Castrol

['956Wheel]

I know this one has been up many times but a search is not getting it

 

[C Schomer]

It's Syntorq LT(low temp)and only DC and GM have it - the pt#'s are on your PTO covers. Or Standard Transmission - they have as low of price as you'll find. I just tried RP Maxgear but it was thicker and shifted stiff and rough so I got the right stuff from GM($13. 95/qt). I wasn't trying to dodge the expensive lube - just trying to find something better. The trans ran 5 degrees cooler with the RP but I couldn't take the clunking of the syncros. I have ams 2K 75w90 in the diff and I seem to remember it poured thinner than the RP but not positive about that. The Castrol pours thin! I saved the RP from the trans and will put it in the diff and see if it runs cooler than the 2k75-90. Craig

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97 3/4Ton, 2WD, 5SP, #11 Plate, AFC kit, 14 Housing, AF942M Air filter, Straight Thru Cat, 4"From Turbo, Airlift, Shortened Frame, Custom Bed, 24CKFS Sunnybrook, HEY FORDBOY POWERSTROKE THIS!

 

['956Wheel]

What is the right Castrol to use in the NV4500? Also what is the preffered oil for the diff. (Dana 80)?

Mike

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9535hundred

 

[Sled Puller]

A buddy of mine just stopped in with 178,000 on his 97, BONE stock.
About 20,000 miles ago, he had to replace the NV 4500, which had been properly lubed with the correct Castrol.
All the Synchro's were shot, and enough else was bad that he bought a brand new one.

He left with Amsoil Series 2000 75W-90 in it this time. $3000+ is too much money to spend on a transmission every 150,000 miles.

Helping the poor misguided consumer one transmission at a time Mike! LOL #ad

Gene


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CPFF's Dowell Pin Jig Available in GLTDR Region! 1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 "One Piece At A Time" Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Executive Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[C Schomer]

I didn't have time to experiment any longer so I had to get something that I knew would work. I'll try 2K75w90 next time. I still think it makes sense to take advantage of later technology and find a GL5 that's formulated to replace GL4. It's just a matter of finding the right one! Craig

 

[mikepvg]

Mike
Try some different search key words. There is enuff here to keep you reading for at least a month or two!

Here's some threads to get u started!

Here's a good alternative & pn's for the Syntorq. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum1/HTML/003835.html

Here's some tech info you might enjoy! https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum1/HTML/003598.html

There's even a survey of who's using what! https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum3/HTML/003036.html

There's no telling what kinda research the nuts around here are doing #ad


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94 2500HD 4X4 5sp w/GearVendors O. D. 4:10 L. S. D. , K&N Oval w/ Pre-Filter, Straight Exhaust, Geno's Fumotovalve, AW-Direct Idle Controller, DiPricol Boost/Pyro/Fuel w/ Kevlar BSS line, Mag-Hytec Rear, 126K miles. Halon Protected, NRA Member. V1=Anti-"pinch" protection. KDP 125,700-NM-WT Insurance

 

['956Wheel]

Well after a lot of phone calls and such I find that the Castrol rep has never heard of Syntorq! Stick Only, a builder of racing transmissions has the Chevy stuff, which is for their "New Venture 4500" (NV4500), for $18 a quart! The person I spoke with says that the syncros in the NV4500's will get ruined by ANY GL5 oil due to the syncros having "composite" materials in their bores... is this so? How many bros. have been in a NV4500? These folks have been doing trannys for years and much of their work is racing and hi-performance trans work.

This is starting to "reek" of a KN type of post! It would seem to me that the mfg. of a given product would be familiar with their design enough to recommend a specific oil.

Mike

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9535hundred

 

[Sled Puller]

Quote from Standard Transmission,

"The reason that we recommend the Syntorq is that the oil was developed specifically for that unit. It is a super low temp oil. It seems that it keeps the gear temps lower than any other oil we've tried. Granted, we haven't tried many, but this stuff works & we don't feel the need to gamble the price of a transmission to prove that something else will. I'll let the guys with engineering R&D time worry about the finer points of the oil.
Thanks for the inquiry, let us know if we can help.
Mike P. "
End quote

Granted, they haven't tried many!
I have "gambled" my transmission and won. My only regret is it was not changed from the get-go. It was really not much of a gamble, since Amsoil has been in these trannys since 94, and they warranty it anyway.

