Almost had a heart attack today when Dodge told me $22.00 a quart for trans oil..

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I recently bought my 1997 3500 cummins 5 speed. I don't have any previous maintenence records from the last owner. So I decided to change the manual trans oil and rear end oil so I know when it was done. .

I went to NAPA and bought 4 quarts of Red Line 75-90 Synt. GL-4 trans oil. ( this is what the owners manual said it used)

I get under the truck and see a big sticker on the side of the trans saying something about "CAUTION use only Castrol syntorq LT or Mopar or GM blah blah oil, with part numbers attached. . I thought, some kinda gimmick etc,,

But, I recently read a post that said, 5 speeds cost $2500 and 6 speeds $5000...

So,I decided to call the dealer and see if i could use Red line. the service tech says, the sticker sounds like a sales pitch, let me check with a mechanic. . He gets back on the phone and says, Nope... Gotta use Castrol or Mopar. . has a special additive for the sychros etc. . I said ok. . Put me back to parts...

I get parts on the phone and told the guy, "give me a price on trans oil for my 3500 5 speed diesel". .

While I'm waiting for the parts guy to give me a price, I take a sip of my beer. just as the beer is going down, the parts guy fires back over the phone, got one quart in stock, $21. 97". . ( And i thought Red line was bad at $7 a quart)

Somehow, my brain and stomach calculated 4 quarts and realised nearly $100 for trans oil. I had a mild backfire up my wind pipe, which caused fresh beer to go into my nostrils and nearly all over my keyboard. .

After I composed myself, i told the nice parts guy, thanks. . And hung up. . ( Sorry for the gory details, buts it kinda funny to me now. 2 hours later)

After settling down, i thought I'll put a post up and see what help i can get. .

I'm sure there is a oil on the market that is comparable to Mopar, or Castrol that is a little less pricey then $21. 97 a quart. . If thats as cheap as it gets, oh well.

Any idea's? I tried Geno's with no luck. .

 

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Not that up on the 5speeds, but the Castol Syntorq that GM uses is like 10 weight in thickness. I'm with you, I thought the Ram 5speeds used the synthetic 75-90 gear oil. Also, I'd have to check again, but if it is the same as the syntorq GM uses, I believe it's alot cheaper from them.

 

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Bug out,
I got the same price for the lube from the dealer when my truck was new. I couldn`t believe it.

The castrol GL-4 is tough to find. You may need to order it from some where.

I ran RedLines` Manual Trans 75w90 GL-4 for a while. I Didn`t like the way it shifted in cold weather. After shifting gears, I had to wait momentarily for the synchos? to catch up.

For the past few years I ahve been running Amsoil Series 2000 75W-90. It shifts effortlessly with it. It is a GL-5 rated lube. The GL-5 rating has the high pressure additive that is supposed to attack the "yellow" metals in the gear box.

This only happens at high temperatures. One TDR member tried to get the trans hot enough to where the "yellow metals" would start to be effected. He couldn`t. Even towing heavy loads in hot weather.

Another TDR member had his transmission taken apart for the 5th gear nut. He examined the "yellow metals" for corrosion. Found none what so ever. He had run Amsoil Series 2000 75W-90 for almost 100K I think.

 

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I needed a quart to top up my '95,the only place I could find it was DC. I hope you haven't drained the transmission yet,the only reason to drain the oil is if it's contaminated. The only service needed is topping up,the oil is good for the life of the transmission.

 

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Forget that factory lifetime fill crap! Mine at 26,000 was totally trashed, It did not even resemble oil!
Amsoil Series 2000 75w-90 is what I put in, and at 35,000, it still looked like what I poured in. Changed it anyway, I think 35,000/ 1 year is plenty on any oil in these transmissions. Add Geno's filter too, every little bit helps. Also the Amsoil will NOT attack the yellow metals.
I think D/C wants to make a lot of money on transmissions.

