Redline D4 ATF fluid in manual trans

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

Was going to use the D4 but glad I decided to stick with the BMW LT-2 fluid. I'm seeing LT-3 fluids now. Don't know if it got superseded to 3.

The fluid they gave me at the dealership was LT-3. I know it is expensive, so I am open to substitutes, I just want them to be comparable. I am excited to try the Redline MT90 in 30k miles.

[pbonsalb]

There is also an LT4, which is a 75W90 spec but apparently not quite as viscous as RL MT90. If you worry about these things just buy the fluid BMW currently specs.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by DreamTime

Awesome, thank you. I think I will try the Redline MT90 next time. That is the same type of gear oil as the BMW stuff I ended up using, 75w90. Perfect!

Perhaps this was the answer I was looking for when I started this thread

Just to clarify...People rightfully consider the D4ATF since it is a GL4 lube which matches the OE spec. There are likely other properties about the fluid which aren't optimal.

Didn't say D4 is bad...just not the ideal lube.

[Scharbag]

When I called Redline, that is the fluid they recommended. Might be I am a sheeple, but I trust them on this. My trans feels fine with the D4 ATF. It also felt fine with whatever was in it prior to me changing it cause I am a bit of a neurotic freak. Hell, for $40 in fluid, I will gladly change it every year to keep things running well. Especially when a tank of go juice cost me $75...

Cheers,

[DreamTime]

Got kinda busy there for a couple days...

I have plenty of "real life" friends who use D4 ATF with no issue, plus there's the feedback I have gotten here. I'm not going to tell people to not use it since the majority of people I have talked to have had no problems, although I won't be using it again just because of my experience. Nothing against Redline though, and I will definitely be checking out their MT90.

I really appreciate everyone's input! I just wanted to know what other people were using and/or experiencing, as I totally nerd out on stuff like this. I also prefer many perspectives to just my own. Thanks, guys

[kyoo]

bumping but anyone use Red Line 75w85? middle ground between MTL & MT90.

Will be using D4... in the power steering

[Iyzmi]

In my experience, OEM fluid performs well in all conditions - daily driving in very cold winters and hot summers, and the occasional track day. I see no reason to use anything aftermarket. I'll also note that I felt absolutely no difference when I changed my original fluid with around 35k miles on it.

For the rear diff, I use the original Castrol fluid BMW used to use before they added friction modifier and jacked the price sky high. My diff is happy and quiet with the original fluid, and theoretically there is some (minimal) performance advantage to having less FM. The original Castrol fluid is still OEM for Mercedes so it's easy to find.

[R3dliner]

Originally Posted by kyoo

Will be using D4... in the power steering

I would not put in D4 in your power steering. The cap should say CHF 11S only

[R3dliner]

In cold weather the OEM fluid is very notchy in the beginning and smooths out once the car gets into operating temperature.

[pucsicsal]

Originally Posted by DreamTime

I really appreciate everyone's input! I just wanted to know what other people were using and/or experiencing, as I totally nerd out on stuff like this. I also prefer many perspectives to just my own. Thanks, guys

Hello, DreamTime. I also experienced a whine from the D4 fluid on my E92 328 6MT.

At first I put in the MTL, but it was terrible and made all my shifts even more notchy (in SoCal weather). Car had 50k on it. I then swapped it out for the D4 and it was night and day. Love that fluid. A soft high-pitched whine did appear shortly thereafter, but it was only at certain RPM range and only off-throttle. Kinda that sound that straightcut gears make but only mine was barely audible. Car is at 110k now (changed fluid again with D4 at 100k) and no problems and the whine didn't get better or worse.

On the other-hand I just picked up a 2011 M3 6MT with 30k on the clock. Putting in D4 it should make everything even nicer.

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by pucsicsal

Hello, DreamTime. I also experienced a whine from the D4 fluid on my E92 328 6MT.

At first I put in the MTL, but it was terrible and made all my shifts even more notchy (in SoCal weather). Car had 50k on it. I then swapped it out for the D4 and it was night and day. Love that fluid. A soft high-pitched whine did appear shortly thereafter, but it was only at certain RPM range and only off-throttle. Kinda that sound that straightcut gears make but only mine was barely audible. Car is at 110k now (changed fluid again with D4 at 100k) and no problems and the whine didn't get better or worse.

