Nate...before you do the oil pan gasket..maybe check with your dealer if they recommend engine sealant on the gasket. The S2 does, I've never checked into the S1 though. Why have it leak again ... after a gasket like others of us..

That trans looked nice. When you say swapped to Syn...you mean only the amount that came out correct, or did you have it fully flushed and changed out to syn.

Bill: You have stated many times that synthetic transmission fluid does not cause problems/failures. I have agreed with you and still do agree it DOES NOT cause problem or failures in higher mileage transmissions. The basis for us saying that is that the transmission is possibly beginning to have issues and needs the clutch material/dirt in the fluid to keep a certain grit level up between components. In actuallity the trans is on it'* way out and any fluid change/flush is probably going to yield the same results. Synthetic may cause the parts to slip better, however it should not actually induce/cause any problems if a problem does not already exist.

I'll check with dealer on it...I may run a small bead just to be safe.

As for the trans, I just changed over what came out.....almost 9 qts worth.

And I believe what you're talking to Bill about, IIRC he'* talking about the flushing process finishing off tranny'*. Synthetic switchs in higher mile units, that'* still kinda truth/urban legend....I kinda don't wanna switch my engine over to synthetic just because of the miles.

The synthetic does have a significantly increased amount of detergents in it. Yet is big cause of the concern. I don't know wether to say right or wrong with the change over in high miles.