Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Nv4500;

[I Buck]

Wondering about the 5th gear on my 95 Dodge. Works fine, but the truck has 110,000 miles on it. Are there NV4500 trucks going to 200,000 miles without 5th. gear problems? I have had mine since new, and the max weight I run 12,600 is well below the trucks MCGW of 14,000lbs. I never floor it in 5th. pulling hills, I let it slow to about 55, then down shift to 4th, and use what power I need to maintain 55mph up the mountain. I baby that 5th gear, but every summer on out trip to Lake Powell, I think about about it. My engine is stock. How are some of you NV4500 owners doing with your 5th gear?

Thanks... . Buck.

 

[JNailor]

I've got 204,000 on mine with light towing of the Airstream. No problems with the gear box or clutch.



Dana

 

[Mike Ellis]

Mine is at 207K and no 5th gear problems yet, but my truck has been stock too.



Just had the clutch changed out (see new post on loudness), and was amazed at how good the old clutch with 160,000 plus miles on it. I could probably have gotten another 50K out of it easy.



Since the truck was running good before I had the clutch changed "pre-emptively", and now it as loud as a garbage truck inside, I am feeling a bit #@$%! #@$%! for having messed with it. :{

 

[HCannon]

I am have a 94 that for the last 100k miles has been pulled hard. It has 265K miles on it but the first 165k was not used hard. I try to get the oil changed in it between 25 and 35 thousand miles. Dont know that changing oil would help keep the nut from coming off. So far, no problem. If you do loose it you arnt dead in th water, may wont to slow down and not over speed your motor in 4th. Don thank you are hurting any thing. Had a friend that ran his for a long time before he got it fixed.

Harvey

 

[GSchlegel]

I have over 275,000 miles on mine with no problems, although I don't tow much.



Gene

 

[Missouri Mule]

214,000 on mine, stock, carrying and pulling small loads. I shift up to 5th at 50 mph or over and I down shift to 4rth at 45 mph.

 

[RossCo]

I thought the problem was if you towed in 5th and let the revs run below 1700 (or lugged the engine while towing in 5th). More than 1/2 of my mileage is towing. I had the nut on mine welded when the clutch was done, 80,000 miles (the stock clutch had issues because of adjusted fuel plate and timing adjustments). I don't tow heavy so I don't think welding it will be a problem.

 

[kenny61]

My understanding was it mostly effected trucks that pulled hills in 5th gear. trucks used in the midwest with no hills had lot less problems. I commute 30 miles each way to work up one hill down another and then back up again. I towed my boat 5 or 6k pounds over the same terrain which was light enough for me to keep it in 5th for the hills. I lost my nut around 70-80k miles

 

[Champane Flight]

Driving..

Got 110,000 on mine, some heavy towing, don't baby her on the pulling side. Couple of things I do is always roll off the throttle easy in fifth, never let it come off cruise without foot on throttle. Watch speed in fifth, never let it fall below 55-58 in fifth. I do have mods, and I will have to replace clutch pretty soon, seems to chatter a little bit until it warms.

 

[Hammer]

I do not tow at all with mine and had it come almost off at about 90k. I had taken my truck for a double disc install and while we had it up they checked the nut and it was threads from coming off. Since the nut was redone with the upgraded nut and another 100k on it I have had zero issues... Andy

 

[I Buck]

Thanks for the response on this. I think I'll keep on trucking with it and see how it goes. Buck.

 

[HCannon]

Yes, if it does come loose, you have 4th to make it home.

 

[moparguy]

Just adding my 2 cents. I too was caught up in the 5th gear fear frenzy and at about 150k miles a few years ago (while upgrading the clutch) I ran my transmission down to Standard Transmission in FortWorth and watched them do the main shaft upgrade and freshen up the transmission. Everything was in good shape and likely had many 10's of thousands of miles left in it without the now complete upgrades.



I had always avoided running 5th below about 1800rpm and changed fluid with the approved Castoroil at 50k which I felt added to the good condition of things. Made me wonder why I spent that $900. Just piece of mind I guess.