Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 5speed gear change now hard shifting

[xpetecx]

Hey guys, I just changed the oil in my transmission tonight. Its a 5 speed in a 96 4 wheel drive. I put 75w90 synthetic gl4 rated oil in it and now it kinda shifts alittle harder. The oil I dranied out what red and realy thin. I think it might have been automatic transmission fuild, but there is no way to know for sure. So why is it shifting hard? Is it just cause the oil is new and not thin yet? Any help would be great. thanks.

 

[KWentling]

That would be the incorrect oil for that transmission. Factory fill is Castrol Syn-Torque. T Redline, Royal Puple, Amsoil, etc. have oil that others have has sucess with. This transmission is very particular about what oils you use. You likely won't find Syn- Torque anywhere except from someone like Standard Transmission or Quad 4x4. Chrysler sells their oil for it but GM's version is a little cheaper, but still outragous. Bite the bullet and buy the correct oil.

 

[xpetecx]

I had to go check but thats what the owners manual even says 70w90 synthetic with a gl4 rating. But im gonna believe you cause its not shifting right. Is the GM stuff still called Syn- Torque or does it have a different name. Will driving the truck with that oil in it for a day or two hurt anything? Thanks for all the help.

 

[K5IP]

This is going to sound really dumb, but you really did drain the transmission, not the transfer case didn't you?

The transfer case does have the red ATF.

 

[Reb.B]

yes ATF is the politically incorect oil, but it is the best for several reasons, ... it will handle more of a load, it is thinner and shift faster, and it has friction modifiers so the fiber syncros will work better.

 

[KWentling]

That would definately be the politically incorrect oil for an NV4500! Can't say that it wouldn't work though. I would think that if it was a superior oil for NV's transmissions that would have been their specified oil. My understanding was Syntorque was developed especially for this transmission. Something about the yellow metals compatabilities and shifting quality if I remember correctly.

Are you sure the owners manual says 75-90 GL-4 for the transmission? My book is in the truck and it's raining, or I would go look. The service manual only gives the Chrysler part number and says this is the only recommended oil. I know on the passenger side PTO cover it gives the oil part numbers for GM and Chrysler and also the Syntorque oil and it says something to the effect that you should only use these oils. The GM oil goes by a part number. The bottle only says transmission oil on it. If you tell the parts person you need oil for a New Venture 4500 they will (or should) know what you need. Seems like it was 60 or 70$s worth. Maybe automatic transmission oil is worth a try, especially since it sounds as if that is what was in it before. Much cheaper. If nothing else it would help flush the 75-90 out. I doubt driving it for a few days would hurt it. By the way, the transmission fill/check hole is on the side and you drain it by pulling the bottom bolt on the PTO cover. The transfer case drain and fill are on the back of it's case. Which did you drain? Transmission is a cast iron case and the transfer case is aluminum. Like K5IP asked, which did you drain?



Kim



Kim

 

[xpetecx]

This is going to sound really dumb, but you really did drain the transmission, not the transfer case didn't you?

The transfer case does have the red ATF.

Yes I drained the transmission. I did kinda do a double take at the fluid though and made sure it was the transmission.



I probably should have told you guys early but the transmission is a rebuilt one put in the truck about 4 months ago before I bought it. so There isnt a tag or part number or anything to that effect on it for the oil.



I also am sure of the owners manual looking at it right now. Dodge never put any different manual trannys in these truck did they? Im not aware of one but that dont mean nothin. thanks for all the help, Im sure I'll get it right just takes afew trys.

 

[CSnyder]

I probably should have told you guys early but the transmission is a rebuilt one put in the truck about 4 months ago before I bought it.



How long ago did you buy the truck? If it was recently you should NOT need to change the fluid in the transmission. I just put mine in last month and the shop told me to run it until I had 36,000 on it before I change it again. The oil I purchased from my Dodge dealer was also red and thin like ATF so I wouldn't worry the wrong stuff was in there when you drained it.

Hope this helps, Chris

 

[xpetecx]

I probably should have told you guys early but the transmission is a rebuilt one put in the truck about 4 months ago before I bought it.



How long ago did you buy the truck? If it was recently you should NOT need to change the fluid in the transmission. I just put mine in last month and the shop told me to run it until I had 36,000 on it before I change it again. The oil I purchased from my Dodge dealer was also red and thin like ATF so I wouldn't worry the wrong stuff was in there when you drained it.

Hope this helps, Chris

So I shouldnt have changed it huh? dang. Was that somekind of break in fluid? or dont you know. I had it about 3 week, I have the recpiets from when this was done. Maybe I will call them and see what they say. I picked up some amsoil maunual transmission fluid for it, Iknow some people dont have good luck with it. I told the amsoil guy that Ive heard some bad things about it, so he said if I have a problem to just bring it back. I hope this works

thanks for the help.

 

[CEdwards]

75W-90 SYNTHETIC GL-4 is the fluid that it calls for. Not gl-5. There are other posts on this subject i beleive just a page or two down.

 

[KWentling]

Sure enough, looked in my owners manual and it says 75-85 Synthetic GL4. It also gives the same Chrysler part number as the service manual. Oil seems thinner to me than 75-85 but maybe thats because it's synthetic.