Getrag 5 speed Questions

[Racer Brown]

I was reading in the new manual that I just got from Dodge that the Getrag transmsions use 5w30 oil instead of regular gear oil? Well, having been a gearhead all my life, that didn't set well. I had a gear seize up on a shaft in a 4 speed car years ago with transmission fluid instead of gear oil and I'd like some opinions on this. There is some 75w90 gear oil available and I was wondering if anyone has put regular gear oil in one of these things and if so, what has been the outcome.

Also, I have had my transmission to jump out of 1st gear a few times since I bought it in December. It doesn't do it all the time, most of the time it happens when it's cold. Today, however, it was a warm (65deg) day and it did it twice after it was warmed up. I'm wondering if there is a problem with a shifting rail or fork that is causing it to not go all the way in gear sometimes. Anyone else had any problems like this with one of these?

Thanks to all the ppl that responded to the service manual question etc. I did go ahead and buy one from Dodge and you're right about one thing. That thing has about everything you'd ever need to know about one of these trucks. I've used it already and if the above transmission problems continue, I'm going to really be needing it when I pull that thing out and down!

Thanks again, Racer

1993 W350 LE, 4x4, Inter Cooled Turbo Diesel, 5speed http://users. lynchburg.net/ken0069

[This message has been edited by Racer Brown (edited 02-09-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by Racer Brown (edited 02-09-2001). ]

 

[unclebilly]

The Getrags are notorious for the 1st and 2nd gear syncros heading south. My 2nd gear syncro is buggered and every so often it pops out of second.

Dodge will happily have you mortgage your house to buy a rebuild kit from them that includes almost eveything for the trans.

Some local gear shops can get you a new 1st / 2nd syncro for a fairly reasonable price but I reccomend going to www.standardtransmission.com they are very knowledgable about the whole Getrag problem and have the best prices that I have seen for parts - you'll be amazed. They are located in Fort Worth.

I am surprised to hear about the 5W30 oil for the trans - I was planning on topping up my trans tonite and putting in some molyslip - now I'm going to hold off until I know whether or not to use gear oil.

Scott.

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91. 5 CTD 4X4, 5" Stacks, Tweaked Pump, 33" Boots (in the summer), One Wheel Squeel

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Racer Brown
Getrag recomends 5W30 because of the close tolerences inside the transmission. I tried 5W50 to help quiet my rebuilt Getrag but that was no help. I finally gave up and installed an NV4500 as there is a fix out there for the 5th gear problem. I like the NV4500 much better than the Getrag - it's much quieter.
I am aware of someone using 75W90 in their G360 and loosing the transmission. The transmission had over 100,000 on it so I don't know if it was still good or not. Hope this helps.
Happy Trails

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1993 250 4X2 - Banks Power Pack, BD Power Injectors, K&N Air Filter, 6 gauges and tweaked pump. 27lbs boost unloaded.
Horton fan & NV4500 5 speed.

 

[Big Don]

I have run Amsoil 5w30 synthetic in mine for about the last 6 years and it really helps. Mine has never offered to jump out of gear and it used for towing and is also a daily driver. If mine has any problems it is that one cold mornings when I shift into third you can "feel" it go into gear. I would not say it grinds, but you can feel it catch as you engage it. Usually after 1 mile this does not happen any more. I have 160,000 on it and I think the Getrags are good if you don't abuse them. I do know some local guys who busted there Getrag, but it was in a used truck and these boys are pretty rough on equipment. I would agree that if it does go south, buy the NV4500 with 5th gear fix. I would not recommend using a heavy oil in the Getrag.

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Ol' Blue "First of the first gens: 1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 155,000, Banks stage III powerpack, 3. 5" straight exhaust, pump adjustments, "'Ol Blue Special" injectors.
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let, 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, VA plug'n power and Practical Solutions boost module. Jacobs E brake. Getting ready to install Banks Power Pack TLC!!
May buy another one in 2009!!
Check us out at:
http://donstractorrepair. homestead.com

 

[DJP]

I have also run 5W-30 synthetic (Valvoline) in my Getrag for over 125K mi. My trans. has held up fine for over 215K mi. The only problems I have had with it are identical to what Big Don just mentioned.
When I purchased the truck used, at 91K mi. the transmission did not shift very well at all, and would not always go completely into gear and sometimes pop out. I drained out the 90w gear oil and serviced it with the 5w-30 synthetic per the owners manual and never had a problem since.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, K&N, Full Boar Muffler, 3" exhaust, Diesel Dynamics Stage 1 kit, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K miles.

