Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) NV5600 fluid what did you decide?

[Hemiless]

Ok,



The NV5600 has been with us for quite a while now and everyone has had the time to try different fluids over the long haul and I'm just curious what everyone finally settled on. :-{}



Stock Mopar fluid, royal purple syncromax, Redline MTL, Amsoil 5-30W engine oil, Amsoil mtf fluid, ETC???







I just figured it was time to revisit the old NV5600 oil debate with the hopes of hearing some good long term testing results from these different oils. Oo. Oo.

 

[RJWEST]

I used Pennsoil, ( not having read all the posts beforehand )

Changed at 55K miles, shifts a little better, but was ok prior to replacing fluid.

Trans Fluid was EOL though, thick sludge in bottom, some metal wear,
Change interval now 25k miles for me. .

 

[FLynes]

I'll let you know, once the stealership is done overhauling mine... the intermediate shaft bearing on the input shaft was cooked, and I run the stock stuff with no additives in it. So I'd say that's a big NO for the Mopar fluid.

 

[steved]

I've tried Pennzoil, Royal Purple, Redline, and Amsoil... as well as additives such as Lucas transmission Fix and LSD additive. I also have a couple bottles of LubeGard gear oil supplement sitting here for the next time I feel like adding something. Currently I'm running a mix of Redline MTL (7 quarts) and MT-90 (2 quarts) and it seems to be doing very well.

I will not recommend a particular fluid as it seems that each NV5600 has it's own preference for fluid. My only advise is to try them until you find one that works well in YOUR NV5600. What works well in someone else's might not work well in your's.

steved

 

[JKinney]

I'll let you know, once the stealership is done overhauling mine... the intermediate shaft bearing on the input shaft was cooked, and I run the stock stuff with no additives in it. So I'd say that's a big NO for the Mopar fluid.

How many miles are on your rig, and how often had you changed the fluid.

 

[FLynes]

How many miles are on your rig, and how often had you changed the fluid.

I had 91,000 miles on it, when I bought it, and I noticed the noise. I tracked down the original owner, who was a trucker... he was meticulous about maintenance on it and changed all fluids at regular intervals. He got rid of it, when he heard the noise in the transmission, suspecting the problem was that bearing. I inherited the problem, but thank God for warranties!

 

[JFlagg]

I run the Penzoil syncromesh in mine, with about a half quart of the Lucas LSD additive and mine shifts just like the day I took delivery. Which wasn't like a car, but I have a dual disk clutch, bet that doesn't help much though.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Each NV-5600 seems to have a personality and specific needs of it's own where lube is concerned, what works well in one 5600 often falls on it's face for another - mine has always shifted OK - the same tightness and minor "notchiness" most other owners comment on, with MINOR grinding of gears between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd to 4th in the first few blocks when cold - and only then if I shifted too fast.



I tried several "miracle" substitutions of lubes - Amsoil and Redline - and everything I tried was FAR worse than the stuff the local Dodge dealership sells and specifies.



SOOoo, about $80 poorer - but wiser - I returned to use of the OEM lube, and all is well - the transmission has loosened up a bit in 50K miles, and shifts better with noticeably less tendency for gear grinding between the above mentioned gears, even when cold.



I guess it takes a few miles for some 5600's to "break in", just like the engines! :-laf

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Agree with Gary, each 5600 is quirky about oil. I put Royal Purple synchromesh in mine over 100,000 miles ago. Haven't changed it and it still shifts great without using the clutch. This transmission has 270,000 total miles on it as the PO fried the original transmission somehow.

My suggestion is try something, if you don't like it try something different after a while.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[GOT-Torque]

I've been running redline MTL and the lubeguard additive for 20,000 miles now. Shifts better than the original fluid (don't know how long it was ran though). Truck has 140,000 on it now. Only have trouble (slight grind) when very cold and shifting too fast when leaving my driveway. Once it is warmed up it is fine.

 

[6naline01]

I run lubrication Engineers 15/40 works outstanding, change it every 30k with fastcoolers.

 

[EEllerman]

After I replace the bad seal at the rear of my NV5600 I'm going to try Redline Heavy Shockproof Gear oil. This is the next step up from MTL. I've spoken with a transaxle manufacture who swears it's the best manual trans fluid available. Eric

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

EEllerman,

I would think twice about using Redline Heavy Shockproof Gear oil. The NV5600 uses synchros that are more like auto transmission clutches than they are regular manual transmission synchros. If that gear oil is what it sounds like you would likely do more damage than good. The Royal Purple I use is very thin, closer to auto transmission oil than gear oil, and there is a good reason for that. Let me know if I am wrong about the Redline you mention.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[EEllerman]

Blacksheep, the MTL I currently run is rated at 75W80 and The Heavy Shockproof oil is rated at 75W90. I have added it to my leaky transmission with good success and it seems to be pretty liquid rather than honey like so it should be okay for the clutch pack type syncro. Red Line also offers a Lightweight shockproof oil that is rated at 30W. The transaxle manufacture that told me about it likes it because of how well it resists flinging off the gears while in use and how well it sticks to the gears after transmission disassembly. Eric

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Eric,

Thanks for the info. Do all of us a favor and report back after initial install and then after running a few k on it so we will have more info to base decisions on.
Thanks!

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[steved]

Blacksheep, the MTL I currently run is rated at 75W80 and The Heavy Shockproof oil is rated at 75W90. I have added it to my leaky transmission with good success and it seems to be pretty liquid rather than honey like so it should be okay for the clutch pack type syncro. Red Line also offers a Lightweight shockproof oil that is rated at 30W. The transaxle manufacture that told me about it likes it because of how well it resists flinging off the gears while in use and how well it sticks to the gears after transmission disassembly. Eric

The only thing I will add about Redline's Shockproof line is the fact I have read they actually contain less protective additives than their regular series oils... just a thought.



steved

 

[sg5054]

I run Amsoil MTF and the transmission filter from Geno's. Filter has been on since 50K, now at 168. I R&R the fluid at the reccomended intervals. The filter looks nasty but if I wipe my finger across the bottom of the case I don't find any sediment/ sludge or whatever you would call it. The filter has it all.

 

[BLandau]

Hi Nathan!



Has anyone used the BG trans fluid for the NV-5600??



I had the master/slave cylinder assembly changed at the dealer (Hey I am busy) and they decided to change the transmission fluid. I am not sure why the made the change, because I just replace the fluid with 4 weeks earlier. For some reason they used the aftermarket BG fluid instead of the original Mopar.



Do you think that I should make them switch back to the Mopar stuff?? I am frustrated with the dealer for many reasons. I currently have 130,000 miles on the truck.



Brent

 

[AFoulk]

What is the factory recommended change interval for the NV5600?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Am I the only one who has mistakenly filled with Mobile 1 straight 50w and then 35K later found out it wasn't for synchro'd transmission's???? yeah, I thought so. This was in my '01.

Didn't cause me any problems. TurboTweaker's dad bought it and they've never said anything about the trans causing any trouble. That was almost 3 years ago...

I'm skeered to use up the last 3 gallons I have sitting here now that I know better.