Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Pennzoil Synchromesh for 6-Speed now in stores.

[Lazy-Boy]

About a month ago jerryrigg posted that Pennzoil was continuing MTX 1874 where Texaco left off. But when he posted he indicated you had to buy five gallons at a time!

His post and where to buy it in 5 gallon jugs.



Looks like they got the message and put it in a normal sized container. Just found it at AutoZone for $4. 99 a quart. It’s in the same shaped bottle you find gear lube in - and it’s Pennzoil-yellow of course. They put it over by the power steering fluid shelf?

Has the same specifications on the bottle that jerryrigg said in his previous post. Here’s what the bottle says:



“Pennzoil Synchromesh Fluid is a transmission fluid designed for certain manual transaxles and manual transmissions used by General Motors and Chrysler. It provides excellent oxidation stability, low temperature performance, synchronizer performance and is compatible with yellow metals, such as bronze, brass and copper components found in manual transaxles and transmissions. ”



and…



“Pennzoil Synchromesh is specifically formulated for manual transmissions used by General Motors requiring GM part number 12345349 (specification 9985648) or GM part number 12345577 and Chrysler’s requiring Chrysler part number 4874464 (specification MS9224).



Anybody tried this stuff yet?

 

[PBayer]

I just bought 8 qts to keep on hand. It meets the chrysler spec ms9224. I just emailed amsoil in an attempt to see what they are doing to provide a suitable synthetic for the 6 speed. I know some are using 5w 30 amsoil motor oil, but I dont feel comfortable using it until they advise its suitable replacement.

Paul

 

[PBayer]

Amsoil replied and guess what... Mopar part #4874464 spec ms9224 is whats required in the 6 speed and they said its 5w 30 motor oil. So the amsoil 5w 30 is a suitable substitute. Why the @#$$ cant mopar just say its 5w 30 motor oil????

Paul

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"Amsoil replied and guess what... Mopar part #4874464 spec ms9224 is whats required in the 6 speed and they said its 5w 30 motor oil. So the amsoil 5w 30 is a suitable substitute. "



Exactly WHO said it's "5w 30 motor oil" - AMSOIL, or DC? Who is the "THEY" you are referring to?



If DC said it, WHERE/WHEN did they say it?



IF DC can be shown to say is purely 5w 30 motor oil, then presumably most any motor oil meeting that spec should do - but if only *Amsoil* is making that claim, well... .



AND, if it IS "merely" 5w 30 motor oil, WHY does Pennzoil feel it necessary to provide special packaging and pricing, when all THEY had to do, was indicate their EXISTING 5w 30 *motor oil* already meets that DC transmission spec?



Inquiring minds wanna know...

 

[Texas Diesel]

I think it might be a good idea to ask Amsoil if they will put into writing that Amsoil will pay damages in the event of lubrication related failure. If they dont want to stand behind Amsoil then their claim is hot air. I sure wish anyone who makes a synthetic lubricant would certify and standby their product.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

How about spending a couple dollars more a quart and get synthetic lube? Personally I wouldn't touch Pennzoil with a 10-foot pole.



I talked to Red Line Synthetics some time ago and they recommended their MTL (Manual Transmission Lube) for the 6-speed. I don't have anything in writing on that though but a couple of members have switched to this (such as Diesel Freak) after using 5W30 Amsoil and liked the improved shifting. I would feel better about running that vs. engine oil for the simple fact it is designed to go into a transmission. In the link below, toward the bottom of the page, read the discussion about how well gear lube vs. engine lube resist shearing action of transmission gears.



http://www.redlineoil.com



Link to MTL lube



Vaughn

 

[Diesel Freak]

Redline MTL is good stuff... .

Pennsoil however... I think Vaughn put it best

"Personally I wouldn't touch Pennzoil with a 10-foot pole. "



DO NOT USE Redline MT90 in the 5600... it is to thick, and you will grind gears!



I would not use Amsoil 5W30... it is engine oil... it does hot have any friction modifiers for the synchros.

