ATF+4 in a nv4500

[BigPapa]

@RBeard , yes, the OE Syntorq was 75W90. I wouldn’t care if there’s a TSB saying it’s okay or not, I wouldn’t put ATF+4 in my NV4500.

Again, the viscosity isn’t what’s important here. New Venture specified Castrol Syntorq for a reason and it’s been proven by many here on TDR that other fluids that aren’t specifically for the NV4500, like the Amsoil fluid linked above is, will cause issues. New Venture specified Pennzoil Synchromesh for the NV5600 and straying from it caused problems.

 

[AH64ID]

@RBeard , yes, the OE Syntorq was 75W90. I wouldn’t care if there’s a TSB saying it’s okay or not, I wouldn’t put ATF+4 in my NV4500.

Again, the viscosity isn’t what’s important here. New Venture specified Castrol Syntorq for a reason and it’s been proven by many here on TDR that other fluids that aren’t specifically for the NV4500, like the Amsoil fluid linked above, will cause issues. New Venture specified Pennzoil Synchromesh for the NV5600 and straying from it caused problems.

the Amsoil fluid link is a fluid designed for the NV4500 and mentions it multiple times on the bottle and tech bulletin.

 

[BigPapa]

lol, the Amsoil fluid link is a fluid designed for the NV4500 and mentions it multiple times on the bottle and tech bulletin.

Exactly, that’s what I said. It’s made specifically for this application.

I added the word “is” to the sentence. Is that a bit clearer?

In post #9 I posted “I would use the Amsoil John linked to above.”

 

[johnmyster]

I'm confused and probably showing my lube oil ignorance The 2001 NV4500 I have calls for 75W-90 gear oil, so I'm using RP 75W-90. ATF+4 seems awful thin for a transmission. My transfer case calls for ATF+4, so that's what I put in it. School me.

ATF+4 is about 7.5 cst at 100 C, making it one of the thicker if not the thickest full syn atfs, hot, so probably not a bad call for most t-cases, typically factory filled with Dex III. That would be a thick 20 or thin 30 grade motor oil. That said, I don’t expect lots of 100 C time in my trans, power steering, or t-case, much less in a manual trans.

Type F or Dex III might be a tad thicker. Dex VI would be slightly thinner, as would MaxLife. Valvoline has a MV import atf that splits the difference (7.0 cst) and didn’t complain when it went in my t-case.

 

[AH64ID]

Exactly, that’s what I said. It’s made specifically for this application.

I added the word “is” to the sentence. Is that a bit clearer?

In post #9 I posted “I would use the Amsoil John linked to above.”

I’m a idiot and read it too fast, apologies

 

[BigPapa]

I’m a idiot and read it too fast, apologies

All good. Just didn’t want to offend you.

 

[gtwitch]

Had an issue with the wrong lube in my NV4500 that destroyed it about 13 years ago , I changed oil and put AMZIOL severe gear and trans only lasted about 250 miles or so . called AMZOIL and was told "Wrong Lubricant" , replaced the transmission and have used the recommended Lube seen here in one of the posts 75/90 API GL4. Now down the road for another 120 k miles and no problems.
gtwitch in wyoming

 

[Ozymandias]

It's definitely a tough job to keep an inferior transmission alive behind the Cummins.

 

[gtwitch]

When I lost the original Nv4500 in my 99 by using the wrong lube, I found a new NV4500 in the MOPAR box for $1400 and pushed the buy button and when that arrived , I pulled the damaged trans out and put it for sale on line for $550 and in 2 days a guy from northern Wyoming came and picked it up with cash in hand, so good luck sometimes happens, He said , can rebuild it with new synchronizers so I guess he did that and hopefully both of us are still running trouble-free. once again I learned a valuable lesson by RTF Instructions.
gtwitch in wyoming

 

[Gearclash]

It's definitely a tough job to keep an inferior transmission alive behind the Cummins.

Aside from 5th gear problems, which are curable, NV4500s last just fine at factory power levels if they are maintained and the user uses reasonable sense operating it. Way better than automatics of that era. I pulled loads that had my GCVWR beyond double of what Dodge allowed and that wasn’t what killed my NV4500, it was a near total lack of oil in the box . . .

 

[SAndreasen]

The dealership recommends atf 4 now and they have since the gl4 oil became unavailable at the dealerships . Call any dodge dealer and that’s what they will say . I’ve never tried it . Redline mtl is 75 90 and Amsoil has a replacement for the anytorq as well

 

[SAndreasen]

It's definitely a tough job to keep an inferior transmission alive behind the Cummins.

not really stay out of 5th when you are over 18,000 and use the right fluid and run a filter and it will be fine .

 

[NIsaacs]

not really stay out of 5th when you are over 18,000 and use the right fluid and run a filter and it will be fine .

Says the guy that's rebuilt about a half a dozen NV4500's

 

[The nuke]

I went with the amsoil ,power sports here in bend, Oregon .ordered it no shipping .shameless plug . I have another question .tork king has a replacement transmission nv5000 I believe any thoughts on that????

 

[NIsaacs]

I have another question .tork king has a replacement transmission nv5000 I believe any thoughts on that????

A little info here.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/torque-king-nv5000.275233/

 

[Ozymandias]

not really stay out of 5th when you are over 18,000 and use the right fluid and run a filter and it will be fine, and some common sense

Yeah, that's what I said, a though job.

An easy transmission is fools proof, ask Caterpillar how to build one as they deal with that on a daily basis. Having just a monkey an the sticks.

 

[SAndreasen]

Says the guy that's rebuilt about a half a dozen NV4500's

you are not wrong .
I’ve built a dozen I bet . I’ve learned a few things that will make them stronger number one is stay out of 5th unless you are rolling 70 mph when loaded number 2 is these duallys go through a lot less transmissions than the single wheel trucks some of that is because I’ve learned to stay out of 5th part of it Is because of the shorter tires which keeps the rpm’s up which lowers the torque input into the transmission.

 

[SAndreasen]

Yeah, that's what I said, a though job.

An easy transmission is fools proof, ask Caterpillar how to build one as they deal with that on a daily basis. Having just a monkey an the sticks.

i wish it was a bigger gearbox but in all honesty im running 30 and 35,000 pounds gvw on a regular basis i rebuilt the transmission in my flatbed this year for the first time in the ten years I’ve owned it

 

[SAndreasen]

Back the original question this is the oil I run now in my nv45 . I like the way it shifts better than the oem Chrysler oil ever did

 

[SAndreasen]

I went with the amsoil ,power sports here in bend, Oregon .ordered it no shipping .shameless plug . I have another question .tork king has a replacement transmission nv5000 I believe any thoughts on that????

I’d be afraid of spending 3700$ at torque king on anything it would probably show up with a mounting ear broke off . They already have proved they don’t care about 850$ worth of bearings getting ruined why would they about 3700$