Tranny additive???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 337
Likes: 1
From: Mechanicsville Md
Tranny additive???
I have a 2002 coupe 6 speed and I changed my tranny fluid last year going to Pennzoil synchromesh. I've read allot of discussions and opinions of which fluid is best so I choose the synthetic Pennzoil. I noticed that sometimes going into 1st was hard. Sometimes I had to go to neutral let out the clutch, and try it again. It recovers fine. I added Zee Maxx tranny additive to see if that helped and as far as I can tell it's much smoother and no issues with going into first. My question is, has anyone else used this product? If so, what do you think. If it's not recommended, tell me quickly so I can change it. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
I've not used Penzoil, but when I had issues with difficult shifting (using the GM tranny fluid), I switched to Amsoil Torque Drive fluid, and the difference was unbelievable. Mine is a 98 and it caused no issues with the paper gaskets. Had it in the trans for 3 years now and shifts are as smooth as butter. 
Zuti
Zuti
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 122
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FTC Sues Speedway Motorsports and Oil-Chem Subsidiary
Performance Claims For zMax Auto Additives Are Unsubstantiated, FTC Charges
The Federal Trade Commission has filed suit in U. S. District Court seeking to halt false and misleading advertising for zMax auto additives and has asked the court to order refunds to consumers who bought the products. The agency alleges that enhanced performance claims for the product are unsubstantiated, that tests cited to support performance claims actually demonstrated that motor oil treated with zMax produced more than twice as much bearing corrosion than motor oil alone, and that the three different products - an engine additive, a fuel line additive and a transmission additive - were all actually tinted mineral oil. zMax is manufactured by Oil-Chem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Speedway, based in Concord, North Carolina, operates NASCAR race tracks in the South and in California, in addition to marketing the zMax products.
According to the FTC, the CRC L38 test is a standard auto industry tool to measure the bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils. In February/March 1997, an independent laboratory performed two CRC L38 tests of zMax for Speedway and Oil Chem. In those tests, motor oil treated with zMax produced more than twice as much bearing corrosion as motor oil alone. The complaint also states that the defendants fabricated one "report" from the two test reports, eliminating the bearing corrosion results and all other negative test results, and then used that report and the "official laboratory results" - similarly edited to remove detrimental data results - as sales tools in the infomercial and on the zMax Web site.
You're messing with us - right?
Last edited by smartadze; Jul 29, 2015 at 10:47 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 394
From: Rocky Mountains
At 15 years old and 45 thousand miles my car still had the original transmission fluid in it. I know there is no recommendation in the owner's manual to change it.
But holy cow. I changed it with the AC Delco manual transmission fluid and the difference was huge. Still notchy, but now it slides into the gears with less effort and more precision. Reverse is especially easier to find. It used to be quite balky in the morning. It really feels like a new transmission. Overall the single best thing I've done to improve the car's performance. The old fluid didnt look that bad. Still red, it wasn't burnt looking. But it was obviously worn out.
I see absolutely no reason to put any type of additive in the transmission fluid. If the symptoms come back, I'll change the fluid again. But I think I'll be good for another 50k miles.
But holy cow. I changed it with the AC Delco manual transmission fluid and the difference was huge. Still notchy, but now it slides into the gears with less effort and more precision. Reverse is especially easier to find. It used to be quite balky in the morning. It really feels like a new transmission. Overall the single best thing I've done to improve the car's performance. The old fluid didnt look that bad. Still red, it wasn't burnt looking. But it was obviously worn out.
I see absolutely no reason to put any type of additive in the transmission fluid. If the symptoms come back, I'll change the fluid again. But I think I'll be good for another 50k miles.
