Spencer's Transmission Cocktail

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:53 am

So I deviated enough from Scottys Cocktail that I figured I would report on it myself.

The reason That I didnt use Scottys is because Napa didnt have half the stuff to do it.

So I used:

Royal Purple Synchromax 1qt (used all of it)
Royal Purple Max-Gear for High Performance Transmissions and Engines 1qt (used all of it)
Valvoline High Performance Gear Oil 80w-90 2qts (only used about 1.4qts, just until the dipstick reads the correct amount)

So far, it works fantastic.

I was EXTREMELY leery about reusing this transmission that has 155k miles on it without a full rebuild...

So with that on my mind, knowing that first gear practically had no synchro that worked worth a damn, and that 2nd gear got super bitchy when hot... I figured I'd try a different gear oil.

I've been driving with it for two days now in varying conditions and I can say it works great, 1st gear synchro actually works... I literally can shift into first at 20mph...

And 2nd couldnt be happier... I can shift into it at almost any speed now. (Only tried it up to 40mph).

So yeah, take it as you will... these may be easier to come by than the Scotty Cocktail ingredients.

BTW Pouring Order,

~Royal Purple Max-Gear
~Royal Purple Synchromax
~Valvoline 80w90

Oh and I know that anything new will feel better but the previous fluid was damn near brand new, and looked like it when I drained it.

Most likely its just a cover up for a future problem, but it helps get more gentle life out of an older transmission.

-Spencer

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:55 am

smh0101 wrote:1st gear synchro actually works... I literally can shift into first at 20mph...

If you keep that up, it won't be working for much longer!

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:57 am

I wont... I was testing it, one time deal... just amazed that the mixture worked good.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:03 am

I might have to give this cocktail a shot...

I am currently running straight Redline, and my 3rd synchro is still toast.

Not that it matters since I haven't driven the damn car in 2 weeks.

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:44 am

How much money did it all come out to?

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:04 pm

Total cost was $38.58 including Tax

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:02 pm

That's not too bad at all.

I just went back and re-read your first post. Are you exaggerating when you say you can shift into 1st at 20mph?? Subaru purposely designs their cars so they can't shift into 1st at above ~10MPH.

Did you have to force it into gear or were you double clutching? Anything like that?

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:24 pm

asc_up wrote:Subaru purposely designs their cars so they can't shift into 1st at above ~10MPH.

Did you have to force it into gear or were you double clutching? Anything like that?

Really??? Because my L will shift into first quite well. Even at 20. Thats why I tried it on this tranny.

No, I wasnt forcing or double clutching... i think? Fo sho wasnt forcing.

I'm not going to re-try it... Because well, I'm sure that strains the hell out of it...

But I do have a tendency to double clutch, normally just 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

I know that I didnt double clutch on the 2nd gear shift... But that was on purpose.
I may have doubled the 1st gear shift, but I dont think I did.

Post by **DLC** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:40 pm

I've heard that when the 5MTs are new they'll shift easily into 1st at speed, but as the syncros wear they're much more hesitant to do it. First mention I've ever heard of something intentional from Subaru.

I'm going to try this cocktail. 130k miles and mine still works fine, but it does get a bit crunchy at times going into fifth.

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:50 pm

I was reading posts on Nabisco about it so it may not be entirely true. But first gear really isn't meant to be shifted into unless you're completely stopped or moving at a snails pace. Otherwise it can cause wear and tear on the synchro, which then causes the whole grinding synchro problem.

On that note, I'm heading to NAPA to go get this mix right now haha.

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:00 am

Cool

Hope it works well for ya!

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:11 am

Well I put it in. So far it seems a little easier to shift into third (which I was having trouble doing earlier). I'll give another report in a couple days.

So far so good!

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:21 am

Cool, hope it keeps it up!

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:32 pm

Update!? asc_up.

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:39 pm

Oh uh, well nothing bad has happened! I totally forgot about this thread. Lol.

I'll admit that it's definitely MUCH easier to shift into any gear (no grinding), although I am somewhat worried because of a post on NASIOC about how craptastic the Uncle Scotty Cocktail is and how it's bad for your tranny. Hahaha. But so far, Specer's seems to be working very well for me.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:41 pm

hrm why would it be bad for your tranny?
i think ill follow spencers in this case then

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:43 pm

Yeah, I haven't had any problems with this one.

But yeah, if you search the Uncle Scotty one on NASIOC, someone (I believe it's actually someone on this board) had the cocktail tested and it came back with horrifying results lol.

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:45 pm

tested how? i wanna read this

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:48 pm

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... st24034470

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:43 pm

so i just read through all that and more. bad news im not using that.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... 06&fpart=2

tells why.^^

what would be the advantage of spencers setup versus some redline MT-90?

other than i cant find redline stuff anywhere...

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:58 pm

the syncromesh is what was bad in teh scotty's tranny cocktail.

*edit* evidently i dont need new tranny fluid hahahahahah*
fml, @ least i learned some stuff reading those threads

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:00 pm

Well I wonder how that compares to Royal Purples Synchromax...

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:04 pm

with the redline mt-90: from here: clickity

smart people wrote: Originally Posted By: Bror Jace
..................
Bror Jace wrote: I'd use Red Line MT-90 or Amsoil MTG as solid, reliable performers in this application (90 weight syncromesh fluids) and be done with it................

These oils would certainly ease up the synchro action in the Subaru transmission, especially at sub freezing temps, but they would also eat up the ring & pinion gear set that comprises the front differential inside the transmission.
-------------------------------------------------------

i don't need to mess w/ my tranny fluid evidently

but the above shows the compromise.

maybe on my next change

\

alot of people are using motul 300 and subaru 75w90 now too.

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:13 pm

Hmm... interesting..

Well my opinion on this whole thing is that I'm only trying to make the synchros work semi smoothly until I can rebuild the transmission with either WRX gears or RA gears.

Because well, I know that my transmission that has at least 200k miles on it now is not going to handle my 2.5L for very long at all once its fully broken in and tuned with hopefully 300hp atw.

So regardless of the potential negative effects in the longrun... the shortterm (the last year and hopefully the next 6 months) benefits have definitely been worth it.

Because at the rate that the second gear synchro was diminishing back in the summer of 07 I doubt there would be any synchro left at all now with a year and a half more abuse on it...

And that year and a half of use... has been harsher than the tranny has seen ever... two drag nights at PIR, and probably about 100hp more at the crank...

and 2nd gear still has a usable synchro

SubaruNation · Post by **SubaruNation** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:14 pm

oh yeah totally sir. im not smashing im just trying to learn what shtuff should go in my ride when i have to swap it out.

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