Weekend maintenance on the '01

[Michaelsloft]

Went ahead and drained the fluid again and installed the new filter. Then refilled with Red Line synthetic. After we get a few miles on the '91, I will do it.

View attachment 108932

Nick, fast shipping from Summit! Looking forward to hearing how the Red Line PS fluid works in your system with the filter and cooler inline.

Michael

 

[NIsaacs]

Nick, fast shipping from Summit! Looking forward to hearing how the Red Line PS fluid works in your system with the filter and cooler inline.

Michael

Yes, ordered on Tuesday afternoon and received it Thursday morning.

Hauled a load of cinder block today, I think I am going to like this new fluid. The truck even seems to drive a little better once I get up to speed. Seems to come off center easier, it used to be really tight. At slow speed it seems about the same, probably the 285 tires.


I was surprised at how thin the fluid was, about like 0 weight. It should work well this winter and flow through the cooler and filter better.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Yes, ordered on Tuesday afternoon and received it Thursday morning.

Hauled a load of cinder block today, I think I am going to like this new fluid. The truck even seems to drive a little better once I get up to speed. Seems to come off center easier, it used to be really tight. At slow speed it seems about the same, probably the 285 tires.


I was surprised at how thin the fluid was, about like 0 weight. It should work well this winter and flow through the cooler and filter better.

Good news Nick. Yes, the fluid is thin and it might be 0 weight, don't know but it works!
You PS might work even better after your second flush and fill. Mine did on the 1999 when I switched from factory fill fluid after the first two years and 39k miles. Original fill fluid looked bad at 39K and the Red Line has worked better and lasted longer since.

Michael

 

[NIsaacs]

Changed oil in the transmission today, 36k so it was due, 322k total. Refilled with 1 gallon of Napa 15/40. Rear axle is due too but my 85/140 bucket was too low to change it, gotta get some. Note how clean the oil is, no need to pull the PTO cover this time.

 

[JR]

What truck was the trans fluid change done in?
I thought the NV5600 specd something like a 50w.


Hey Michaelsloft, you mentioned being close to Summit headquarters, is that the one in the Tallmadge area? If so I'm not too far north of you. Pymatuning Lake.

 

[NIsaacs]

What truck was the trans fluid change done in?
I thought the NV5600 specd something like a 50w.

It is on the '01/NV5600, this about as close as you can get to the Mopar 4874464, I think it is close to 30w.

https://www.autozone.com/motor-oil-...oil-1-qt-manual-transmission-fluid/265000_0_0

 

[JR]

I didn't know thats what is actually specd for the 56.

Thats the same fluid I use in the 02J trans (5 speed manual) in my wifes TDI.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Changed oil in the transmission today, 36k so it was due, 322k total. Refilled with 1 gallon of Napa 15/40. Rear axle is due too but my 85/140 bucket was too low to change it, gotta get some. Note how clean the oil is, no need to pull the PTO cover this time.
View attachment 108999 View attachment 109000

Nick, the oil draining out does look clean. The oil in my NV5600 has always been clean when I have changed at 36k miled and at 50k miles a couple of times. Remember you mentioning in another thread using Rotella 15w40 and I have been considering giving it a try. Notice any difference between the Napa vs Rotella oil with transmission performance? And was wondering how much oil you think might still be in the trans when using the bottom hole of the PTO? I've done this a couple of times too. Just wondering....

Michael

 

[Michaelsloft]

What truck was the trans fluid change done in?
I thought the NV5600 specd something like a 50w.


Hey Michaelsloft, you mentioned being close to Summit headquarters, is that the one in the Tallmadge area? If so I'm not too far north of you. Pymatuning Lake.

Hey JR, Im not too far south of you in the Leesville Lake area. I'm frequently in the Suburbs East of Cleveland and the Akron Canton area and enjoy going to the Summit Tallmadge retail store when in the area.

 

[NIsaacs]

Michael, I don't think much oil is left. When I pull the PTO cover, clean the magnet and swab out the bottom of the transmission, there is not much left. I drive the rear on 6" blocks. That tips the transmission down in the front (drain bolt) and tips the rear of the transmission up (fill plug).

When I first installed the Cummins in the Ford ('90) and bought the '91 Dodge, I used Rotella exclusively, oil was cheap then. Then about 10 years ago, oil doubled and tripled in price so I started using what was on sale. We have a new Walmart here so I have been buying my gasser oil there, (Supper Tech) We also got a new Tractor Supply in the next town over so I have switched to Travelers for my diesels. They have some good sales, currently $7 a gallon by the bucket. I don't think I have mentioned Rotella in ages, Lol. I do have several gallons of mixed 15/40 still on the shelf I need to use, hence the Napa. Some Delo and Car Quest left, Napa is gone now.

I don't really see any difference in the 15/40's. Several years ago I bought a 5 gal bucket of Valvoline 50w. synthetic manual transmission fluid and tried it. It is still in my '91 and Ford and they like it. My '01 did not, it shifted hard when it was cold, so on the next change I went back to 15/40.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Michael, I don't think much oil is left. When I pull the PTO cover, clean the magnet and swab out the bottom of the transmission, there is not much left. I drive the rear on 6" blocks. That tips the transmission down in the front (drain bolt) and tips the rear of the transmission up (fill plug).

