NV4500 Blood

[TowPro]

I saw a post in another section about Pennsoil Synthetic GL-4. This must be new because when I change my trans fluid last spring, there was not anything that fit the bill except the factory fill, and Amsoil IF THE TRANS DON'T GET HOT!



Guess what, when ever I pull into a campground after pulling Hard, I can smell hot trans fluid.



Is this Pennsoil synthetic OK for use in the NV-4500, or is it really a "blend".



Help before towing season starts again, Please!



(I posted this in the ACC forum and got no replys)

 

[ghillie]

Towpro,



Don't know about the Pennzoil, but your comment on the Amsoil is odd.



Amsoil makes a GL4 gear lube that meets the requirements of the NV4500, (AGT-1G, only comes in gallons, or larger).



With Amsoil you get 100% synthetic, and with the AGT you keep the yellow metal in the trans happy too.



cheers

 

[TowPro]

I know they make GL-4, but when I talked to the Amsoil guy, he said the 2000 stuff is better, and you will not have a problem, because the dodge truck trans does not get hot enough for the phosphrs to come out. But I don't feel good about the smell when its hot.

Originally posted by ghillie

Towpro,



Don't know about the Pennzoil, but your comment on the Amsoil is odd.



Amsoil makes a GL4 gear lube that meets the requirements of the NV4500, (AGT-1G, only comes in gallons, or larger).



With Amsoil you get 100% synthetic, and with the AGT you keep the yellow metal in the trans happy too.



cheers

 

[Sled Puller]

Read my sig.

 

[ghillie]

Towpro,



Yep the 2000 stuff is better, but it will be hard to argue with DC if you have a trans failure and have a GL5 lube in it when they say GL4 only.



The GL4 lube is still awesome stuff, and superior to any dinobelly stuff. Sooooo, if you want to use Amsoil, and you are still under warranty, I would use the GL4. If you are outside the warranty, then either would be good, but if you tow heavy, and hot, I would still use the GL4 lube, because the yellow metal issue is a real one.



Or, you could use the Pennzoil.



Good luck.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

TDR#31, pp. 23-24 Dodge and Standard Trans recommend Castrol Syntorq LT

TDR#33, pp. 14-17. lowest hp drag from Castrol Syntorq LT, Torco RTF is very close. Other popular lubes had more drag. also long discussion regarding GL-4 and Castrol.



Some members of this forum like other lubes and have had success with them. It's your transmission. Interestingly, LE consultant, Kevin Dinwiddie, recommends Castrol for the NV4500.

 

[Sled Puller]

You may find this thread interesting:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33338:--)



Perhaps Kevin suggested Castrol because his company did not make a lube for that application, and he just went with the factory spec?



IMHO, I have always felt real world towing and track testing, actually putting power to the pavement was worth more than numbers on a dyno that are practically dead even.

 

[amsoilman]

I find it very interesting that in the TDR issue #33 concerning the GL-4/GL-5 gear lubes, the Amsoil gear lubes that many of us TDR folks use, was not even mentioned, let alone tested against the others that were tested. I'm wondering why that happened! Please keep in mind, I am not trying to get an argument here!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Wayne, I did test Amsoil Series 2000 synthetic but did not identify it or other lubes except Torco RTF, which came closest to Castrol by having the second lowest horsepower drag numbers. I thank Dee Rawson for sending me the Amsoil to test on the dyno. Its results are listed in the column labeled 75/90 GL2-5, on page 17 of TDR Issue 33.

 

[DavidD]

Joe, You have my interest. I had read about the Castrol and I had Amsoil in the truck. I though and maybe I am wrong that Redline MT-90 was also rated for the nv4500. Has the yellow metal properties and is a GL-4. Pleas let me know what you think. I do know that when i went on my first change from the factory fill to amsoil the truck shifted much better( easy). I also noticed that the redline shifts very easy especially into reverse which sometimes before could be difficult. I know have over 110,000mi on the ruck and the transmission is in great shape oil always comes out pretty clean with very few metal particulates. Thanks for the help, Dave

 

[amsoilman]

Sorry Joe,

Didn't know by reading the article Amsoil 75W-90 series 2000 was tested. So you are saying the Amsoil had 16. 3 drag compared to the Syntorq ,which had 16. 0 at 91. 9 MPH, Correct?



What are the numbers? Are they percent of HP? Or are they percent of friction? Can't figure these numbers out.



Thanks in advance,



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Yes.

They are horsepower readings. They represent drivetrain drag on coast down in neutral from high speed to low speed.

 

[Oil Man]

Sled Puller

You posted this statement sled puller and I'd like to respod to it.



"Perhaps Kevin suggested Castrol because his company did not make a lube for that application, and he just went with the factory spec? "



LE has an oil that would work better than the Castrol product in the NV 4500. However it will only work better in regular temps. Since it is GL-5 with a buffer you could run it in the NV-4500's but at high temps the GL-5 package is activated more than should be for the NV-4500's and at low temps the possible condensation would cause the sulfer-phos to become more acidic to the NV-4500's. Because of this potential problem with the syncros I have suggested the Castrol product. I did not just come up with a product and say use this one. It is from tests and other info that I have made that recommendation, and not just because as you say we don't have an oil for the application.



This is not a problem in any other application. The factory spec is not always the best spec, however in this case the factory spec IS the best oil that can be run in the NV-4500's

 

[Sled Puller]

I agreed until your last sentence Kevin, that is just to broad of a statement.

I have seen TOO many of these transmissions fail on factory lube.

As even Joe has said, NV4500's are Standard Transmissions best seller.

And seeing how their books say it is lifetime fill, I bet most of them are factory fill.



In the extreme condition of BOMB ed Hotshotters, which a lot of these guys are, it kills the factory fill. They need to be finding a more durable lubricant, that will keep the heat down and not fail.

These guys don't want to keep rebuilding transmissions. We need to solve the problem, not say good enough.



At the very least, put on the Fast Coolers, to help that lube live.

Gene

 

[Oil Man]

That's ok to disagree sled Puller, I'm not here to argue just to try and set things stright. I only posted because my name was brought up. I agree that a better lube is always better. However if you build a better lube for that application are you saying that you should have more EP or sulfur-phos? Additional sulfur-phos would in time hurt the syncros. So where do you want the wear to happen? gears or syncros. The Castrol oil seems to have the best of both worlds. Less S-F more wear on the gears, More S-F more wear on the syncros.



If the guys are pumping up their HP and are having trouble with the oil lasting, then they should change the oil more often.

 

[Sled Puller]

Yes, but how often? After a hard pull? That could be quite often for a lot of guys.



Maybe Castrol was a hair short of just right, they probably never expected TDR abuse. We are seeing wiped gears with the Castrol and average synchro wear.



We are not seeing gear damage with the Amsoil, and the synchros are in great condition.



Gear damage or synchro damage is not acceptable to my customers.



Gene