If you want another opinion on standard trannys, call Doug at www.enterpriseengine.com.

They have rebuilt a lot of these things.
Gene


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CPFF's Dowell Pin Jig Available in GLTDR Region! 1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 "One Piece At A Time" Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Executive Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[Sled Puller]

Quote from Mike:"Why does anyone go to "the guy down" the street for info. when you can get it from the designers of the products in question?"

BECAUSE THOSE VERY PEOPLE WHO DESIGNED IT SCREWED UP.

5th gear anyone? Synchro's? These things were designed to make it 100,000 miles.

Standard Transmission has made a ton of money repairing these "state of the art" units, as well as many other companys. They also came up with the fully splined shaft to fix NV's mess up, corner cutting, screw the consumer joke of a shaft.
The ONLY reason there is a synthetic in this trans, is to make it live during the high heat condition of towing.

Oh yes, Castrol and DC and NV have been in this business a long time.
The business called "Get 75% of out product out of warranty and we make MONEY. "

Amsoil 75W-90 has been in these transmissions in the Dodges since 1994, that is the year they came out.

The mainstay of the TDR is fixing problems that are under engineered. Or, putting things back the way they should be after they have been detuned.

I trust the small Vendors, the ones that you can talk to the owners, more than DC or Big oil.
gene

 

['956Wheel]

I do question your knowledge on this matter as mine has 155K+ miles with, until this past Thursday, the original oil. The prior owner is a friend whose family is into horses big time, the truck was bought to tow this monster horse trailer and it did, all over the U. S. This truck was never babied or toyed with... bone stock!
Why did they sell it? They bought a brand new DODGE CUMMINS!

The 5th gear nut is original and in place. How about yours? How many failures are you aware of FIRST HAND nevermind this "a friend of my first wives cousin" crap, I'm talking first hand information.

If you are that upset and/or disappointed with your truck... get rid of it! I see a lot of guys on this site that love this truck... me included!

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9535hundred

P. S. Show me another transmission that you can put double the ponys and torque to and keep it in one piece, with few if any modifications.

[This message has been edited by Statland (edited 05-26-2001). ]

 

['956Wheel]

Originally posted by MGM:
Quote from Standard Transmission,

"The reason that we recommend the Syntorq is that the oil was developed specifically for that unit. It is a super low temp oil. It seems that it keeps the gear temps lower than any other oil we've tried. Granted, we haven't tried many, but this stuff works & we don't feel the need to gamble the price of a transmission to prove that something else will. I'll let the guys with engineering R&D time worry about the finer points of the oil.
Thanks for the inquiry, let us know if we can help.
Mike P. "
End quote

Someone is very mistaken here. According to Castrol the oil was developed for smooth shifting when it (the trans) is cold, not with "gear temps" in mind,. Don't you think Castrol as well as New Venture has been in the oil & transmission business way before 1994! Then they (ST) go on to recommend Castrol cause NV recommends it. If that ain't lame! Why does anyone go to "the guy down" the street for info. when you can get it from the designers of the products in question?

Lets make some sense here, reread that S. T. quote slowly and you may agree, then, if you want get a hold of the manufacturers of Castrol and New Venture gear corp.

I put the right stuff in and that "tick" going into second is gone.

Mike


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9535hundred

 

[TwoSlick]

There is nothing special about the Castrol Syntorq. It's simply a GL-4 rated synthetic gear lube and is used in a number of applications, including GM light truck transmissions. I have customers running the Amsoil 75w-90 in a wide variety of applications that call for the Syntorq and have never had a problem with it. The fifth gear nut issue is a DESIGN problem, not an oil problem. The additive package Amsoil uses in their GL-5 formulations is non-corrosive to yellow metals at temps below 250F - if your transmission fluid temps get this high, your truck is probably on fire! You would be hard pressed to ever exceed 200F with the Series 2000 gear lube in this application.

You could also use the Redline MT-90 in this application, which is another high quality GL-4 rated synthetic. I'm not familiar enough with Royal Purple to recommend one of their oils, but they probably have a product that will work.