When I first installed the Cummins in the Ford ('90) and bought the '91 Dodge, I used Rotella exclusively, oil was cheap then. Then about 10 years ago, oil doubled and tripled in price so I started using what was on sale. We have a new Walmart here so I have been buying my gasser oil there, (Supper Tech) We also got a new Tractor Supply in the next town over so I have switched to Travelers for my diesels. They have some good sales, currently $7 a gallon by the bucket. I don't think I have mentioned Rotella in ages, Lol. I do have several gallons of mixed 15/40 still on the shelf I need to use, hence the Napa. Some Delo and Car Quest left, Napa is gone now.

I don't really see any difference in the 15/40's. Several years ago I bought a 5 gal bucket of Valvoline 50w. synthetic manual transmission fluid and tried it. It is still in my '91 and Ford and they like it. My '01 did not, it shifted hard when it was cold, so on the next change I went back to 15/40.

Nick, thanks for the details and experience with transmission oil changes.
When oil prices doubled and tripled I have always been keeping an eye out for sales ever since and can usually find a decent price on 15w40 when needed for maintenance. The specialty transmission fluids and GL4 gear oil are expensive and rarely available at lower sale prices and since the 15w40 more closely matches the Mopar viscosity spec for the NV5600 is sounds like a good choice. And it has worked well for you for many miles and heavy hauling!
I'm going to try a 15w40 in the NV5600 for the next transmission oil change.
Thanks for the excellent write-up!

Michael

 

[NIsaacs]

Batteries died this morning, so I had to change them. The old ones (Car Quest) lasted 8 years. Napa this time, hope I get another 8 years.

 

[GAmes]

NAPA used to carry some really good AGMs. When mine were about 7 years old I wanted to change them. No more NAPA AGMs.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Batteries died this morning, so I had to change them. The old ones (Car Quest) lasted 8 years. Napa this time, hope I get another 8 years.

View attachment 109005

I got eight years with OEM Group27s and eight years with Interstate 27s. The NAPA Premium batteries look to be high quality. Are these AGM? And I've not tried the 34/78 Group size but have been tempted with some of the AGMs that are available now. Looked at DEKA batteries the other day and they offer an AGM.

 

[NIsaacs]

NAPA used to carry some really good AGMs. When mine were about 7 years old I wanted to change them. No more NAPA AGMs.

They appear to be available again, but they didn't have any in stock. I had one in my atv that was a good one, dang little suckers are $100! When Exide had the Napa contract, the batteries were junk. East Penn (Deka) has it now so they should be good.

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...BP983478/RK=2/RS=UAKytRaQh_BztC3LBLeLqhaLX1c-

 

[NIsaacs]

I got eight years with OEM Group27s and eight years with Interstate 27s. The NAPA Premium batteries look to be high quality. Are these AGM? And I've not tried the 34/78 Group size but have been tempted with some of the AGMs that are available now. Looked at DEKA batteries the other day and they offer an AGM.

How can you tell those are 8434/78? You got a good eye! I looked at the group 27 but they still have the vent/fill caps, I didn't want that. They are high maintenance (corrosion) v/s the no caps. The group 34 has a higher CCA than the 27 even thou they are smaller. These are the standard lead/acid. I didn't need the side post 78 but they only had one in the regular 34 premium. They have a big sticker that says MADE IN USA, then in fine print, with us and imported material, Lol.

 

[JR]

Even the "sealed" batteries need checked occasionally or they will dry up.

I had a nearly brand new group 31 Interstate given to me a few weeks ago. When I get caught up with a few other projects I'm going to see if it will fit in my 14, and if it does I am going to buy another (although probably not an Interstate) The previous owner had replaced one battery right before I bought it so it has mismatched batts, and the original load tests considerably worse than the newer one. The 31's have quite a bit more reserve, 150+ additional CCA over my oems and cost roughly the same.

 

[NIsaacs]

Even the "sealed" batteries need checked occasionally or they will dry up.

Where is the lid at, under the sticker?

 

[JR]

Where is the lid at, under the sticker?

View attachment 109012

I cant tell from that picture but i would assume so. Is there something on the end where you can get a screw driver into to pop it open?
I probably wouldn't mess with them while they're under the full warranty period as they may deny you if there is evidence they were opened.

Nick I just looked at your other picture, yes thats where they would be. Some batteries have access to the individual cells, like a round cap, others the cap is one piece.

 

[Michaelsloft]

How can you tell those are 8434/78? You got a good eye! I looked at the group 27 but they still have the vent/fill caps, I didn't want that. They are high maintenance (corrosion) v/s the no caps. The group 34 has a higher CCA than the 27 even thou they are smaller. These are the standard lead/acid. I didn't need the side post 78 but they only had one in the regular 34 premium. They have a big sticker that says MADE IN USA, then in fine print, with us and imported material, Lol.

I don't know how I can tell for certain LOL, but there is something about the dimensions and overall shape that make the Group 34 very recognizeable and the Group 31 too. Classic battery sizes!
It is interesting to look into which of the big US battery manufacturers make product for retailers and how the quality can vary significantly from size to size and over different periods of time. I've found East Penn to be consistent over a wide range of group sizes for many years.
There was a good write-up on TDR I think, over the winter about a member using Group 65 batteries (in a gen 2 if IIRC) and some Group 65s have impressive CCA and reserve capacity in a size that may fit?
I am not seeing as many Group 27s in inventory lately? Maybe just where I am located.
Wish there was room for a pair of Group 31s! Lol
The original Group 27 lead acid in my 1999 were the best batteries I've ever had!