On the other-hand I just picked up a 2011 M3 6MT with 30k on the clock and 6th gear sucks donkey arse. Putting in D4 as soon as I can hope it will help!

Hello pucsicsal,

Interesting feedback, thanks! Yeah.. you know, when I first swapped to the D4 the shifting felt amazing. I mean, seriously like butter. I can still remember even though it was almost a year ago. It just felt that good. I couldn't tell if it was just because the fluid hadn't been changed at all until that point (maybe 85-90k miles, I bought it like that), or if it was really that much of an improvement on the fluid itself. After switching back to the OEM fluid I have yet to feel that same smoothness in the shifting, although the whine did go away. You absolutely nailed it on the sound of that whine I heard though, as well as it being rpm specific. I could still barely hear it while on the throttle, but it did become more pronounced once I lifted off the throttle to push in the clutch -- at which point the whine would go away completely. I think maybe it was more audible to me than others, as I had many friends ride with me and they could hear it, but it did not seem to be as noticeable to them as it was to me. I guess I just don't like my transmission whining at all. I hadn't thought about this for a while until I was cleaning my garage out the other day and I tossed the little bit of OEM fluid that was leftover from when I changed it, and it got me thinking. Now, after reading your experience I'll be thinking about it more. Thanks for sharing!

Btw, congrats on the new ride! Any pics? What's up with 6th gear, just notchy or hard to engage?

[pucsicsal]

Originally Posted by DreamTime

Hello pucsicsal,

Interesting feedback, thanks! Yeah.. you know, when I first swapped to the D4 the shifting felt amazing. I mean, seriously like butter. I can still remember even though it was almost a year ago. It just felt that good. I couldn't tell if it was just because the fluid hadn't been changed at all until that point (maybe 85-90k miles, I bought it like that), or if it was really that much of an improvement on the fluid itself. After switching back to the OEM fluid I have yet to feel that same smoothness in the shifting, although the whine did go away. You absolutely nailed it on the sound of that whine I heard though, as well as it being rpm specific. I could still barely hear it while on the throttle, but it did become more pronounced once I lifted off the throttle to push in the clutch -- at which point the whine would go away completely. I think maybe it was more audible to me than others, as I had many friends ride with me and they could hear it, but it did not seem to be as noticeable to them as it was to me. I guess I just don't like my transmission whining at all. I hadn't thought about this for a while until I was cleaning my garage out the other day and I tossed the little bit of OEM fluid that was leftover from when I changed it, and it got me thinking. Now, after reading your experience I'll be thinking about it more. Thanks for sharing!

Btw, congrats on the new ride! Any pics? What's up with 6th gear, just notchy or hard to engage?

6th gear on the E92 M3 grinds going into gear from 5th (definitely more than notchy). If you match the revs or double clutch, it's fine and no grind. I didn't notice it on the test drive because I only took it up to 60mph. I remember reading somewhere that the BMW trannys don't like skip shifts from 4-6, so maybe that's what the previous owner(s) did. Either way, it's not the end of the world and I'm hoping the new fluid helps. If not, I can always go back to OEM like you did and lose the $200 or so the shop is quoting me.

Gonna clean the car (already beautiful, but I go for the Q-tips in the air vents type of clean etc. until I'm happy) before I post a new thread with pics

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by pucsicsal

6th gear on the E92 M3 grinds going into gear from 5th (definitely more than notchy). If you match the revs or double clutch, it's fine and no grind. I didn't notice it on the test drive because I only took it up to 60mph. I remember reading somewhere that the BMW trannys don't like skip shifts from 4-6, so maybe that's what the previous owner(s) did. Either way, it's not the end of the world and I'm hoping the new fluid helps. If not, I can always go back to OEM like you did and lose the $200 or so the shop is quoting me.

Gonna clean the car (already beautiful, but I go for the Q-tips in the air vents type of clean etc. until I'm happy) before I post a new thread with pics

Cool, hope the new fluid helps! Changing out fluid is not (relatively) expensive or time consuming, so I didn't feel bad about having to switch it out back to back like I did. The only part that sucked was that the shop who put in the D4 stripped the plugs, so that part of the job was kind of a B for me to deal with when I changed it myself lol.

Can't wait to see pics of the car!!

