Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) HOORAY! I got my 6-speed back...

[Gary - K7GLD]

WELL, it never was really GONE - but my recent switch to Redline MTL lube sure made it ACT like a stranger! The cold shifting was actually WORSE than with the standard DC lube - and instead of a minor OCCASIONAL "catch" when going into 3rd gear, that "catch" became quite common, and brought along a similar 4th gear "catch" along with it!



Several times, from a dead stop, the transmission would NOT allow me to place it in ANY gear without shutting down the engine, placing it in gear, then restarting the engine. Down the road, everything was fine and normal.



The Redline stuff was an experiment - my transmission before the Redline MTL shifted perfectly, other than the mentioned 3rd gear "catch" when cold for the first couple of shifts, and not always, even at that.



SO, on a visit to a DC dealership in Ontario Oregon earlier this week, I picked up 4 quarts of the "DC good stuff", and did a drain/refill this morning after only 1500 miles or so on the Redline stuff - and was rewarded by the instant return in original shifting quality.



I know many guys have excellent results with the Redline MTL - it just didn't happen for me.



YMMV, and FYI!

 

[Cigar John]

Before changing mine to synthetic I checked around and it seemed to me that the Redline MTL was a little to heavy for the nv-5600 so I used Royal Purple Syncromax. It seems to shift better than with the stock fluid.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Gary I know a few people haven't had good luck with Redline MTL, I know it helped my '01 a lot. My shifting was better than with the stock stuff and Amsoil 5W30 (worst of the 3).



Cigar John in the checking I did the Redline is supposed to be the correct viscosity, but the Royal Purple is quite a bit lighter and I was concerned it wouldn't be able to handle serious shock loading and shear forces beetween gears. If you run it I would change it out fairly often.



I'm sure the stock lube is very good stuff, the difficulty is shelling out the premium bucks for it.



Vaughn

 

[Cigar John]

You are right the Redline is the correct oil for the 5 speed which is 75w GL-4,but the 6 speed uses a thinner lube.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Prices for the correct DC stuff DOES seem to vary a great deal - and is very expensive at a few dealerships - but back in California, and here in Oregon, the price is $9 a quart - not cheap, but about the same price I paid for the Redline stuff... I put about 30,000 miles on the first transmission full, and when I drained it, it looked good as new - so I'll probably go at least that distance with this last refill...

 

[Rman]

Gary I changed out my RP synchromax at 30k and I couldn't tell it had been used. I'm thinking of pushing the next one to 50k. I'm also considering analysis to see exactly what's happening. I'm impressed with the RP, I use it in the T-case as well. I buy it by the case via internet normally. I've found it locally, but they wanted just as much as I can get it for shipped to me.

 

[GKinney]

what????

$9 a qt. for the oem synthetic from Mopar is cheap compared to this area. I have changed it in my 5spd. three times now at $22/qt. Guess I will have to order it from out west next time.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

You are right the Redline is the correct oil for the 5 speed which is 75w GL-4,but the 6 speed uses a thinner lube.

John, almost . . . the MTL is 75w which is equivalent to 30wt engine lube, which is correct for the 6-speed not the 5-speed.



The MTL 90 is 75W/90 lube which is equivalent 10W/40 engine lube which is more appropriate to the 5-speed. Details: http://www.redlineoil.com/whitePaper/13.pdf

http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/6.pdf



Royal Purple's Synchromax I could not find what weight it was, but to compare viscosity at 100*C:



Redline MTL - 10. 6

Redline MTL90 - 15. 6

Royal Purple Synchromax - 7. 7 http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/scmax.html



Rman how much metallic collection on your magnet?



Vaughn

 

[Cigar John]

http://www.royalpurple.com/techa/tranxref.html

Try this page.

It shows that the NV-5600 uses Syncromax and the NV-4500 uses MAX GEAR 75W90.

Some times thicker oil isn't better oil.

 

[Bob4x4]

$9 a qt. for the oem synthetic from Mopar is cheap compared to this area. I have changed it in my 5spd. three times now at $22/qt. Guess I will have to order it from out west next time.

The 5spd and 6spd take different oils



Bob

 

[Supermod56]

The 5spd and 6spd take different oils



Bob

True, I put the MT90 in my 4500, works like a champ!!!



Tom



2001. 5 2500 4X4 5-Spd LB QC Black. Catcher ECM, DD Stage-1's, AFE, Bully Dog 4" pipe, ATS Exhaust Manifold, Silencer Ring MIA, JAKE Brake w/shifter switch, Geno's Banjo's, 3 Autometer's on the A-Pillar, Gear Vendor's O/D, Firestone Air Bags, Redline Oil throughout.