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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 Bombed & Amsoiled
Member of TDR,LIC-ROC,GLTDR,NRA

 

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I recommend using the Castrol. Standard Transmission of Forth Worth TX has it for $56 a gallon, the amount you need.
800-783-8726

 

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I got the castrol from a local NAPA dealer, not sure on price but was less than $55 for 4 qt's. He said he sold a lot for the 5sp for hotshot rigs.

 

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I talked to Standard Transmission and asked them why they recomended a clearly inferior oil. They said that they did not have the time or resources to test oil, and since it was the factory fill, it was good enough for them!
I'm telling you guys, I would not put it back in mine!!!!!

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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 Bombed & Amsoiled
Member of TDR,LIC-ROC,GLTDR,NRA

 

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So gene, you are sayin to put in a good synthitic like LE, or meybe walmart generic? #ad
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1996 2500 ST regular cab,long bed, 4x4, 5 speed, Rhino Liner Scotty Air, Isspro gauges, diabled wastegate, pipe cleaner used on cat
-- email address removed -- Great Lakes TDR
PURDUE STUDENT 
GO
BOILERS

Dodge Makes it
Cummins Shakes it

 

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I'm with MGM on the life time oil doodoo. 30,000 is the max you should let the transmission or diff oil go - synthetic or dinosaur brand. I say that from experience rather than guess work. The whole issue as I understand it has to due with the extreem pressure additives. These additives are actually metal and can wear the softer metals in the 5 and 6 speed trannys. OilMan - care to step up to the podium and share what you know? I don't want to start a war here, just post the facts as I understand them. Until we get some solid test results, I'm going to put my money in the factory oil for my 6 speed and change it at least every 30,000. As always, jmo...

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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I put 150K on my 96 5sp pulling excessive loads and 95% of the miles all in 5th gear. Took 5 gear off three times. Last required a rebuild. I choose to replace. In those 150K miles I chanaged oil 4 times with Amsoils 2000 75W90. I had a temp gauge in added early on and in all those miles I never could get over 200 most hard pulles ran 175. Need temps over 90 and a tail wind to get trans over 190. Sent old transmission to a rebuild shop in OH. There comment was only normal wear and tear. No damage what so ever for GL5 lube.

I will replace my new trans fuild with Amsoil again. It works just fine even if it is the "CHEAP" stuff!

NVG tech I talked spoke with recommended to change trans every 50K for get more life out of them. But bottom line it is a 100K life design. It will not last forever no matter what lube you use!

jjw
ND

 

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Well I guess I let my transmission oil go too long,124k with the same oil it came with new almost 6 years ago. Still haven't lost 5th gear either. Oil looked brand new the last time I checked the level. Pulling 30k loads continually must have caused this problem. #ad

 

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Thanks JJW-ND #ad


I was trying to remember who had their transmission torn down and had no problems with Amsoil GL-5 lube.

 

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I sent in a sample of my trans gear lube when I changed it and the oil had broke down badly. The report came back saying they highly recomended it be changed. This gear lube only had 32K on it and was changed by the dealer. (Well all they had done is suck out what they could through the fill hole) Change the gear over to AmsOil 80W-90 GL-4 oil. I just changed it again (22K on it) and sent in another sample. It showed no problems found and to sample again in 10K. This time I changed over to AmsOil Series 2000 75W-90 GL-5. To get maximum life out of our trans the lube should be changed every 30K or so.

By the way I have 88K now and have had no problems with 5th gear (Knock on wood).

