Redline MTL vs ATF?

[ZacharyMikel]

Good evening.

I'm sure some of you know about the E46 ZHP Owners facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmwzhp/

I posted there today telling of my experience changing out my transmission fluid to Redline MTL 75w80. I previously put Pentosin MTF2 oil in my transmission (about 30k ago), and it has recently felt notchy and stiff.

After switching to Redline last night, I drove the car down the road about 1 mile and back. It feels incredible! The gears engage so smoothly, there is zero notchiness, and the car shifts better overall.

A few members of the facebook group are crying heresy, telling me to change out the fluid as quickly as possible because I've put the "wrong spec fluid in my car", and there "are far better fluids now than Redline MTF", etc.

When I made the decision to use Redline 75w80 MTL, I utilized these threads:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?3990-Transmission-Fluid-and-Rear-Differental-Fluid-capacities
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?6667-Transmission-fluid

Can anyone tell me definitively if I've made a horrible mistake and indeed should drop the MTL out as soon as possible? Thanks guys.

[BMWCurves]

Eh, I feel like many people have used Red Line MTL without any issue (I have it in mine). Mike Miller, that oft-quoted BMW dude, recommends it. Others use Red Line D4 ATF with (again) no problem.

[ZHPizza]

Yeah you're good. People seem to like D4 ATF a little better but MTL is fine.

[Vas]

Not sure how MTL is but previously I had used MT90. Recently made the switch to Redline D4 ATF based on the recommendation directly from Redline.

However you will be fine with MTL.

[ZacharyMikel]

Alright, thanks for the swift replies. I will switch to D4 ATF or some other higher-quality fluid in 10-15k or so if I don't sell the car. I just wanted to make sure that it isn't going to hurt anything for my sake or future buyers. Thanks guys!

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[NoVAphotog]

Eh, I feel like many people have used Red Line MTL without any issue (I have it in mine). Mike Miller, that oft-quoted BMW dude, recommends it. Others use Red Line D4 ATF with (again) no problem.

+1

I use manual transmission fluid in my manual transmission equipped motorized carriages. And automatic transmission fluid in automatic transmission equipped horseless carriages.

Don't know why it's a debate.

[az3579]

+1

I use manual transmission fluid in my manual transmission equipped motorized carriages. And automatic transmission fluid in automatic transmission equipped horseless carriages.

Don't know why it's a debate.
Even if the ATF is better suited for the manual tranny (in the case of Redline)? lol

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[NoVAphotog]

Even if the ATF is better suited for the manual tranny (in the case of Redline)? lol

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Well that goes back to Will's comment. Old school guide recommendation and own experience.

[brettbimmer]

MTL running many miles in 3 different MT bimmers, including one car at 318,500 miles on original 5 speed. Good fluid. Sweat about BMW's crap cooling systems, not Redline.

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[ELCID86]

Sweat about BMW's crap cooling systems, not Redline.



True that.

[Sailor]

Yep. When I replaced the radiator on my E36 it was a real pain to pull the fan shroud and fan, so I cut the shroud horizontally across the middle and pop-riveted a tab on each side while it was out of the car. Later, when I replaced the water pump and tensioner pulley (and deleted the fan), it was a breeze to pull and replace the upper half of the shroud, with the tabs guiding it into place. Paint the pop rivets black so purists won't faint.

[Reasoned1]

I just changed mine to MTL today after doing a fair bit of research. Feels fine...

[KIRIEIW]

Been using MTL in my car for the past 8 Months, works great. Factory calls for a MTL, although they also approve of ATF. Redline recommends ATF for colder climates just like the factory if shifting effort is a problem.


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[san]

I have MTL right now in my tranny. I felt that it was good initially but as you put more miles on it, it goes south quite quickly. Will try ATL next time.


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[derbo]

Redline ATF.


https://www.redlineoil.com/bmw-what-red-line-products-do-i-need


From 1993 on, we recommend D4 ATF (yes, ATF in a manual transmission). The only late-model exception is the 2006 Xi trans, which takes D6 ATF.

Whew, that's a lot to remember. For the most part, these transmissions take less than 2 quarts. The typical exceptions are the 8-series cars before 2000 (just under 2.5 quarts) and the M5's 7-speed (from 2005), which requires just less than three quarts.




https://i.imgur.com/gMUHu6Sh.jpg

[BMWCurves]

I have MTL right now in my tranny. I felt that it was good initially but as you put more miles on it, it goes south quite quickly. Will try ATL next time.


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31535

[Vas]

Prefer atf over mtl and mt-90

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[ZHPizza]

31535https://youtu.be/j5W73HaVQBg

[BMWCurves]

https://youtu.be/j5W73HaVQBg

Jermaine Dupri...a man of a bygone era.

[Vas]

https://youtu.be/j5W73HaVQBg

Soo appropriate for throwback thursday

[ZHPizza]

Soo appropriate for throwback thursday[emoji106]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171207/ca30d731d1df3dd63fd742eefbd68295.jpg

[Reasoned1]

I just had the shifter mechanism rebuilt, so I'm not sure how that factors in, but shifting is somewhat notchier and fights me when cold now with MTL.

[oclvframe]

Resurrecting this thread from it's dormancy.......Is there a definitive way short of popping the drain plug to figure out exactly what fluid my manual transmission will take? I have not serviced my transmission before, my indie did it at 50Kmi and I am at 83K so I am guessing it's time to service the fluid.

-r

[BMWCurves]

I don't know about that, but people tend to go for two Red Line products for their manual transmissions, either MTL or ATF. 30k miles on transmission fluid isn't that long, but it also is an inexpensive thing to do.

[John in VA]

Is there a definitive way short of popping the drain plug to figure out exactly what fluid my manual transmission will take?
There could be a factory sticker on the bottom of the pan - there is on the automatic trannies. It could be covered in grime or removed by a previous owner. I used the Red Line D4 ATF in several manual BMW transmissions with no issues.

[Sockethead]

You can always just go to the dealership or an indy that has BMW fluid and have it changed. That's what I did last time I had it changed. A little expensive though...
The BMW fluid only comes in a 5 gallon bucket. That's why no one DIY changes it with the BMW fluid

[PetesZ]

I did the pentosin MTL 2 on the Daughters car and Redline MTL on the junkyard dog (aka Track Z)

no noticeable difference between the two