6 Spd. Transm overfill

[Jack in Alaska]

What is the best/easiest/least messy way to get the extra (above the fill plug) fluid into the transmission. ???

 

[RHestand]

I was able pump 6 quarts of ATF in my 06 G56 by pulling both right tires onto 8 INCH tall ramps.



The ATF is thin enough I just used a cheap plastic pump that went into the quart container and had hose attached.



With the truck at that angle the ATF was still below the filler plug hole.



It worked for me.



Ray

 

[Wayne M.]

Jack, if you're refering to your 04. 5, you have a different trans than the above post. I added the extra to mine by shooting through the top PTO bolt on the drivers side. I used the quart bottles (pennzoil syncromesh) with the tips cut real small. I warmed up the bottles on my water heater to make it flow easier. It wasn't too messy. I kinda went up and over the outside of the driveshaft with my finger over the hole.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've read overfilling the NV5600 a quart or two hopefully helps the inadequate oiling issue on one of the bearings under heavy towing. But why overfill a G56? Overfilling doesn't necessarily come without consequences (such as oil foaming). There's probably no point in overfilling the NV5600 either unless towing heavy on a regular basis.

 

[d.miner]

Vaughn,



The factory says a G56 takes 6 qts, when you're on flat ground you can only get 4 qts in before it starts to come out the full hole. It's been quite a debate.



I'm getting close to changing out my trans fluid so I've been following this closely.



Scott Dalgleish did an article about this and had a hard time getting someone to give him a straight answer about proper capacity. He ended up filling his with the Amsoil offering through the top of the trans.



Seems I read something recently where the manual trans burned up the front bearing on a long uphill pull due to not enough fluid... don't recall if it was the NV5600 or the G56.



Dan

 

[steved]

Take this for what it's worth, but I'm running a temp guage in my NV5600. Overfilling it by a quart (as recommended by some) actually caused the trans to run hotter than without the extra quart (and that's running Redline MTL before overfilling, during the overfill, and after draining to normal fill). My only explaination is that maybe this trans is designed to "sling" oil to some parts and being overfilled (or flooded) it could not sling oil to some parts...

And as for the G56 thing... it is a big debate, you can read a lot of threads on overfilling a G56... and they did overfill several from the factory (at the dealer), so IMO, overfilling doesn't seem to bother the G56.

And not saying it doesn't happen, but if the whole burning bearing part was a problem on a trans that was filled to the proper level, I would expect us to see/hear more about it than we actually do... sometimes I wonder if those failures are related to oil starvation or just plain overwork (and the wrong oil)?? And again, not saying it doesn't happen, just that I would expect it to happen more often if it was a problem.

steved

 

[roperteacher]

I just changed my G-56 to AMSOIL ATF4 and when I refilled My G-56 took 6. 5 quarts before it even began to run out of the fill hole! This was on Level ground. I wonder why they would vary from trans to trans on different trucks?? Makes no sense...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

d. miner thanks for the call- I was unaware of the oil fill debate on the G56. I missed Scott's Dalgleish's article. Like I mentioned it kinda reminds me of the AAM axle fill discussion back when the 3rd Gens started coming out and many rear axles were underfilled.

Roperteacher maybe the fill issue has to do with placement of the oil fill hole being put in the wrong place in the beginning and has been corrected.

Dan when you get ready to change your lube it'll be interesting to see how much it takes to refill it.

Vaughn

 

[RHestand]

When I drained my G56 it had 6 quarts from the factory.

I had heard about some problems getting the last 2 quarts in, and some guys were removing their shifter to pour it in the top.



I put 6 in mine, replaced the plug and rolled it off the ramps, so I don't know if my fill plug hole is too low or not.



With 8 IN. ramps it gives you a little more working room and is easier than some of the other methods. IMO ( Kills 2 birds with 1 stone )



Ray

 

[TowPro]

I just changed my 06 trans fluid. 6 came out, 6 went back in through the fill plug. I had to jack up the RF about 4" so I could get under the nurf bars.
With 6 quarts in, the level was just below the fill hole, I am sure it would have been level if I had let the truck down to the ground.

the new oil made nice difference, not sure if it was the Fact I put Amsoil in, or just the fact it needed to be changed, but the Shifting smoothed out a lot.

I did the rear, the trans and the motor with Amsoil.

 

[abrankod]

I just did my G56 oil today as well. Level ground it took about 6. 75 quarts. I filled with Redline C+ fluid. Next week I think I'll do the xfer case.





-Dan

 

[WOT]

6. 5 quarts on mine before it started coming out the fill hole (level ground)

 

[betterthanstock]

I think the early G56 had the low fill plug location. I vaguely recall seeing a mercedes truck with the transmission tilted towards the driver (to reach the shifter better) and that probably caused the wrong location in Dodges, and apparently it's corrected now. So if it does not take 6 qts, tilt it if you have to.



As for the NV 5600, it may be lack of oil on that "pocket bearing", but it's also a weak design of that 6th gear bearing (compared to all other gears, and compared to a typical overdrive gear in a 5 speed transmission).

The solution is to tow in 5th (or lower, of course) on all hills. Go 3000 rpm if you have to, and save your transmission, and lots of $$$$$. I wouldn't overfill the NV5600.

 

[ADanka513]

Just changed 03 3500 with 5600 trans, filter kit & all, 4. 5qts, don't know how u guys get 6 qts in settin level?????????

 

[steved]

Just changed 03 3500 with 5600 trans, filter kit & all, 4. 5qts, don't know how u guys get 6 qts in settin level?????????

The nv5600 only takes a little over 4. 5 quarts... the g56 takes more.



steved