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EAT'M UP
97 2500 Club 4X4 3. 54, Forrest Green/Driftwood, LSD 5 speed, & Psychotty Air System, TST #11 all the way forward, AFC spring kit, Geno's Exhaust Blanket, TST EGT gauge & 0-60 boost gauge in A Pillar, Cat-be-gone, 4" Dynomax Bullet muffler, Crome 4" turn down, AmsOil Through out, Geno's trans filter kit, AmsOil Bypass system, Lund Winter front, Leer Cab Level Shell Driftwood , 255/85R16 Big O ATs, Dyno'd 342 HP *NRA/USPSA member and proud of it*

 

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My opinion on "Factory".
With the exception of the engine,(and there are components I question) these trucks are designed to GET OUT OF WARRANTY ONLY! Every piece and part is brought to you via LOW BIDDER! The 5spd is a 100,000 trans as we all know, anyone dispute this? Yes I know some of them go forever, but even D/C admits that fact.
Enter Castrol. Dodge says we need a lube for this transmission that will make it live to 100,000. Something we can call "Lifetime fill" That's a selling point, no maintenance.
So Castrol says, "Shoot, we can put a little XZY additive in there to last that long! The trans will be toast at 100,000, but it'll make it!"
And Dodge says "Can we mark it up 1000% so our dealers can gouge the consumer a little more?"
And Castrol says "Thats a lot of mark up, you would have to charge 22 dollars a quart! Who would pay it?"
Dodge, "No problem, we will make stickers that will scare them into buying it! After they spend 40,000 on the truck, they will pay it. Just like sheep!
And I'm not even going into the legal ramifications on what is a "TRUE SYNTHETIC".
What does a Judge know about oil anyway?
That is one Judge only, not a group purchase slam!

That was fun!
Gene

 

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Thanks for all the input. I went ahead and ordered some Amsoil...

But, along the way, i found a great deal on some bulk Castrol Syntorq LT.

If anybody out there wants to buy 16 gallons of it and make some money, or do a group buy, I found "Topanga Oil Products" in Southern ca that sold it in bulk. . Its the same stuff Mopar sells for $22 and GM $18 a quart. I spoke to castrol USA who said they only sold it (syntorq) to GM/Chrys as trans fluid. . Anyway,Topanga was going to sell the 16 gallon can for $396, which translates into $6. 18 a quart..... Thats 3 X less then Mopar. #ad


I damn near ordered it, but could not figure out what I'd do with it. ( enough oil for lots of trannys) maybe some of you guys out there can?

1-800-622-6457 http://www.topanga.com

Make sure you tell the girl who answers, "Syntorq" LT or she'll think your talking about plain old synthtic. .

Ed

Next project will be the cat... .

 

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I own a 3/4 drum of syntorque, gotta have it for NV gearboxes, i'll sell it, what the heck. Dodge doesn't make the gearboxes... ... they just buy them. What would you think of going to a shop for a service and shop using something contradicting what the proper fluid is. You would be mad. So from a shops perspective "I play by the rules and use proper fluids," Pennzoil also makes a 75-85 gl-4 its something to look into, i already own the drum of syntorque, it will last a long time..... I wouldn't feel good quarting the product out because you want the customer to be 100% confident they are getting the product you pay for. How would you transfer it from drum to quart (use old oil bottle?)How would a customer know they are getting the right stuff..... ?

Sorry for the long post, just raving a little ... ... ... ... ... ... B


[This message has been edited by Brandon (edited 09-01-2000). ]

 

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You DO not need to pay for$$$$$$$$$$$ for trans lube.
go find castrol Syntec 75 w 90 cost about$8 a quart here in northern In. Because my transmission has had it in from 5000 miles and i have over 700,ooo miles explain to me why you need to spend big bucks for syntorq or amsoil??????????????
All OEM bearings. .
Look around you can find it--local advanced auto parts store only keeps 3 bottles on hand at a time so must stop a week or two later for the other bottle .
He told me it is to hi priced and dosent move that fast . MY re ply was you have to have more than three qt's or mosat people won't stop back.

 

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Another note!
If i'm a supplier(did the test-got the exclusive rights and recomendation,s $$$ ) what am i going to charge when the ink is dry-and if my lube is so superior do you think for a momenti would not market it under a differant name/lable????
Chev/buick/olds----ford/merc--
marthon/speedway???????/
GE/hotpoint.
Got the picture???