 

[komual]

The book recommends havoline 5/30 synth. Supposedly because of the tight build qualities, and the inability to sling 90 weight high enough to lube the top end of the box. Geno's garage sells a filter kit that also adds an additional pint of fluid capacity that should help some as well. HTH, Alan

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1993 W350 Club Cab 5 speed dually. P. W. injectors, Banks stinger, pyro, boost and tach, 22 lbs of boost, and rising... Hey, 'stroke this buddy!

[This message has been edited by komual (edited 02-12-2001). ]

 

[Lil' Dog]

If you look up viscosities of the oils, your 80W90 gear oil has the same viscosity of the 10W30's on the shelf. Going to the 80W90 just removes the detergents from the additive package and will make you into Popeye in the winter months. The close gear tolerances and bearings require better lubrication at the higher speeds than your differential.
Stick with the 5W30 and I was told to overfill it to the middle-top of the filler hole to ensure adequate oil to the input shaft bearing. Extra capacity also helps in cooling.

J-eh

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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 LSD Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs.
237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs. Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

Lil' Mack Pics 07-00

 

[Racer Brown]

Well, I've always heard that a mechanic's vehicles are the worst kept of all, and now I believe it! I purchased my 93 w350 from a mechanic back in December of last year. I assumed (yeah, I know what that means) that it would have been "well kept" given that a mechanic owned it. WRONG ANSWER! This transmission problem was probably helped along by the fact that it was a quart low on oil, as was the rear differential! I reworked the front brakes last week to find out that new pads had been installed and the rotors had never been turned in 78,000 miles? So, when I changed the oil in the transmission yesterday, the 5w30 Mobile one seems to have corrected my problems, I think. I drove the truck yesterday and put about 40 miles on it and now I don't have any shifting problems at all! It's smooth as silk on all up and down shifts and I didn't have any problem with it jumping out of first gear either. Just goes to show that there's no substitute for a good preventive maintenance program, is there? Thanks to all for all the information that was posted. Next will be a new turbo housing and injectors to see if I can make the clutch fail... See Ya! Ken

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Ken-1993 W350, Cummins TD, 5 Speed, 4X4, Club Cab, LE, K&N, Straight Pipe.
http://users. lynchburg.net/ken0069

 

[unclebilly]

Put 5W30 Castrol Syntec into my Getrag last night. Old stuff was not thick like gear oil but sure as hell smelled like it. I presume thst the previous owner may have topped up the trans with gear oil at one point.

My shifting isn't as nice as the Getrag in my chevy but is much better than it was.



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91. 5 CTD 4X4, 5" Stacks, Tweaked Pump, 33" Boots (in the summer), One Wheel Squeel

 

[ScottB]

A good friend of mine and I took a 2000 mile trip both pulling trailers. He had a 93 with the getrag. He started complaining about it shifting tight and we noticed that it was starting to leak a little fluid. So we topped it off with gear oil. Some 5 or 6 hundred miles later it was all over. He just had a few gears left. We found a good trans shop in South Dakota. He rebuilt that trans in 2 days air shipping parts in. The moral to this story is that the tail shaft bearings cannot and will not handle gear oil also If memory serves me right the input shaft cannot tolerate it. The lighter oil will move around better to keep things cool and lubricated. He learned the hard way I learned from him. You can also.

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93 W350 5spd White 3. 54 gears 4" stack Powerwagon Injectors. Headache rack with lights. Cummins Mudflaps. 2" lift on seat. Goosneck ball Beefed up reciever. Fog lamps, Back up lights. CB 98 Factory sound system

 

[Racer Brown]

Well, I was wrong about the transmission oil change fixing everything. It still jumps out of 1st gear sometimes. Guess I'll have to pull this thing out anyway... :-( I guess I need to look at the clutch to so that will be a good time to do that. I guess the turbo housing and injectors will have to wait a while now... :-(... ... ... .....
Any suggestions on a Clutch for this thing? See Ya!... ... ...

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Ken-1993 W350, Cummins TD, 5 Speed, 4X4, Club Cab, LE, K&N, Straight Pipe.
http://users. lynchburg.net/ken0069