Fastcooler installed

[John Berger]

The whole process took right around an hour. Install was relatively easy. I got five quarts of Amsoil 75W-90 into the transmission. The really neat thing about this accessory is that you can use the sensor tap to pour the fluid in, which is much easier than filling it through the plug tap. Next up is a guage set to monitor those temps.

 

[TomGolden]

John



Did you really use Amsoil 75W-90 gear lube in your transmission ???



I used Amsoil Series 3000 5W-30 engine oil in mine, as that is what several of the TDR Amsoil "gurus" recommended as being the closest to the Texaco MTX 1874 OEM lube.



I have no idea if using the heavier gear lube, as you did, will have any draw backs, just wanted to point out what I was tols, and what I used. I have about 3000 miles on the 5W-30 now, absolutely no problems of any kind so far...



Tom

 

[Texas Diesel]

John, I read somewhere that the EP additives in the "Gear Oil" would have a detremental effect on the soft "yellow" metal used in the syncros. This damage wont show immediately as bad shifting but will show up after the soft syncros are dissolved. I cant confirm this but wanted to pass it along to you anyway.

 

[John Berger]

Tom, I used the Amsoil because I have a 5 speed, not a six speed

 

[DEZLPWR]

Amsoil in 5 spd transmission???

John-



I guess you have bigger cajones than I do. I have read several articles that state that you should stick with the stock Castrol Syntorq in the 5spds. A very recent TDR mag (don't remember which issue) had a write-up on this topic as well and also advised to stick with the Syntorq.



Hopefully, you don't run into problems. My . 02: it's not worth taking a chance.....

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've also put Amsoil Series 2K 75W90 in my 5 speed. I did this after seeing the inside of my transmission after running Castrol for 60,000 miles and seeing the inside of MGM's transmission at 85,000 miles after running Amsoil. His transmission looked WAY better on the inside than mine. Since changing to the Amsoil my transmission shifts much better than it ever did with the Castrol. My $. 02

 

[Briar Hopper]

Same reason I'm running Amsoil series 2000 75w-90 in my 5 speed. I just had the oil analyzed after 15,000 miles on it. No contaminants,very little wear metal. If the soft synchros or anything else are dissolving, it ain't showed up yet.

The transmission will either last a lot longer than with Syntorq, or I'll just have to holler up to Enterprise Engine and buy another 5 speed. Don't care either way. Little faith in this oil goes a long way.

 

[JJW_ND]

Amsoil is just fine!

After 150K (110K on Amsoil), several 5th gear failures, pulled very hard way to many times in Summer heat and winter cold I sent this core to OH Transmission shop. Rebuild only require on 5th gear assemble. Lower gears looked great.



I would not rush out and change to Amsoil but if you feel you need to change the trans (5sp only) and you should every 50K, I would not hesitate to put in Amsoil Series 2000 75W90. I monitered fluid temps and pulled several oil samples on that trans.



I think the yellow metals issue is from outdated test in NON Dodge applications. A very similar NVG4500 was used in GM applicaitons. We had several and and under similar long hard pulles you could NOT hold you hand on the lower part of the gear shift lever. The transmission mentioned above only got luke warm which showed 180 degrees on the temp gauge.



I have 50K on the new replacement transmission (installed a 2000 model year 5sp in my 96 truck). It shifted very poorly as compared to the one replaced. Drained the factory fill at 25K, tests showed 5W30 (6sp fluid). Replace with Amsoil and shifting much improved.



If you have a problem with your 5sp, it won't be from a good GL5 fluid.



jjw

ND

 

[Sled Puller]

Amsoil 75-90 Rocks in 5 speed!

Please keep in mind that TDR articles are peoples opinions, and can be wrong.

Just because it is in print does not make it absolute.



If you read any of the articles on the 5 speed lubes, you will notice a pattern.



The pattern is, nobody is using the Amsoil to test it, they are just discussing what COULD happen to an ordinary GL-5, something Amsoil is not.



After reading the pages of 'ifs" my transmission is still shifting fine, at 109,000 miles, with abuse.

Amsoil works in this transmission.



Gene

 

[Don M]

Some of the articles in the TDR are more than just plain old opinions. Some articles are actually written by folks who do real world tests with real world quantative data. The Castrol tests were done with real world data and the "peoples opinions" were left out.





Many of you will hear the argument about how Castrol was the low bidder in the contract for the manufacture of the oil for the 5 speed. This is an attempt to make Castrol seem to be a product of inferior quality because of the lower price. It actually has more to do with the fact the Castrol can produce a product at a much lower cost than many of the smaller sized companies thus they can generally have a lower bid price. Castrol is the largest buyer of hydrocracked and hydroisomerized oil base stocks. This put them in a better position to offer a lower overall cost of the contract bid.



The NV4500 5 speed is a splash lubricated transmission. Certain rheological properties are important to maintain proper lubrication. Many of the other brands of oil are not rheologically close to the Castrol and this may help explain the higher operating temperatures of the other oils. The horse power drag tests performed by JDonnelly prove the Castrol had the lowest HP drag of all the tested oils. The lower drag converts to lower operating temperatures. Friction from the higher HP drag is converted to heat. Just like brakes on your truck convert forward energy to heat energy to stop the truck, the other oils that show the higher HP drag will convert the higher drag to heat.



Further, the other oils will have a much higher overall toxicity and will biodegrade much slower than Castrol. This only adds up to more crud per bottle to be dealt with later on down the road.



Castrol will properly lubricate the NV4500, keep the operating temps down, and is the ONLY oil to be used according to the manufacturer of the transmission and DC. DC has affixed a sticker to the transmission stating the transmission warranty is VOID if any other oil is used.



Don~

 

[John Berger]

I ran the factory stuff in my transmission for the first 8500 miles. I never did any significant towing. I changed to Amsoil 75W-90, and ran it for 42K miles. During that 42K miles, I did a significant amount of towing in all conditions. Analysis numbers were just fine, but Blackstone recommended changing it at that interval. I went with the factory stuff at that time and after a significant tow, I started having shifting problems. I put the Amsoil back in when I put the Fastcooler cover on.



Note: I am not using the Series 2000 75W-90, nor did I in my previous run. Presently, I'm using the other synthetic 75W-90 that Amsoil makes, which is the same lube I used for the 42K run. It is just fine, also. Next time around I'll go with the Series 2000. It performed well in my differential for over 40K miles.



I don't doubt the TDR article, I just don't think the Amsoil has been tested in this application. I think money, i. e. the cost of the Syntorq lube, is an issue as well.