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2004 Civic EX... Had a tranny rebuild. Before it was rebuilt I complained that shifting into reverse had been hard at times. He said that the syncros were fine. He put in Mobil 1 75-90 synthetic, and told me it should make the shifting in reverse fine. Was that a good idea?

 
Rep Power: 210

My guess is Honda (OEM) fluid for 7th gens would be the best option. Check your car's service manual or call a local Honda dealer parts or repair department and ask them what is the recommended fluid.

 
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Transmission arnt like differentials, so were in a differential you would be fine with any gear oil around 80

Such as
-75w
-80w
-90w
-75w80
-80w90

Synthetic vs non, plus GL4 or GL5

Transmission can vary with regards to the materials used within them, so specific fluids are best.

 
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The trouble is that the recommended fluid does not solve the problem. The tranny rebuilder said that he was advised by another tranny rebuilder to use the Mobil One synthetic 75-90 to solve the problem.

This is the problem., I need an answer from someone who is not guessing. I can guess. I was hoping someone here would know. If I ask Honda they will probably have to tell me to use their own oil. I know that.

Thanks for the suggestion... Gene

 
Rep Power: 228

Hard shifting into reverse isnt normal, but hunting for reverse is, for the seventh gen.

As in, it might not be lined up, making you have to push extra hard to get it in, which you dont want to do.

Try giving it a bit of gas while shifting into reverse, and it pops right into place, that is normal.

 
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To get around it another tranny person told me to do the following. It works.

Shift to neutral. Then shift to first and second. Now, shift to neural and then reverse. That works. When I was having my tranny rebuilt I asked if the reverse problem could be fixed. He said he will look at the synchros to see if anything was wrong. Later he told me that the gears looked fine, and that another tranny guy told him to use the Mobil synth 75-90 to solve the problem. Its awfully thick oil.. so I am wondering if one thing solves may cause another problem.

At least I am learning that the problem I was having is something normal with that tranny.

 
Rep Power: 210

Guess who thinks that your answer is coming off as an unappreciative azzhole?

 
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Sorry ...I guess that's how I came across. . I am just not wanting to guess when this winter my tranny might cause a big problem. I am going to have to have the fluid drained and replaced with Honda fluid and live with the gear jam problem if I do.

Sorry again... did not mean to come off that way. But, I realize I did.

 
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Just checked with the man who rebuilt my manual tranny.... He agreed that if I lived up north it would not be the greatest idea. But.. living in Georgia's climate it can be a benefit.He also added that he has done the Mobil 1 synthetic with many rebuilds, not just mine. I was under the impression that mine was an experiment.

It pays to go to the horse's mouth...

Thanks for the replies, Gene

 
Rep Power: 210

Water under the bridge. Hope you get it sorted out.

 
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Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 511

That reverse thing is quite common among 6th and 7thgens. Prolly even 5thgens too. From what I recall reading, it's a slight misalignment of the synchros, and that "trick" to shift into gear then into reverse has been the common workaround. In my 2002, it was habit for me to shift into 1st or 3rd, then pull back into reverse when backing out of parking spots.

Alternatively, you can lift up ever so slightly on the clutch (like, right when the clutch starts to contact the flywheel) and it'll line everything up to be able to pull the stick into reverse

 
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Start in neutral? Then lift up on the clutch as you begin to shift into reverse?

 
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What I used to do was pull into reverse. If it hit that "wall," I'd slightly lift on the clutch to get things moving, and eventually it'd slip into gear

 
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I will have to see how that goes if reverse comes back as a problem. So far, since getting the car back there have been no more problem like before. But, its usually when its colder than it is now when it happens.

So far, the Mobil 1 75-90w that the rebuilder put in seems to be working fine. Feels like its coating the parts as it works in.

 
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Sorry for being "blunt" with you.

 
Rep Power: 511

Like I said above, it's a known problem, or quirk, rather, with 6th and 7thgens. If you Google "hard shifting into reverse civic" you'll see lots of links to forum posts with the same problem. Fresh fluid lessens the problem, but it's still there.

 
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Got it. Thanks. What was good is to learn from all this is that its not just my car. Now its no big deal.