Soon-to-have 14cm Turbo Housing and RASP Pump (Thanks Olee!!)

 

[Rman]

John, almost . . . the MTL is 75w which is equivalent to 30wt engine lube, which is correct for the 6-speed not the 5-speed.



The MTL 90 is 75W/90 lube which is equivalent 10W/40 engine lube which is more appropriate to the 5-speed. Details: http://www.redlineoil.com/whitePaper/13.pdf

http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/6.pdf



Royal Purple's Synchromax I could not find what weight it was, but to compare viscosity at 100*C:



Redline MTL - 10. 6

Redline MTL90 - 15. 6

Royal Purple Synchromax - 7. 7 http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/scmax.html



Rman how much metallic collection on your magnet?



Vaughn

I my last change I had very little, compared to the first 2 changes. I'm sticking with it, I haven't had any problems yet. If it grenades I'll buy a better transmission anyway. I've 6 speeds with the stock fluid not last 100k, I'm half way there with this stuff!

 

[Hokey]

I buy it by the case via internet normally. I've found it locally, but they wanted just as much as I can get it for shipped to me.

Rman-where are you getting the RP? I have been getting it locally for about $9/quart for the SMax for the 6 speed Nv5600 can I do better on this price?

I plan to use RP in the t-case and diffs also. Thanks,

Hokey

 

[Rman]

I bought it here last time www.rpmoil.com I think it came to about 7. 50 a qt. shipped. Plus it saved me driving time to get the stuff.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

What about Penzoil Synchromesh 3501? Has anyone tried this stuff on an NV5600?

 

[Hohn]

John, almost . . . the MTL is 75w which is equivalent to 30wt engine lube, which is correct for the 6-speed not the 5-speed.



The MTL 90 is 75W/90 lube which is equivalent 10W/40 engine lube which is more appropriate to the 5-speed. Details: http://www.redlineoil.com/whitePaper/13.pdf

http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/6.pdf



Royal Purple's Synchromax I could not find what weight it was, but to compare viscosity at 100*C:



Redline MTL - 10. 6

Redline MTL90 - 15. 6

Royal Purple Synchromax - 7. 7 http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/scmax.html



Rman how much metallic collection on your magnet?



Vaughn

Vaughn, that's good info.



One question, though. How often will the trans lube see 100°C? Does transmission lube normally get that hot?



The reason I ask is that if the temp doesn't get that hot, then the viscosity difference should be less significant, true? Or is it MORE significant?



Gary-- Sorry to hear that MTL didn't work out for you. How long did you run the stock lube before trying MTL? I ask because I've had good results with it and I switched to MTL with only 14K on the clock.



I'd consider the RP lube as well. You can run a lighter viscosity synthetic because they have MUCH higher film strengths for a given viscosity and temperature.



IOW, a quality syn like Redline or RP can be as "strong" in a 0w-20 as a dino oil might be in a 10w-40.



Thus, I'd think that the RP lube would be fine, even though it's not "spec" per se. I'd at least give it a shot and then run a UOA to see how much it sheared down compared to stock lube and other alternatives.



I like Redline stuff, but I'm not married to it. When something better comes along, I'll switch without hesitation.



'Course, maybe I'm just a sucker.



Justin

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Gary-- Sorry to hear that MTL didn't work out for you. How long did you run the stock lube before trying MTL? I ask because I've had good results with it and I switched to MTL with only 14K on the clock. "



I ran stock lube for about 34,000 miles - and then tried the Redline stuff for the last 1500 miles or so, only because of the occasional "catch" going ito 3rd gear when first starting out on cold mornings. A very minor issue, but figure the Redline was worth a try, due to good reports from other users, and since it was time to drain/refill the transmission anyway. In my case, the 3rd gear issue was made worse, and then I started getting the same thing going into 4th - as well as a couple of stalls where I was totally unable to shift into ANY gear from a dead stop while the engine was running!



And no, it was NOT an issue with clutch or the release system, as soon as I refilled with the OEM lube, all problems went away, and my former smooth shifting returned - time will tell if even the catch going into 3rd is any longer there...

 

[Bob4x4]

You might want to contact Dsherman... ..... he has gauges on everything. He will be able to tell you trans temps... . now that he pulls a toybox,I think he has seen over 212F



Bob