Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Double clutching

[Tcolesanti]

I hear of more than a few guys having problems with there six speeds not going into gear, downshifting primarily. What I want to know is, how do you guys shift your transmissions? Doyou double clutch? Shift it without a clutch? Or just drive it like you stole it? I am a hardcore doubleclutcher and I've never had a problem with my transmission not wanting to go into gear.

 

[Beast2B]

I didn't have any trouble shifting for 40k miles. I read somewhere that the 5600 is so bulletproof and forgiving that you can drive it lile any car manual trans. I have driven it single clutch, very rarely with no clutch (like twice in 40k), and neiher abused nor babied it. I have noticed two things since towing my 10k-12k trailer:

1) After towing, the trans is hard to engage when unloaded for several hundred miles.

2) Almost immediately when hooked to the trailer, it gets smooth again.

I'm going to change fluid next week (as per several posts in other threads) using stock lube, I'll update when I get a few miles on the new lube.

 

[jeepit]

21,000 mlies on mine and it shifts very smoothly, even towing. Won't win any races with it but IMHO beats my prior auto any day.

 

[DTullis]

I usually doubleclutch when downshifting. Seems to make the transmission go into gear better.



I have 25K miles with no problems towing 15K trailer.



The gates are much closer on the 6spd than they were on my old 94 with 5spd, and you can't always tell which gear you are in by look/feel.



Believe my 6spd shifts better now than it did when new.



What oil are you using when you change oil. I think the only approved oil comes from Dealer, and its expensive. As I recall it is actually a Castrol product, but I don't seem to have the Castrol part no. /description.

 

[Tcolesanti]

I changed mine yesterday and put Red line MTL in it. I think the original owner had Amsoil in it though. Nevertheless, my transmission shifts beautifully.

 

[cumminspwr01]

I use Redline MTL in the trans and it works just fine. Also Genos Garage has a list of fluids you can use for anything on the truck that takes oil. I have also heard of some people using Amsoil 5W30 but I've never used it myself. I've heard mixed opinions about the amsoil.

 

[Tcolesanti]

I've heard the same thing about amsoil, but the fluid was definately not OEM, figuring it was amsoil. Anyone have problems with Amsoil?? How about Redline MTL??

 

[bombero]

Ive use Redline for about 30K> Working just fine. MTL is use in high HP racing transmissions. That is what it was designed for. On the other hand, motor oil, whether it is Amsoil or some other brand is not. In fact some for the additives in motor oil may eat up the synro rings in standard transmissions.

 

[Dane]

No need to double clutch. You do need to blip the throttle when down shifting and it will "fall" into gear. When the NV5600 gets hard to shift, it's telling you it's time to change the oil.

 

[MRiley]

I never double clutch. Drive it like you stole it! I watch the revs and occasionally just rap the throttle for down shifting. Other than that it shifts better than most of the gassers I've had.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

38k miles, shifts smooth up and down. Except going into reverse. It hangs half way up. It feels like its in R if your not the one who drives it all the time and then it grinds when the clutch is put in.



Thinking of a BD short shift.

 

[darkhorse]

Tyler, I just put a short shifter in my '01 this weekend. I thought it was a little expensive but it works beautifly.

 

[Tcolesanti]

My friend has an '01 HO and his won't go into reverse unless you are completley stopped and the clutch pedal mashed to the floor. On my truck, I can still be rolling forward and it will just slide into reverse. My friend had ground reverse real bad when he first got the truck-(looking for fifth downshifting), so that may have something to do with it.

 

[TDeSteuben]

my truck seems to shift smoother when rpms are at least 2000 ro higher, seems to shift really well closer to 2500 even!!!