta ST over what New Venture built for dodge/SRT4. It's two rows of gears engaged and shifted by arms, synco's, and cables.

In one of the videos he also talks about how dodge knowingly put the wrong trans fluid in the srt4 and other neon's purposely to save money because it worked "good enough" and saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars on the production not having to switch out equipment for different fluids.

Ford of all companies is not special flower, it's pretty much 100% for sure they just used the DSG/DCT fluid because it was already on the production line for the fiesta DCT trans in the normal fiesta and they didn't have to bring in special fluid and setup another machine just for the fist or the low production 5-speed manual cars.

So here we all are chasing OEM fluid, when REALLY, we are trying to match Ford's "convenience fluid" when we MAYBE should be more trying to think, "What is the best fluid for a classic, normal, not special manual transmission". And chances are.... it's not GEAR OIL ( although, Motul 300 is a great choice still, and no doubt about it, it will work just fine ). But if Ford had 100% zero financial consequence to using a different oil in the trans, what would they use ?
[MENTION=1098]DHM[/MENTION] what do you think ?

I could just be crazy lol.


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[TUX15ST]

Watched some interesting videos via Modern performance regarding the srt4 trans and fluids. Peter something was his name. Talked about zinc content and that Mobil 1 high mileage is all anyone should run in a manual trans car. Yes... motor oil.
Just another idea.
Not making claims for or against it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I remember reading several things suggesting this back when I had my svt focus as well and they suggested the same thing, I believe it was 10w 40 mobil 1 high mileage engine oil was equivalent to 75w 90 gear oil and i actually ran it for about 30k miles without any issues myself

 

[Sourskittle]

Also... is it really a surprise that the axle seals have an issue sometimes sealing the super thin, synthetic DCT fluid? Could that also be because getrag intended this trans to use something thicker with less "penetrating properties"?
Just thinking out loud


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[M-Sport fan]

Ed Peters

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=yKiqKHAyzps

Just so you guys know wth I'm talking about. This guy isn't a "no body".

He made some other videos in a similar fashion as well you may want to take the time to watch. Talks about shift cables and over shifting, shifted arms, shifter bushings, adjustments, shifter stops, syno's, friction modifiers for an LSD etc.

It's info on SRT4 stuff, but let's be honest here, ford/Getrag didn't reinvent the manual transmission just for the fiesta ST over what New Venture built for dodge/SRT4. It's two rows of gears engaged and shifted by arms, synco's, and cables.

In one of the videos he also talks about how dodge knowingly put the wrong trans fluid in the srt4 and other neon's purposely to save money because it worked "good enough" and saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars on the production not having to switch out equipment for different fluids.

Ford of all companies is not special flower, it's pretty much 100% for sure they just used the DSG/DCT fluid because it was already on the production line for the fiesta DCT trans in the normal fiesta and they didn't have to bring in special fluid and setup another machine just for the fist or the low production 5-speed manual cars.

So here we all are chasing OEM fluid, when REALLY, we are trying to match Ford's "convenience fluid" when we MAYBE should be more trying to think, "What is the best fluid for a classic, normal, not special manual transmission". And chances are.... it's not GEAR OIL ( although, Motul 300 is a great choice still, and no doubt about it, it will work just fine ). But if Ford had 100% zero financial consequence to using a different oil in the trans, what would they use ?
[MENTION=1098]DHM[/MENTION] what do you think ?

I could just be crazy lol.

GREAT points above, as I am SURE that Tremec/GM, and even Ford and Mopar in the few cars they have which use the T56/TR6060 gearboxes, did the same exact thing calling for them to use some form of Dexron 3 auto trans fluid in these, instead of the addition of a whole 'nother tank/factory fill of an MTL on the line, and at the dealers' service departments.

But, even though Getrag (or anybody making a manual gearbox) did not 'reinvent the wheel', they absolutely DO use different types of friction materials in their blocker rings than other manufacturers, which DO require specific fluid characteristics (coefficient of friction altering friction modifiers, etc.) in order to 'grab' the next gear, and function properly.
High concentrations of ZDDP (or molybdenum formulas/other anti-friction compounds) may actually prevent this from happening in certain gearboxes, and cause major 'grinding', and missed shifts (not to mention rendering any plate/clutch pack type limited slips non-functional).

Also, a motor oil, no matter how 'stout' may not have what it takes to stand up to the shear inside a gearbox, or protect the various roller/other bearings in it, YES, that even what seems like a "lowly/way too thin" DCT fluid probably DOES have the ability to do, believe it or not, especially over the much longer drain periods (than a motor oil in an engine will ever see) that these fluids are required to face.

Finally, some of us are still under our factory warranties, and are NOT wealthy enough to afford a new/rebuilt transaxle on our own dime if something happened, and Ford/dealers refused to warranty it due to them finding the 'wrong' (even IF it is actually BETTER than the specced DCT stuff in reality) fluid in the gearbox (you KNOW that they will do EVERY/ANYTHING they can to deny that cost ).

 

[awwwww_shift]

Ed Peters

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=yKiqKHAyzps

Just so you guys know wth I'm talking about. This guy isn't a "no body".

