You can see that all Honda transmissions- be it the D,B,H,F series- were designed to use motor oils, not ordinary MTF else they'd have advised for that in the owner manual, just like they did for ATF.
Now, what happened in 96? All the cars, engine/transmission remained that same but Honda suddenly started to advertise for their MTF. It's because before 1996 they didn't have an MTF, ordinary SF,SG,SH motor oil was good enough back then. But with the introduction of newer grades with lower zinc and lower phosphorus additives, ordinary motor oil was becoming lesser and lesser suitable to be used in their transmission. Hence they had to come up with their own MTF.
Today we're not advised to pour motor oil coz newer oils lack in vital additives, especially zinc compounds; those are absolutely necessary to work under extreme stress condition. But thank fully diesel oils haven't changed much and are still suitable for the job.
And if you're not sure, and only want to go for some MTF, what's wrong with OEM at first place?
