Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) New SB clutch,...new oil...stiff/grinding shifting now

[AKDrifter]

Hi folks, had a SB OFE clutch installed and a NV 5600 oil change with Amsoil 5w-30 done last week.



I'm having diffuculties putting it into gear at a stop and experiencing stiffness and some grinding while shifting. I am aware that the new clutch will be a bit grabby but wondering weather the oil or the new clutch is causing the problem??



Is there a clutch adjustment needed or could this be oil related? I have read about Amsoil and grinding issues, could this be it?



As allways, thanks in advance... ... . Paul

 

[AKDrifter]

Man, I just read through a bunch of old threads pertaining to this, . . I'm still no smarter... Maybe because it's Jan. 1 at 8:30 AM.....

 

[boydo]

You may want to check, but to my understanding the NV5600 requires a certain mopar oil for proper operation. Once the clutch gets broke in it will shift easier aswell - mine took about 5000 km.

 

[Black-Smoker]

When I put my con FE in it did the same thing I could barely get it into first and reverse but after about 500 miles it loosened up and it works great now. If it doesent loosen up after 500 miles then you may have a bad clutch slave and master cylinder or you could have damaged the piolet bearing when it was installed. I would drive it for a while and see what it does.

 

[Loren]

You have the wrong oil in your transmission. The 6-speed requires a special oil that used to be available only from a dealer. Valvoline (I think) is now selling an oil that meets Dodge's specifications for that transmission.



Others have had good luck with Red Line MTF, but I don't think that it claims to meet the Dodge spec.



Loren

 

[Supermod56]

A lot of guys are using the Redline MTL in the 5600, I put it in my 4500, works great so far. When I do the 5600 swap here soon I will be putting MTL in it. The MOPAR stuff is good if you want to pay their price!

Tom

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

AKDrifter, I had some trouble shifting my '01 6-speed after getting a new clutch, and a new higher-quality slave unit from SBC took care of it. It was like $35.



I tried Amsoil in my transmission was and was only so-so impressed. The Redline is the stuff you want. I think it's a better choice for the transmission anyway, being it's designed to be a gear oil and is the right weight, whereas the Amsoil is a motor oil and probably lacks the high shear and shock additives normally found in gear oil.



Vaughn

 

[Tcolesanti]

I too think Redline MTL is the only way to go, it is what I run in mine and it has been trouble free ever since my South Bend broke in.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I had early-on tried Amsoil in my 5600 - the wrong stuff, and predictably, it didn't work, LOTS of grinding at shifts immediately after the change - I quickly switched back to the stock DC 9224 stuff for the next 30,000 miles or so.



But a few weeks back, I drained the stock stuff again (perfectly clear and clean after 30,000 miles!), and refilled with Redline MTL I had bought about a year ago.



Mind you, my 5600 shifts quite well - only the SLIGHTEST occasional "catch" on the 2-3 shift on the first few shifts on a very cold morning - no real problem, and even THAT goes away after the first few minutes down the road.



As nearly as I can tell with about 1500 miles on the MTL, absolutely NO improvement in apparent shift quality, all former conditions are still the same, and I will undoubtedly return to the stock DC stuff at next change in another 30,000 miles or so...

 

[AKDrifter]

Thanks for the reply all. The shifting has gotten a little beter now that I've put a few miles on the new clutch. . Still though, I'm going to switch back to the OEM stuff as soon as I get a chance. Stuck in downtown Seattle for now in school.



I'm kind of curious why The Power Shop in Enumclaw suggested I put in synthetic in the first place, a spendy lesson I guess. Paul