Transmission Cured

[FreeFlyFreak]

I stumbled across this thread a few weeks ago, and then lost it, took me forever to find it again so I am posting a link here so I can find the info I need in the future.
For anybody with tranny shifting woes, this seems like an easy thing to try.

Transmission Cured

I have driven over 500,000 miles in manual equipped vehicles. Never have I experienced a bigger POS than my MS3's transmission. I have had a 2nd to 3rd grind while flogging it since I bought the car new. I have installed a rear MM and Transmission mount, shifter bushings and it still grinded 3rd. I installed Amsoil MTG in the tranny @ 8K. A little smoother, but diff noise & still would grind 3rd. At 12k, I put in RedLine MT90. Grind was still there, but noise was a little less, but cold performance was worse. About 1k miles ago I installed Ford Manual Transaxle fluid # XT-M5-QS. I haven't experienced a grind Since. I actually have confidence that 3rd gear will engage smoothly everytime now. The transmission is a whole different animal now. It still isn't world class, but it's a million times better. Many have had luck with the MT90 and that's great for them. If you have a transmission with bad synchros and is difficult to live with, give the FORD fluid a try. It's been the best mod I've done by far.

I installed the Ford Synthetic and it made my MS3 borderline enjoyable to drive again

Just added this magic Motorcraft xt-m5-qs juice this week-end, mostly because of this post (and a few other confirming posts elsewhere) and I will just simply say: THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I can't say that enough. The difference in the shifting in my car is absolutely phenominal. And it's cold here and I just put it in. The thing is, this stuff is supposed to just get better and better up to 5000 miles. I honestly can't imagine that, as the difference this made in smooth shifting is really just incredible already. This is the best mod I've done yet. Again, sir... thank you!

And from a different site:

After sifting the web on the XT-M5-QS and finding out that it was doing well, I tried it. It is great! Shifting at any temp is excellent with the 1-2 gear grind a thing of the past. My trannie is virtually silent now which is assuring. It has been in my box for 8k miles so the stuff is no flash in the pan. Google XT-M5-QS and look for the Ford Chemicals web page and read about it. It was developed in Germany for some difficult shifting Getrag FWD boxes that Ford had in production.

Isnt our tranny a Getrag? think I remember reading that somewhere.

Anyway, in the past I didnt really have any specific "problem" but I can say my tranny has got worse as time has gone on.
Now in the colder weather it feels as if I have to "force" the car into each gear. I now have 20K miles on it, which is where the majority of the break-in/wear of the tranny occurs. I think I am just going to switch to this stuff and call it a day.