Piston Slap: And the Best Tranny is . . .

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

Jim from Regina, Saskatchewan, asks:

Automatic transmissions obviously require some upkeep to keep them in good condition. What about manual transmissions? What sort of maintenance needs to be performed on them, if any, to maximize their life? Is the reliability of them higher enough that more drivers should be considering them? I’ve owned five cars with manual transmissions (transaxles really), and only one of them ever gave me trouble. It was a 1990 Hyundai Excel (I can see the readers’ eyes rolling already). With almost 190,000 km on the clock, it became impossible to downshift into second without double clutching. I have learned enough about manual trannies since then to think that it was probably a failed synchro, and my mechanic’s advice at the time (“Live with it.”) was probably good, considering the likely cost of correcting it and the value of the car.

I drive manuals because I like the control, and the lower purchase cost is a bonus, but I imagine in my head that I’m going to get a longer service life, too. I wonder how accurate my assessment is.

Sajeev answers:

There are some durable automatic transmissions/axles that only need regular fluid changes to last 200k miles or more, easily outlasting the owner’s interest in the vehicle. But considering the lower price point, less complicated internals and (YMMV) fuel economy benefit, I am inclined to agree with you.


But this cannot be a cut and dry answer. The caveats involve an owner that knows how to make a clutch last (using just enough throttle to up/downshift smoothly while not wasting gas) and shifts smoothly to keep the synchros happy.

Bonus! A Piston Slap Nugget of Wisdom:

Who says TTAC doesn’t give GM credit when it’s due? I’ve personally seen GM’s “Synchromesh” fluid work wonders on GM, Ford, BMW and Nissan gearboxes, turning hard-to-shift cogs into child’s play. I wouldn’t be surprised if Synchromesh would’ve fixed that Hyundai’s worn out synchros, too. And at $15-ish a quart, you won’t break the bank saving an old tranny.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • T2 T2 on May 15, 2009

    Clumsy me, I scanned your post, Bytor, and missed that last bit on the HSD. I apologise.

  • Threeer Threeer on May 15, 2009

    Thinking back to the manual tranny on our (then brand new) 1989 Honda CRX Si still brings a smile to my face. Light, precise...why the heck can't they all be that much fun? As for my current whip, the clutch action in my '06 Fusion reminds me more of driving the camp's John Deere...no, wait a minute...the clutch on the tractor has lighter touch than that behemoth in the Fusion! Stop and go really is NO fun with that car. While I've never owned a Miata, I have test driven a few and do like the stick action, along with the action of the '07 Civic Si I tested two days ago.

  • Master Baiter "That said, the Inflation Reduction Act apparently does run afoul of WTO rules..."Pfft. The Biden administration doesn't care about rules. The Supreme Court said they couldn't forgive student load debt; they did it anyway. Decorum and tradition says you don't prosecute former presidents; they are doing it anyway. They made the CDC suspend evictions though they had no constitutional authority to do so.
  • 1995 SC Good. To misquote Sheryl Crow "If it makes them unhappy, it can't be that bad"
  • 1995 SC The letters on the hatch aren't big enough. hard pass
  • Ajla Those letters look like they are from AutoZone.
  • Analoggrotto Kia EV9 was voted the best vehicle in the world and this is the best TOYOTA can do? Nice try, next.
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