G56 fluid level

[amsoilman]

Because I do as much of my own maintenance as possible, I am very interested to find out what the "official" word is on the fluid level of these G56 trannys. With all of the posts I have seen about low fluid level, I have not seen any reference to a factory TSB or other bulletin on the subject.



Before I change the fluid in my trans, I will go to a couple of dealer service departments and inquire about any irregularities with the fluid level.



I am particulary sensitive to this question because my 1st G56 bought the farm at 400 miles. I was never given any reason for the failure.



Robert

The book calls for Manual Transmission, G56... ... ... . 12. 0 pints, or 6 Quarts.

I beleive you will find when you get about 5 1/2 quarts in it, it will start coming out the hole.





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[sag2]

There was no TSB issued for the over fill on the trucks that were held. It was an RRT, kind of a special bulletin only to those dealers that were shipped a suspect truck. The over fill was to keep the output bearing from burning up in the first couple of miles of use. If you check the service manual, the G-56 used heated bearings to assemble the trans without any special installers. The plant was overheating the bearings and burning out the "assembly" lube. Since the bearing sits so high in the case it relies on splash to oil it, and the over fill was there to make sure the bearing got adequate lubrication when new. The proper fill is just as the service manual indicates, no more and no less. However, that being said, remember the old Getrag and adding the extra quart. Obviously the extra quart will not hurt it, and could help prolong the life, but is not necessary.

 

[klenger]

That's the best explanation of the G56 fluid level I have ever read here, and it even makes sense.

 

[tsi_2baad4u]

Yes, that finally makes some sense. Thanks Sag2.

 

[Buffalo]

Overfilling the NV-5600???

Mr. Sag2,



Would there be any benefit, or problem, with overfilling the NV-5600's?



Thank You.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[67guzzler]

Ok -- RRT (not TSB) then. I knew I read it and I knew that it called for adding an extra quart of fluid through the shift tower on certain VIN's.



Having said that I too apprecate sag2 putting a clarity on this confusing situation and setting the record straight. It's good to know that I'm wrong in that the fill up to the opening level is correct as stated by Amsoilman. It would be really inconvenient to have to find a way to overfill it just to keep from burning up your output bearing.

 

[RJOL]

Nope -- That won't cut it. There's an issue with the 2005's and the G56's. The hole is too low on the side of the transmission. They were burning up transmission's before they realized that another quart was necessary from the top where the shifter enters the housing. There's a TSB on it.

Don't mean to throw fuel on the fire but I don't think there was ever a TSB for this suspected problem. Chysler never did come out and say exactly what the problem was, but the best we ever got was that a series of CTD's, with the new G56 transmission, may have left the factory "under filled. "



Chrysler never recalled any of the trucks that were delivered before the hold, and never notified any owners of a potential problem with the transmission fill hole.



If you have information on a TSB, I'd like to see it...

 

[67guzzler]

Hello?



Did you read sag2's post above and my reply above too?



RRT -- I was wrong. Not TSB. sag2 pointed that out above. There was a bulletin of some sort however. sag2 made a very cogent post explaining the issue and clarifying the situation.



Just a friendly suggestion -- you may want to consider reading the whole thread before posting...



Just a thought... .

Don't mean to throw fuel on the fire but I don't think there was ever a TSB for this suspected problem. Chysler never did come out and say exactly what the problem was, but the best we ever got was that a series of CTD's, with the new G56 transmission, may have left the factory "under filled. "



Chrysler never recalled any of the trucks that were delivered before the hold, and never notified any owners of a potential problem with the transmission fill hole.



If you have information on a TSB, I'd like to see it...

 

[steved]

Sorta like the guys with the first gen Getrags did to increase transmission life... overfill a quart or two through the shift tower.



Shouldn't hurt anything as long as you don't get carried away to the point it starts barfing fluid out the breather!



I was wondering about overfilling my NV5600 this weekend when I changed fluid... like the other guy, anyone have thoughts on this??



steved

 

[RJOL]

... Just a friendly suggestion -- you may want to consider reading the whole thread before posting...



Just a thought... .

Your correct... I missed that post. The point here is to make sure that 2005 G56 owners aren't lead down the path of "misinformation. " The fill hole is in the right spot; there is no TSB; there is no recall; and your G56 should just be fine with normal and regular maintenance following the published maintenance procedures... .

 

[tsi_2baad4u]

No need to people to get upset. I was just stating that the original problem of the transmission bearings going bad within a couple hundred miles is NOT a low fluid problem. The reason DC never recalled any of the pre-problem trucks is because if it made it past 1000mi then it was ok and no need to recall it.

 

[steved]

The reason DC never recalled any of the pre-problem trucks is because if it made it past 1000mi then it was ok and no need to recall it.

The only bad thing is that there is the potential for those bearings to have been damaged and cause premature failure... giving potential buyers the idea this new transmission is "junk" and owners the grief of (hopefully) getting repaired under warranty... not a good choice for DC, if they cared.