Dodge cannot mandate that you use a specific replacement part (in this case oil) to keep the warranty in effect. If there is no second source for a replacement part it must be provided free of charge - this is federal law. If Dodge is recommending fluid changes while the warranty is still in effect, you should be getting the Syntorq for free.

TooSlick

 

['956Wheel]

Slick,

1. )If there is nothing "special" about Syntorque why doesn't Castrol mass market it and make money, I believe thats what they are in business for.

2. ) If DC is in violation of federal law, and have been since '94, lets get an attorney and get them! Do you believe for a minute that they are that stupid and have been for 7 years?... unchallenged!

3. ) On the warrenty issue, I believe the warrenty is over by the time most change their oil for the first time, unless this is a lifetime warrenty. If it is a lifetime warrenty I will be going for a refund and we will see what the law has to say.

4. ) Who said anything about the 5th gear problem having anything to do with oil?

While I am certain that there are other products that will work they do have their shortcomings, please read "technical topics" in the 31st issue of the register starting on page 23.

The NV 4500 is indeed a different design of transmission firstly is the fact that the syncros have composite bores.

I have done "my homework" on this one, cause I like to hang on to my money, and I reluctantly settled on getting Syntorque.

Out of curiosity Slick, what are you running in yours?

Mike

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9535hundred

P. S. Forget the attorneys, GM is a "second source" as they use the New Venture 4500 too.

[This message has been edited by Statland (edited 05-28-2001). ]

 

[Sled Puller]

As always, somebody doesn't read all the posts or "get" the point someone else is trying to make.

5th is NOT oil related, reread ALL the posts, and see why it was brought up.

Hey, call us nit-pickers, but most of bought these trucks to run a LONG time, and we are trying to get the weak links fixed before failure. One of the weak links is the transmission. Using the best oil available is wise in my book.
Yea, I know guys who have 500,000 miles on the automatic too, doesn't mean I can count on mine doing that.

If DC ever tried to void a transmission warranty because of oil with no proof, they would lose. Mine has been out of warranty, so I can't help ya there.

"Technical Topics" should not be taken as law. It is opinion of a fellow Rammer.
The writer and the editor will agree with me on that.

Homework? E-mail Steve St. Laurent about doing homework on oil products. All the paperwork in the world did not mean squat once he saw the inside of his well maintained Castrol unit VS. an Amsoil unit. (Which was 1 year older and 20,000 more miles, and much more abuse. )

When I had mine apart putting the updated 5th shaft in it, I was prepared to eat crow and tell Joe he was right, and go back to Castrol, but it was not even close. Amsoil in this trans ROCKS.

BTW, the GM's will NEVER put the strain on these transmissions that the Cummins does. They don't have enough power to pull in 5th, where we are in 5th quick, and putting the power to it, making heat that a GM trans will never see.
Gene

 

['956Wheel]

MGM, Oh wow you sure told me! #ad
Calm down and try to remember we are on the site due to a common interest, not to challenge one another. I know of a few members who won't post due to emotion getting in the way of logic... so sad!

So tell me, if you would, what is that material in the syncs bores. I have been told that some oils will "attack" this material.

your bro,
Mike

P. S. It seems that there are a number of members who go from one oil to another and back. What may be blamed on the oil could be damage due to the "latest" mod, after all some guys are pushing 2X the ponys and torque through the gearbox. Humm

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9535hundred

[This message has been edited by Statland (edited 05-28-2001). ]

 

[Sled Puller]

I'm not angry, I just type that way!!
I'll never be Politically Correct, so those few guys who have tender feelings are going to have to see a shrink and get over it! #ad


The material looks very much like a clutch type material. Nobody has come right out and said exactly what it is. I do know NV has already changed it at least once.
The material itself looks a hair better in the Amsoil transmission compared to the Castrol trans I looked at. The soft metal that HOLDS this material, was WAY better in the Amsoil trans.
I am sure some oils will ruin this material. Amsoil Guarantees theirs won't. Myself, and thousands of others have taken their word for it, and it has worked wonderfully. At less than HALF the cost of "adequate" Castrol.
I really feel this is a major screw job by DC on this.
Here is a chance to get something better for less money, something we don't see very often.
Very seldom is there an oil related problem in any component out here. Factory error, driver error, mechanic error, BOMB error, defective part, seems to be the norm. There are people who will insist Amsoil (or RP, or Redline) caused a problem, with no proof, just because it is different. They would never think to Blame Chevron or Shell though. #ad

DC will tell you if your transmission pukes at 150,000 miles, that it was beyond its lifespan. I intend to lengthen mine! And help as many Rammers out as I can do the same thing.

