Getreg Fluid

[CSchafer]

Just wondering what fluid I should use in my getreg. I'm about to change itand wondering what to put back in.

 

[Smokey 01]

The recommended oil is 5w-30 synthetic motor oil. BTW if you don't already know it holds 3. 5 quarts but pull out the top pto cover bolt and put in 4. 5 or 5 quarts.

 

[MMiller]

Most will put the mobil 5w30, some run 80W90, but I wonder about winter time use myself with the 80w90. James, the getrag guru runs 80w90. Now I myself went to the owners manual and it says to use an engine oil 5W30 with SG/SJ rating. I have found penzoil oil that fits that bill, and change it yearly, usually around 10,000 miles on the oil.



I pull the shifter and fill the transmission through the shifter up to the fill plug, and then install the plug and add another 1. 5 quarts.



When you drain it, you will probably find some brass, its out of the synchros pretty normal. Pull the pto covers and clean the bottom of the transmission, and look around at everything. Look for a magnet, and clean it looking for big pieces. Take a pry bar and pry on the gears looking for end play. There should not be any.



FWIW when I road in your truck I noticed your getrag talks more then mine does. I should have made you ride in my truck to see if there was a differnce. I also noted Bill's transmission was kinda noisy, but I think its a little wounded from the big pump. I also don't know if there were any changes from the 89-91's to my 93 as far as noise deading stuff. It may well be that my transmission is noisy, just can't hear it as much.



Michael

 

[JLEONARD]

I wonder about winter time use myself with the 80w90



I wonder if a 15-40 synthetic would be a good compromise for those in the colder climates... ... thoughts?

Jay

 

[jdross440]

Getrag oil

I use Castroil Syntec and have 210,000 miles with not problems. I also overfilled by 1 quart. The Castroil quieted my transmission when below 1000 rpm in 5th-no chatter.

 

[bgilbert]

1000rpm in 5th , thats a good way to make the getrag make noise .

 

[CSchafer]

Thanks everybody, I'm having my clutch done so it's a good time to do the fluid, should have it done tomarrow. sounds like there is a pretty wide range of oil, I'll probly run 5w30 since winter is coming. I havent noteced any noises in the trans but it does get stuck in forth if you try for fith on to much of an angle, usually speed shifting Thanks for the replys



Cade

 

[RWWinslow]

Consulting the handy Viscosity Grading Reference Chart 80W-90 Gear Oil corresponds to a 20W-50 engine oil viscosity. The 5W-30 recommendation is for cold weather applications and the primary concern behind this recommendation is on the input shaft area - there is a very tiny oil supply hole for this area. Be careful about using a 80W-90 gear oil with sulfonated EP additives. Some sulfonated EP additives can break down in higher temperature applications and react to form acidic sulfur components which will attack the brass components in the transmission.



I ran my Getrag for 350,000 miles mostly on Mobil 1 5W-30 with one quart overfill. I had one bearing replacement job at 260,000 miles. The key to this ongevity was to change the oil frequently, overfill, and not lug down in the upper gears.

 

[jdross440]

I wasn't pulling anything at 1000 rpm in 5th, just idling along empty. I always shift down when pulling or accelerating from this low speed to get the rpm and torque going.

 

[1stgen4evr]

transmission lube

I should comment here since Michael mentioned my application. There were several inputs to using the heavier lube at the time I made the decision. Some of the inputs were from previous experience with motor oil for lube on heavily loaded gears in a crawler application.



At the time, (probably during 1995) I was working on my Getrag and was not aware of the information that is now available with the TDR forums. I had experienced a pocket bearing problem and was just using my best judgment with what I saw inside the transmission. There appeared to be some lubrication failure on the OD gear set and being only aware of the gossip regarding the Getrag, I was searching for a way to make it last with my application. It (my truck) gets worked really hard some of the time and I have opened the side plug after six hundred miles of towing and even with the heavier lube the gear oil is thin as water.



Now there is no doubt in my mind that Dodge knew and would not tell what was wrong with the transmission in the application that some were putting these trucks to. They did the warranty work and maintained hush mouth to this day. So I had nothing but my previous experience to go on. Has it worked for me? Yes, without a doubt. 456k miles total and no gear problems. Syncronizer replacement at 380k on the fourth gear. I DO experience a heavy shift for a mile or two in the winter weather. In the really cold climates, the 85aw would certainly be too much.



After reading about the problems that others have and after working on a few of the Getrags, I am convinced that the MAIN problem is the tail low mounting which starves the pocket bearing. There is also the problem that manifest with the fwd application and I am begining to think that there is a thrust component created in the lower gears which derives from the helical gears which in turn overloads the pocket bearing resulting in early destruction. Both of these problems could have been addressed with minor design upgrades by a company with the capacity of Dodge. They chose to throw out the design and go with the NV, which HAS a bigger pocket bearing.



So here we are today, still fighting the lack of definitive information from the people who should have been forthcomming in the first place. I should also add that I hold no grudge for Dodge.



What do I think about oil now? I still use 85aw. Use whatever you think best but be sure to use the extra quart. Don't dog the He** out of your truck in fwd.



Enjoy your truck, I do enjoy mine.



James

 

[ARhine]

What about an 80-90 synthetic? I have used some of it made by Amsoil in rear diffs. It does not get as thick as snot like the dino does on a cold day. In fact once you get below 40 degrees or so I bet it pours easier than 10-30 dino motor oil.



Any thoughts?

 

[JLEONARD]

My thought based on what James wrote is give it a try. The worst that will happen is you may have to idle in neutral for a bnit to let the fluid warm up a bit before you drive in cold weather.

I had an old 1970 Dodge Dart 3 spd that acted that way when I put in some 80/90 mixed with the auto transmission fluid it was supposed to have. That was in Tenn and the first few shifts on a winter morning were s l o w like James experienced.



Just be ready to drain and replace if it gets to be a problem..... and by all means keep us in the loop as to how it works out.



Jay

 

[CSchafer]

I ended up going with valvoline 5w-30 synthetic. I was looking at a 50w sythetic transmission lubricant made by lucas, it came in gallons and was 36 bucks. If the gallon would of been enough I probobly would of bought it. What do you guys think about this lucas stuff?

Cade