Kizashi Club

All the recommendations I've been posting are from the USA Service Manual that Avluis hosts on his site http://avnet.synology.me/kizashi/Xml/SAW10A/index.html . So they're actually USA recommendations.

I certainly don't use 0W20 - not when it gets to 45 C where I live (and rarely below 5 C.)

For the gearbox oil I'd be tempted to use the recommended 75W80, but only because I have had shift issues in the past. (Thinner oils would normally be recommended to fix that; I've got no idea what Suzuki changed it to under warranty.)

PS: In the USA pdf based 2010 Owner's Manual http://kizashiclub.com/OwnersManual.pdf it does actually say 75W80 is the recommended gearbox oil (on page 7-22). The change interval is also on page 7-5, 7-6, 7-9, 7-10, 7-13, 7-14.

It does recommend 5W30 engine oil on 7-15.

I've just checked my Aussie handbook and it lists 5W30 as "preferred" (from below -30C to above +40C); but also goes further with a chart including 15W40 (good from -15C upwards), 10W40 and 10W30 (both good from -20C upwards.)

As for why the online manual lists 0W20..... no idea? Most likely for the best fuel economy.

KuroNekko wrote:My gear shifts are decent and are an improvement over the stock fluid. However, I sometimes have difficultly shifting to 1st and Reverse. It feels like the syncro not engaging correctly. I don't have much issue with 2nd or any other gears.

The cars still makes the gear noise in 2nd gear at low RPMs but it has always done that.

I wish Suzuki made a better shifter like Mazda or Honda, but the throws are medium and not as bad as many other manuals found in lower-grade cars.

Wondering why you chose MT-90 over MT-85 or MTL. Is it because of previous experience with MT-90 and not the others? Or have you had experience with the others? Or heard that MT-90 was better than the others? It would seem to me that MTL 75w-80 would be smoother shifting than MT-90 75w-90.

I have not had a problem with my forward gears. Reverse sometimes will not engage and I will hear the gears grinding against each other. Or a momentary engagement then it pops out and the gears grind. I have reduced this considerably by keeping rearward pressure on the shifter.

redmed wrote: Wondering why you chose MT-90 over MT-85 or MTL. Is it because of previous experience with MT-90 and not the others? Or have you had experience with the others? Or heard that MT-90 was better than the others? It would seem to me that MTL 75w-80 would be smoother shifting than MT-90 75w-90.

I have not had a problem with my forward gears. Reverse sometimes will not engage and I will hear the gears grinding against each other. Or a momentary engagement then it pops out and the gears grind. I have reduced this considerably by keeping rearward pressure on the shifter.

I chose MT-90 for many of the reasons you guessed.
First, I've used MT-90 before with great results. I used it in my Mazda3 that I drove before the Kizashi. Before Redline MT-90, I had Royal Purple Max Gear which also was a great improvement over the factory fill.
I mainly used Redline MT-90 because it was recommended by Mazda3 owners and even the dealer for the Mazda3. The dealer carried MTL but recommended MT-90 for the smoothest shifting. For that car, MT-90 was the preferred weight. While it may seem irrelevant for the Kizashi, I simply found MT-90 as the preferred Redline manual transmission gear oil even for other cars when researching online.

Another big reason is because of the VW camper. A VW parts site also sold Redline MT-90 as the recommended manual transmission fluid for the vehicle. I bought numerous bottles of it and used it for the camper. By using MT-90 in both cars, I could simply buy one weight and use the left overs on either car that needed it. I want to add that MT-90 also made a huge difference in the shifting performance of the 4 speed in the VW.

Also, I found MT-90 more readily available from the sites I'd buy it from. Other sites did not have MT-85 and MTL was not as popular as MT-90.

Lastly, I don't think it really matters too much. I live in an area where the difference in the weight would still be acceptable. Maybe it would make a bit of a difference in shifting, but I am already very pleased with the difference MT-90 made over the factory fill. Whether it's the synthetic formula or the difference in weight, going with MT-90 was a vast improvement.

All that being said, I may get the "correct" weight next time and go with MTL just to try it and see if there is a difference.

I may also experiment with engine oil and deviate from 5W-30 especially since I want to try German Castrol and that comes in 0W-30. The reason why is because it's one of the few "true" synthetic readily available now that Mobil 1 supposedly changed their formula to lower grade stock. I'm also finding Mobil 1 to not be as good as Pennzoil Platinum and Pennzoil Ultra based on oil burn-off and smoothness/quietness of the engine since I made the switch. I'm sure it's still a great oil, but I'm willing to try different stuff.

I also experience the shifting issue into Reverse occasionally that you described. The issue with 1st gear is very rare and not really a concern to me.

Thanks KuroNekko, I will be changing my Trans oil soon, I just turned 40K in my Kiz, based on your experience with Redline I'm probably going with MT-90. In a couple weeks I'm going to auto parts store that has a given me great advice in the past and say Hi to a old friend and ask his opinion. This store carries RedLine products so what they stock will also be a deciding factor. Also thanks for the excellent step by step tutorial.

I have been using Pennzoil Platinum in my Kiz until the last change when I used some NAPA synthetic oil I got on sale. I have about 4k with the NAPA oil and I noticed yesterday more mechanical noise from my engine than I have experienced with Pennzoil Platinum. It may just be because I had just gotten off the X-way (after driving 50+ miles)and was idling in a quiet parking lot. I'm mildly parodied now and I'm going to listen more closely now.

Redline makes MTL in 75w80 and it's also GL4. Sounds like a winner (if you can find it)

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

bootymac wrote:Redline makes MTL in 75w80 and it's also GL4. Sounds like a winner (if you can find it)

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

MTL is also under consideration. The main consideration is what can I get locally.

Personally, I care more about cold viscosity than hot so despite MT-90 being a 90 weight when hot, it's actually the same 75 weight in cold temperatures as the recommended grade like MTL. It's another factor why I didn't mind using MT-90.

Also, while Suzuki claims that Suzuki Gear Oil 75W-80 is highly recommended, 75W-85 and 75W-90 is listed as acceptable in all temperature ranges.

This is taken straight from the Owner's Manual:

redmed wrote:

bootymac wrote:Redline makes MTL in 75w80 and it's also GL4. Sounds like a winner (if you can find it)

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=45&pcid=7

MTL is also under consideration. The main consideration is what can I get locally.

You live in the United States of Amazon:

MTL:
MT85:
MT90:

Here's an interesting TSB I came across about 75w90 and 75w80:

TSB: 05-10-11

DESCRIPTION
The manual transmission oil changed from 75W-90 to 75W-80 during production of the 2009 Mazda5 and 2010 Mazda3. Vehicles produced before the above production date use 75W-90. Vehicles produced on or after the date use 75W-80.

NOTE: Some related parts changed due to the oil specification change.

When it becomes necessary to replace the manual transmission oil, always refer to the Owners Manual.

NOTE: 
•If 75W-90 is used in transmissions designed for 75W-80, it may result in reduced fuel efficiency and/or deterioration of shift feel when cold.

•If 75W-80 is used in transmissions designed for 75W-90, it may result in gear rattle noise.

Doesn't seem like there's anything to gain by using 75w90. I'd just stick with what's specified.

Fuel economy should be better with the lower viscosity and easier shifts when warm.