It is funny how we are agreeing on one thread and arguing on another!

Joe and Mike have done a ton of research on the Castrol, but the simple fact is the Amsoil has been in these transmissions for years, and we sure ain't going to change back now! They look too good!
Gene

 

['956Wheel]

O. K. good, glad you are not pi$$ed off, politically correct is for cry babies who find themselves sipping overpriced coffee at Starphucks and fearing the real stuff.

I have thought about "bombing" mine but am happy with it the way it is. I put a big a$$ Grover (yard sale $5. 00 "didn't work") on it and a hot dog tank to keep the kamakazees away... looking for a good compressor, cheap. The whole reason for me buying this truck was to get a trailer and hit the road. $$$ is a problem! I will get there. Need a hitch too, I have a '95 3500 on a 2001 frame (cracked spring towers) DC ate it, all of it, fluids too! So I guess I go for a 01 hitch.

I have a sis in York, are you near there?

Mike

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9535hundred

 

[Hammer]

Gotta love this he said,she said crap,,This gear oil debate could rage on for ever,,Statland,as a person who is fairly new here,and knows very few people on this site, if you sit where I'm at and read your posts on this,one would think they(DC)got you brainwashed,,I mean come on,Do you really think that Castrol is the ONLY manufacturer that can engineer a synthetic lube to support the NV4500's??,,While this is raging on here,there are ALOT of CTD owners sporting about with the Amsoil in their trannies and have NEVER had a whisper of trouble,,In my area,I have a very good friend that is a superstock racer,,Long before his Hemi Dart came along,he ran a 69 440/6 bbl 4spd Superbee,,At SS/G weights this car weighed in at 3750 lbs(driver included)as mandated by the sanctioning body,,Now as you think I'm rambling here I'll get to the point,the torque created by this combo,car,weight and engine created Extreme heat in the hemi 4spd and if you had to do maintence on the transmission inbetween rounds the trans was VERY hot,,While I realize this was normal grease ,point here is the switch to Amsoil way back then added longevity to transmission and lessened the heat tremendously,,So my question to you here is a simple on after my little rambling story,DO you run a temp guage on your stick transmission monitering your temps??,,Cause the way I see it here is,they DC,use this fluid to control heat,add bearing life and cover up their screw up in the design flaws hoping no failures occur in the warranty period,,I could care less at what DC mandates for the nv4500,see between works R&D(drive for a major trucking company) and my own experiences you'd never convince me Castrol is the only deal,,We test them all in trucks at work continuously,ALL BRANDS and TYPES,both oils and gear lubes and I can assure you Amsoil will handle the job,,Whats the next thing you are going to tell us here,cause DC MANDATES their oil and filters(yes they have a service bulletin about this subject)so we can not use Amsoil and Fleetguard fliters????,,I use a temp guage and I'll tell you what my eyes see,My nv4500 runs a lot cooler with the Amsoil than the Castrol EVER did,,Mandate,mandate,mandate,the word is just like driving bamboo shoots under my fingernails... ... ...

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98, Flame Red, Quad Cab, 2500, 4x4, 5spd, Autometer and Cyberdyne gauges,Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks,TST#10 plate,16cm housing, B-D Exhaust Brake,Timing Advanced,K&N,Totally Amsoiled,Cat Muffler and Silencer ring ALL M. I. A. ,A BOMBING IN THE PROCESS!!

 

[Sled Puller]

No, but Hammer is! I'm 4 hours west.

 

['956Wheel]

Wow! I am sure glad to have a guy like Hammer on here to share his immense knowledge! #ad
Will Amsoil work for eye strain? #ad


"If you think you know it all, you never will".

Mike

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9535hundred

[This message has been edited by Statland (edited 05-29-2001). ]