6-speed Lube: Red Line the Answer?

[Ted Constantine]

I have just over 10k on the amsoil 5w30hdd in my 5600. I think it shifts about the same as the stock fluid with the exception of periodic trouble getting into first gear at a dead stop.



Rifle it seems like more break down than I was expecting in 22k.



Ted

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Gary, I found Redline for $7 a quart, at Summit racing $7. 95, when I bought my MTX it was $11 per quart, and when I drained the stock stuff at 50k it was very black and nasty (should've changed it sooner!).





Riflesmith, I guess those numbers look good (I'm not tuned in to reading transmission lube analysis reports), at least the iron count looks really good considering no filtering. But if the viscosity has dropped to 7. 7 c @100C, don't you think it's starting to thin out too much? You are probably correct all gear lubes typical fall out of viscosity, Redline no exception. But 25K changes may be a good rule of thumb for transmission lube intervals just for good measure. There is at least 1 member that has run 5W30 Amsoil in his 6-speed for over 100k with good results.



I did talk to Diesel Freak and John, both suggested Redline to me. DF likes it in his truck, John has an auto and used to use their products and just recently shifted back to it from Amsoil.



Vaughn

 

[Rob Thomas]

Vaughn,



I guess I should feel lucky, when I changed out my stock trans oil at 49,000 miles, it was like new, crystal clear, and the magnet had a very minimal amount of collection on it. I towed with it since new also.



Later, Rob

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'll have to admit to extreme ignorance where oil analysis in transmission service is concerned - some of those readings seem EXTREMELY high to me, regardless of oil brand in use. And while I wouldn't expect "stock" oil to look pristine at 50,000 miles, I wouldn't expect it to look like tar either...



I've seen a number of auto and truck trannies with well over a hundred thousand miles on them with NEVER an oil change, and the oil, while obviously darker and more opaque than new stuff, seemed totally serviceable for continued use - and for the critic who will bleat about the "torque applied by the mighty Cummins", and extra stress upon our 6-speeds, face it, those OLDER trannies were seeing all the abuse, torque and stress THEY were designed for in THEIR time JUST THE SAME as ours are now!



I want the best for long life and durabilty for MY transmission too - just not sure if any of the suggested synthetics provide any real advantages over the stuff the manufacturers specify yet...

 

[klenger]

Forgive my ignorance here, but when you use motor oil in a transmission, and send it to a lab for analysis, do they test the oil, or are the acceptable limits for contamination, the same as if it was used in an engine? What might be acceptable oil in an engine may be bad in a transmission because of it's entirely different use.



I think I'm a little to conserviative to experiment with subsitute oils for the NV5600. I'd rather pay a few buck extra and know I'm putting the right stuff in. After all, you only change it every 30,000 mies. It would be nice if someone like Genos (are yoiu reading this) could bulk purchase the correct stuff and sell it to us at a good price.

 

[Riflesmith]

John,

Copper + Zinc = Brass. No denying that. Here are three observations:



1. The Zinc number at 1382 is virtually the same as the out of the bottle number--part of the anti-wear additive package.



2. Although I could not see my synchros when photographing my gears, The transmission continues to shift well under all conditions.



3. When installing the Amsoil, it was a simple drain and refill. The case was not opened and cleaned out.



Vaughn,

My understanding of shear related viscosity loss is the viscosity improving polymers are torn apart by the meshing gears. This thins the oil down to the viscosity of the base fluid. This should mean the oil will shear down to a certain value and remain there. Most oils do not continue to get thinner and thinner in gearboxes.



I took a sample of my transmission oil as I changed it last week. I will have it analyzed after 32,000 miles and report the results. What we need is to have someone have their Texaco and Redline fluids analyzed after some run time. This would allow us to make a valid comparison.

 

[jlccc]

Reply from Redline

I sent an email to the folks at Redline to query the use of MTL, specifically in the NV5600 transmission. Without posting the name of the gentleman who replied, this is their reply:





---begin quote from Redline---

The MTL is suitable and recommended in the NV5600.

The D4ATF would be suitable in the transfer case.

---end quote from Redline---

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

HMMmmm



"The MTL is suitable and recommended in the NV5600. "



Really? Recommended by WHO?



New Venture, or the sales manager at Red Line?



Don't wanna seem hard-headed (too late!), but "recommendations" like that quite likely aren't worth the electrons they're floating upon...