He made some other videos in a similar fashion as well you may want to take the time to watch. Talks about shift cables and over shifting, shifted arms, shifter bushings, adjustments, shifter stops, syno's, friction modifiers for an LSD etc.

It's info on SRT4 stuff, but let's be honest here, ford/Getrag didn't reinvent the manual transmission just for the fiesta ST over what New Venture built for dodge/SRT4. It's two rows of gears engaged and shifted by arms, synco's, and cables.

In one of the videos he also talks about how dodge knowingly put the wrong trans fluid in the srt4 and other neon's purposely to save money because it worked "good enough" and saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars on the production not having to switch out equipment for different fluids.

Ford of all companies is not special flower, it's pretty much 100% for sure they just used the DSG/DCT fluid because it was already on the production line for the fiesta DCT trans in the normal fiesta and they didn't have to bring in special fluid and setup another machine just for the fist or the low production 5-speed manual cars.

So here we all are chasing OEM fluid, when REALLY, we are trying to match Ford's "convenience fluid" when we MAYBE should be more trying to think, "What is the best fluid for a classic, normal, not special manual transmission". And chances are.... it's not GEAR OIL ( although, Motul 300 is a great choice still, and no doubt about it, it will work just fine ). But if Ford had 100% zero financial consequence to using a different oil in the trans, what would they use ?
[MENTION=1098]DHM[/MENTION] what do you think ?

I could just be crazy lol.


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Ed Peters was a Chrysler engineer when the 1gn neons came out through the development and life cycle of the SRT-4 skittles(neons). And he's a hella nice guy as well.
He's also the first guy to toss a SOHC head on a 2.4L Stratus/Cirrus/Caravan/PTCruiser block.
Coming from a lot of my older cars, I take his advice on oils and use a lot of the 5w30's and such in my turbo dodge stuff(see spirit r/t and shelby csx). Newer stuff is kinda muddy.
If you look at the 1gn neons vs the 2gn (na stuff here, not including the srts here) The 1gn's had a specific mopar fluid(heavier weight) vs the 2gns that just tossed atf(pick your thin flavor here) in it. If you tossed the 1gn fluid in the 2gn, it would shift noticeably better and be much quieter.
I'm guessing the same rules true here. factory fill was used as either a convenience or cost savings. Either way, it should be addressed.

My thoughts are this:
use the factory fill to get out any loose assembly shrapnel.
fill with factory fill a 2nd time time to let the gears mesh a bit.
change to your preferred fluid after 5-10k total and you should be fine for longer drain intervals(ymmv depending on usage. racing and high HP builds need more attention)

with that in mind, I will be flushing the factory fill with my first preventative oil change at about 1k. toss some more of it in. at 5k I'll be switching to either the castrol i linked above or the motul(local shop i deal with carries it in stock). probably stick with the dual clutch style fluids for the first major change, then if that's not doing enough, change to heavier later in the transmissions life.
For reference, I plan on autocrossing the hell out of this thing, and I do quite a bit of instructing for club HPDE events at both the Milwaukee Mile and Road America, so it will find some limits.

Has anyone tried to toss a temp probe in the trans and see what kinda environment we're dealing with here?

sorry for the long post, lots of ideas rolling around this morning... lol

 

[Manta Ray]

Just want to summarize for those who dont want to read walls of text:

TL;DR: "Use at your own risk, only Ford and Getrag knows what is SUPPOSE to be in those transmission, whether if its right or wrong."


edit: I wish there is a Getrag engineer to discuss this, speculation leads to confusion. I am running 300 with no issues (i actually like it a lot in terms of feel.. but no solid evidence of lifespan... only about 500 miles on it.)

 

[neeqness]

Just want to summarize for those who dont want to read walls of text:

TL;DR: "Use at your own risk, only Ford and Getrag knows what is SUPPOSE to be in those transmission, whether if its right or wrong."


edit: I wish there is a Getrag engineer to discuss this, speculation leads to confusion. I am running 300 with no issues (i actually like it a lot in terms of feel.. but no solid evidence of lifespan... only about 500 miles on it.)

It gets better once broken in believe it or not. [emoji1]

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[neeqness]

One thing I'd like to add to the discussion is that previous threads for earlier models with higher mileage complained of transmission issues. The owners had been using the oem fluid for lubrication. It seems to have the same spec as the current one.

This to me helped confirm my suspicion that the fluid is too thin. Manufacturers have been pushing the envelope for better mileage as it is a big selling point (especially in the compact and subcompact models) and higher mileage keeps them competitive. It makes sense that they would gravitate toward fluids that tweak mileage while still being "adequate" at lubricating the transmission. I however prefer better lubrication for better protection over slightly higher mileage. I would rather use a product that based on experience, demonstrates that it's doing its job properly, than the one the manufacturer recommends which is demonstrating that it is sub-par to my expectations.

Let us not forget that it is not uncommon in this day and age to find products that seem to have "problems" soon after the warranty expires. This to me is a perfect example of it, but I'd rather not be victim to it.

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[Elwood125]

Did the motul swap this weekend - feels much better now. Between my RMM, short shift, bracket bushings and base bushings , shifter feel is 100 percent improved

 

[rastok]

local shop selle 300v?? any differance over the 300