 

[Lazy-Boy]

I got a few questions from your responses:



I know some of you may have the filter from Genos. Just wondering if the thing looked any better or worse after using a 5W-30 for a long time?



Also, I’ve never used Pennzoil in any of my vehicles. Why do some of you stay away from Pennzoil?



TIA

 

[Diesel Freak]

I was in a hurry one day, and had Jiffy Lube change the oil in my old chevy.



the parafins in the 10w30 Pennsoil they put in the engine started to separate. . you could see the stratifacation on the dipstick... the oil pressure was lower, and fluctuated.



I have never heard anything good about Pennsoil

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie





I talked to Red Line Synthetics some time ago and they recommended their MTL (Manual Transmission Lube) for the 6-speed. Vaughn

But will they pay damages if there is a lubrication related failure?

I'll call and ask them, sure wish someone would recommend a product *AND* stand behind it.



I was told the MTX was mineral oil based, no way to confirm though. This would rule out the motor oil theory.



No one has ever said that MTX is 5W-30 motor oil to my knowledge. I think that might be a claim made by an oil manufacturer trying to sell motor oil, sure would be nice to know for sure.



Some brave souls here have used synthetic motor oil for 60,000 miles in a 5600 ( not 100% sure of the mileage though) with excellent results and no shifting problems.



I have used the same OEM oil in my NV-3500 for 190,000 with NO problems, still shifts like new. It was changed annually. NV is a good company, if motor oil gave adequate protection, I'm sure they would use it. After all, NV recommends transmission fluid for the transfer case instead of a high $ specialty oil.

 

[Dane]

Pennzoil

If you've ever pulled apart a motor that ran Pennzoil you would see a very thick buildup of a wax like crud. Running a good dino or synthetic would not allow this to happen. All the quick change shops don't use Pennzoil cause it's the best. They use it cause it's the cheapest.

 

[PBayer]

Who said it was 5w 30 you ask. It was a amsoil rep. Am I sold... NO! Put it in writing after some testing and I'd be a believer. Guess I'm Still searching for a good synthetic. Red line MTL research time.

Paul

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Texas Diesel, I the "5W30 engine oil" replacement comes from the weight rating equivalents between gear oil and engine oil: 75W90 gear oil is basically 5W30 engine oil viscosity wise (see charts, discussion on link above).



From all the posts and discussions on MTX the consensus is it's not synthetic.



Regarding Pennzoil, interesting observation, Cliff. I first heard of Pennzoil problems from the teacher who taught the engine rebuilding class I took in college (one of those classes I took for fun). He had torn down a number of engines owned by religious Pennzoil users and they were loaded with crud and deposits, totally disgusting. It contributed to their untimely demise.



Vaughn

 

[d90boy]

I agree that Pennzoil is horrible stuff and wouldn't touch it. I just put Royal Purple Syncromax in my 5600. I haven't driven it much but my initial impressions are good. I have to think either this or Red Line MTL is a better solution than 5W-30 motor oil. Both Royal Purple and Red Line say to use their product in place of motor oil in transmissions. Towing the Defender around Colorado and Utah the next two weeks will give me a better impression.

 

[_Hyde]

d90boy, please post your RP observations

I have been using Amsoil in mine for about 16 months now. I put the regular 5W30 in at 23k and the HDD 5W30 a year later at 56k. No problems observed and when I drained the first fill it was still very clean visually. Haven't done an analysis yet. I am very interested in the RP Synchromax for my 5600 & TCase.



Darren

 

[emarsh]

I smell a oil war brewing!

 

[Riflesmith]

Oil War?

No oil war is brewing. As far as I am concerned, Amsoil 5W-30HDD might as well have been specifically formulated for these transmissions. Mine shifts very well and I am on my second fill of this oil. There is at least one member that has used this oil for over 100,000 miles without problems.



For me the search for a suitable synthetic lubricant for the NV-5600 ended a long time ago. I have done oil analysis and it holds up fine. Like it or not, Amsoil 5W-30HDD has enough of a track record that it is a proven lubricant for this application.



It is important to mention that anyone wanting to maintain their transmission warranty with DC had better stay with the mandated fluid.