[vincE92M3]

I have Redline MTF and it's made my shifts feel much better.

[Scharbag]

I am going to swap from D4-ATF to MTL. The D4-ATF seems OK but I do have gear clatter at idle. Likely not going to change with the MTL but it costs me very little to try.

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

I am going to swap from D4-ATF to MTL. The D4-ATF seems OK but I do have gear clatter at idle. Likely not going to change with the MTL but it costs me very little to try.

Cool! I just changed my fluid a few weeks ago, but I totally spaced this whole discussion I started and just went with the BMW stuff *facepalm* Thanks for reminding me that I want to try the Redline MTL next time. I will add it to my never ending Car Project List right now so I remember

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by DreamTime

Cool! I just changed my fluid a few weeks ago, but I totally spaced this whole discussion I started and just went with the BMW stuff *facepalm* Thanks for reminding me that I want to try the Redline MTL next time. I will add it to my never ending Car Project List right now so I remember

SC is pretty warm typically right? Perhaps MT-90 would be a good option for you to try. I used to run MT-90 in my VW with a lighter flywheel - still had gear clatter when warm but it was less annoying than MTL.

I am also going to install an X-Pipe to make it louder - that way it will be harder to hear the gear clatter...

I have many items on my list:

Auto-solutions SS
RKP Sport X-pipe
Front O2 sensors (absolutely no reason to do this I am sure but fukit - rears were recently changed due to one being cross threaded)
Oil level sensor (most ridiculous item installed on this car)
Oil change due to sensor (Redline 5w50)
Transmission oil change (Redline MTL)
Diff fluid change (Redline 75w140)

Should be a full days worth of work once all the parts arrive. Thankfully I have a QuickJack. This is the first time I am going to test the FCP warranty for oil - wish me luck!

Cheers,

[G80indy]

When it's time I'll go with MTL

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

SC is pretty warm typically right? Perhaps MT-90 would be a good option for you to try. I used to run MT-90 in my VW with a lighter flywheel - still had gear clatter when warm but it was less annoying than MTL.

I am also going to install an X-Pipe to make it louder - that way it will be harder to hear the gear clatter...

Lol, it's funny you mention that... since I've been driving around with my stock muffler vs the ATAK I notice a lot more little noises that I had gotten used to being drowned out by the sound of my exhaust I suppose. I really miss my tasty downshifts lmao... can't wait to swap back to my regular setup soon.

Originally Posted by Scharbag

I have many items on my list:

Auto-solutions SS
RKP Sport X-pipe
Front O2 sensors (absolutely no reason to do this I am sure but fukit - rears were recently changed due to one being cross threaded)
Oil level sensor (most ridiculous item installed on this car)
Oil change due to sensor (Redline 5w50)
Transmission oil change (Redline MTL)
Diff fluid change (Redline 75w140)

Should be a full days worth of work once all the parts arrive. Thankfully I have a QuickJack. This is the first time I am going to test the FCP warranty for oil - wish me luck!

Cheers,

Awesome! That's a great list. Some big things, some little things... and there's nothing quite like spending a day working on your car and then enjoying the results of your efforts I am pleased to report that the massive list I created for work to be completed on the M3 during 2019 is about 80% complete. Now I have started adding stuff for next year lol. And I'll be picking up my race car project 330ci by the end of the month, so... the cycle continues

[G80indy]

330ci race car? E46 - ?
What LSD are you thinking of? Have pondered it for a while for this
(has all Redline fluids in it)

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by 330indy

330ci race car? E46 - ?
What LSD are you thinking of? Have pondered it for a while for this
(has all Redline fluids in it)

Nice ride

Yes, an E46 330ci. I haven't gotten that far yet, still need the car. But we've been looking pretty seriously for the last month or 2. Finding mostly verts or automatic coupes though in our 300+/- miles radius lol sigh... had a few promising candidates but they sold FAST. As long as I have a track worthy ride by early March 2020 for my first scheduled track event, I'm good though.

As far when I do start making mod decisions, I'll be utilizing the communities over at bimmerforums.com and e46fanatics.com for searching/asking questions/posting about my car's progress

[quiksi]

Glad I dug around and found this… a few months after switching to D4 I started getting the whine in low gears when the fluid isn’t warmed up. I think I’ll have to switch back to OEM.