I got into a "discussion" about automobile and truck manual transmission gear oil and someone said they use ATF and there are lots manufactures that use ATF OE. I have never heard of any manufacture's spec for ATF OE or as an alternative gear oil to use in a car or truck manual transmission. I know that some old vintage motorcycle dirt bikes used it OE but never a car or truck? I personally wouldn't use it but surprised a manufacture would recommend using it or coming in the trans OE?

833od had it for a few years iirc.

All 833 trannys came with ATF from the factory. Several transfer cases use ATF such as the NP231 and NP208.

I'm not big on manuals but off the top of my head, T-5's, T-56's, Mazda/Ford M50D's and Tremec's all use ATF. I used to work down the street from a transmission shop, spent more time there than I'd like to have...47RE, ugh.

My second car after high school (class of '67) was a '66 Barracuda Formula S, 4 spd. (first was a 64 Belvedere 426S, auto) This was in Vermont.

The S came to me at around 23k miles, I had no history on it. It had gear oil in the trans, and on any cold morning during the winter, the car would start, but letting the clutch out would stall the car, at high idle on the choke. Shifting was nearly impossible.

I would rev it up, let the clutch out, and have to spend about 5 minutes sitting in a 20 below car before it would idle on its own, clutch out.

This didn't last too long, I had seen a service bulletin about this, and Chrysler's answer was ATF. As soon as I could, I drained and swapped the gear lube for atf.

After that, my main complaint with the car was the fast manual steering, on Vermont's pot holed roads the kick back in the steering was a bear.

Didn't keep that car long, back then there was always something interesting coming in trade at 31 63436.

Be careful with the word "all".

SRT-4 Neons use ATF-4. They are all 5 speed manual

Going back a ways, Isuzu P'up/Chevy Luv trucks used Dexron in their manual transmissions. My dad bought several of the diesels with "transmission problems" caused by being filled with 80W90. One of the biggest PITA transmissions to remove that I've done in 35+ years in the business.

Gears (like in the rear axle) require Gear Oil for optimum durability.
ATF fluids (thinner) only benefit the operation of the sync rings.
Depends on which area of operation you're most concerned with.
Ease of shifting during cold startups or long term protection of the gear train. .

All of the Chrysler front wheel drive manual transmissions used ATF+4 from the factory. SRT also recommends ATF+4 for the NV4500 transmissions now. There are many others that use ATF.

my 1984 daytona 2.2/5spd had factory ATF fill.
forgot to add, it was a front wheel drive K car.

In addition to the rear drive transmission, add to that the FWD transaxles found in the 323/Escort/Tracer/derivatives.

I think the O.P. has his answer by now...

The NVT350 (first generation Neons) are an exception. That oddball transmission used its own special gear lube.

NVT-350 lubricant

The 4spd OD unit in my 76 RoadRunner, had ATF in it . . . when I got it rebuilt, that's what went back into it . . . and according to FSM - "DEXRON" Type Automatic Transmission Fluid . . .

Having had both manual transmissions with 80/90 gear lube and ATF, I can tell you the ATF is a lot easier to deal with in cold temps. I can also tell you the ATF can identify a seal in poor condition a lot faster then 80/90 will. I also believe the ATF lets you have noisier gear boxes on those hot long driving days then the 80/90 did, but that might be because the ATF trans has nearly 200K on it and I don't remember many 80/90 gear boxes that had much more then 120K miles on them.

I can also tell you the two lubes don't mix well, it would be good to choose one or the other, freshen the lube, and stick with your choice. Much of the "newer stuff" (mid 70s and newer) use ATF and the older stuff used 80/90. Unless your manual trans is newer then the 1990s, and you do mostly warn weather use, I would probably go with he 80/90. Newer stuff, ATF. Gene

Hi . Most Jeeps with manual tranny's also use Mopar Manual Transmission Lubricant part # 04874464AB . Same as the Pennzoil Synchromesh Fluid , very good fluid , shifts Easy in the extreme Cold . Ronnie

I mean... have you had your head in a hole in the ground :P? I think at this point most manwells use ATF, every tremec has since the T5, so every modern muscle car with a 6 speed uses atf...

Well how about ATF in the rear axle of a 8-3/4?
After all; it has gears very like an a-833.
Both are reduction type setups.

Yeah and how about in a 2-stroke or 4-stroke motorcycle transmission that also has a wet clutch and constant mesh gears (no synchro's)? Can I use it in my Harley transmission?