Could the wrong tranny oil cause this

Depends:

Distance traveled after fluid change.
Driving style after fluid change.

Way back when and AFAI remember Honda had authorized on a limited basis substituting ATF for the then specified 10W-30,40 engine oil in MT's. There were a _few_ slight "whines" that were "cured" by the different properties of the ATF.

The _biggest_ problem with ATF vs. engine oil (or now Honda's special MTF blend) is its shear strength and the differential pinion gears. If you spin one wheel these gears must "walk" _very_ rapidly on the side gears (in the differential). These oil shearing forces can _rapidly_ cause lubrication failure, gears seizing to the pinion shaft and total transmission failure as this pin slings out of its housing and grinds a hole in the case.

Shaft bearings only :?: Not likely. Sorry I know its not what you want to hear.

HTH!

ATF doesn't have the correct properties for proper syncro engagement. This will cause the syncro's to wear prematurely and gears will start grinding.

Insightful Trekker said:

Sorry I know its not what you want to hear.

HTH!

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LoL no no, what you said is exactly what im looking for because it answers some questions, I wasnt looking for any specific answer, just if that could cause that sort of failure.

thanks for the replies

Actually, while on this subject, is there a nation brand transmission oil that I can have put in without using Honda's? or should I just buy hondas tranny oil? I know that with the coolant you have to use honda because it has special properties, is it the same for this?

thanks in advance

I've read a few times on the HADA club forum (honda owners that race their cars on the track) that the honda manual transmission fluid (MTF) works the best. Many of them tried other MTF including high quality expensive synthetic stuff, but they all went back to the Honda MTF because it provides the best shifting feel in high performance and daily driving conditions.

Guillermo is correct.

There is a "degraded" feel to the subtleties of shift quality with any substitute. However, a good brand of 10W-30 or 10W-40 _engine_ oil will be what Honda specified for the years prior to their special blend of this same base oil. Just be aware that the service interval for _plain vanilla_ oil was 30K (miles) rather than the new 90K with Genuine Honda MTF.

Personally I use Mobile1 synthetic for the purpose. Have for several different Honda models I've owned for an aggregate of 500K+ miles with no internal repairs needed. 263K miles was the maximum on one model. Shifting is a bit "notchier".

Also be aware that Honda did publish a "warning" that using synthetics can cause inadequate friction with the synchro's and gear rake may occur. You'd feel / hear it when shifting, a slight grind of the locking ring dog teeth. IMO if you then promptly return to a non synthetic or the Honda brand you will have suffered little or no damage.

HTH!