I'm starting to wonder if that might have been what happened to the G56 SBC tore into... low fluid level.



steved

 

[JayB]

When I got 10,000 miles on mine I decided to change the fluid to synthetic. Before pulling the drain plug I pulled the fill plug, 36oz drained out with the fill plug removed. After fully draining the trans I refilled it up to the plug, then jacked up one side of the truck and put in the extra quart. Jeff

 

[REndres]

I was at the dealer today and asked the service manager about fluid level in the G56 and any issues or special filling procedures. That drew a blank so I asked if they could research any tsb's relating to it. They checked based on my vin #, build date 5-05,came up with nothing,no tsb on G56 at all for my vin #. I am thinking of measuring amount drained and compare it with capacity posted in manual when I go to change it.

By the way I was in for check engine light that came on this morning. Diagnosed as being battery temp sensor which will be replace tomorrow

 

[REndres]

There was no TSB issued for the over fill on the trucks that were held. It was an RRT, kind of a special bulletin only to those dealers that were shipped a suspect truck. The over fill was to keep the output bearing from burning up in the first couple of miles of use. If you check the service manual, the G-56 used heated bearings to assemble the trans without any special installers. The plant was overheating the bearings and burning out the "assembly" lube. Since the bearing sits so high in the case it relies on splash to oil it, and the over fill was there to make sure the bearing got adequate lubrication when new. The proper fill is just as the service manual indicates, no more and no less. However, that being said, remember the old Getrag and adding the extra quart. Obviously the extra quart will not hurt it, and could help prolong the life, but is not necessary.

This sounds right to me. I had a chance to talk to a service foreman today and he said that some early G56 trannys were overfilled because of a pre lube problem and they were advised that the overfill was a one time deal and overfilling above the fill hole was not necessary on re filling. He said the trouble ones would fail within a few hundred miles.

 

[steved]

This sounds right to me. I had a chance to talk to a service foreman today and he said that some early G56 trannys were overfilled because of a pre lube problem and they were advised that the overfill was a one time deal and overfilling above the fill hole was not necessary on re filling. He said the trouble ones would fail within a few hundred miles.

Hmmm... now this is what I think of this whole deal...



Ok, if the overfill was a one time deal... and it didn't cause issues (leaks)... and more oil is better than less oil for gears... shouldn't one who has the G56 run it overfilled just as an added measure of protection (from wear and heat) if they can??



If I had one, I would... it doesn't seem to hurt anything.



steved

 

[amsoilman]

Hmmm... now this is what I think of this whole deal...



Ok, if the overfill was a one time deal... and it didn't cause issues (leaks)... and more oil is better than less oil for gears... shouldn't one who has the G56 run it overfilled just as an added measure of protection (from wear and heat) if they can??



If I had one, I would... it doesn't seem to hurt anything.



steved

I think he has it backwards. The transmissions were UNDER FILLED at the Transmission factory, before being put in the trucks. They corrected it at the factory, and there was NO TSB's or recalls.





Wayne

 

[67guzzler]

Why did the RRT (NOT TSB -- I'm SOOOO SORRY I GOT MY ACRONYMS MIXED UP) require the dealer to go in from the top of the shift tower and NOT just pump another quart in the hole on the right hand side? Huh?

 

[RJOL]

Why did the RRT (NOT TSB -- I'm SOOOO SORRY I GOT MY ACRONYMS MIXED UP) require the dealer to go in from the top of the shift tower and NOT just pump another quart in the hole on the right hand side? Huh?

Jay... Maybe you should go back and read sag2's comments. Here they are for your review:



"... There was no TSB issued for the over fill on the trucks that were held. It was an RRT, kind of a special bulletin only to those dealers that were shipped a suspect truck. The over fill was to keep the output bearing from burning up in the first couple of miles of use. If you check the service manual, the G-56 used heated bearings to assemble the trans without any special installers. The plant was overheating the bearings and burning out the "assembly" lube. Since the bearing sits so high in the case it relies on splash to oil it, and the over fill was there to make sure the bearing got adequate lubrication when new. The proper fill is just as the service manual indicates, no more and no less... . "



This sounds as good as anything we have heard on this issue. They went in from the top because if they tried to add the extra lubricant through the fill hole it would have just run out.



Again, what is absolutely definite is that there was no recall, the fill hole is in the right spot, and you just need to fill it as specified in the maintenance manual. I would suggest that the great majority of us G56 owners, who never added any more lubricant, and have many thousands of miles on our trucks, will just keep on trucking and not worry about all these G56 rumors...

 

[REndres]

Just to clarify my statement,What what the service foreman (the guy that actually works on the trucks , not the service manager who stands behind the counter all day)told me was they were advised some suspect trucks were overfilled at the factory after being ready for delivery and certain ones that got delivered should be overfilled if they made it to the dealership. He said no suspect trucks came to him but the method he was advised to use was installing a hose and fitting and use a pump to over fill it above normal capacity. They were advised it was not needed to overfill at any other oil changes or service.

That being said it shouldn't hurt to over fill a bit when changing oil or servicing in my opinion.