Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Standard transmission guru's, 5600 question

[Straight6Jeff]

With a little over 22, 500 on the clock, I changed the fluid in my 5600 today. The problem I was having was after coming to a stop, idling in nuetral for a minute or two, I was having to "double-tap" (against the syncros)the shifter to get it into first or second. If I just tried to put it into gear without taping it, it would not go in. After the fluid change, it seems smoother, but not great. I saved the fluid as I want to get it analyzed and it had a grey-milky look under the surface. Meaning, it would look like normal fluid on the surface, but stir it and it has a marbled appearance. It does not seem to be separating out as if it is moisture.



I don't tow much, but I do a lot of city driving. It does not grind shifting from 1-2. It feels smooth once moving.



Oh yeah, I put the Mopar fluid in it in case I have issues with this thing. I now have records that the factory recommended stuff is in there.

 

[reddge]

Sorry to here that you are having problems.

I met an engineer from New Venture that knows all on NV 5600 at the TDR Round-up in Columbus last August. Give him a call.

Tony Sypula # 765-281-2685 or

-- email address removed --

Let me know if you get any help.

 

[CWade]

Sounds like you are having trouble getting it into gear after you come to a stop. Are you sure the clutch is releasing all the way ? If the clutch is not fully released, the input shaft will be turning and the transmission won't be easy to get into gear.





Just a thought... ... .



Charlie

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The "marbilized" look you refer to sounds like microscopic brass particles suspended in your lube - not uncommon for the first change in a transmission as various components wear in and stabilize - IF it's not TOO many particles, or too large in size. Suspended brass will usually appear as a brassy "sheen" in the lube in good sunlight... A lot of guys panic when changing transmission lube the first time at the sight of various break-in contamination, then desperately switch to another brand lube - which then stays cleaner due to initial break-in already being accomplished, and then assume and swear the new stuff is vastly superior to the original - when in fact, it may not be a bit better, just more miles and different circumstances...



The shifting symptoms you mention MIGHT not be the transmission at all, but poor engagement of the clutch, which in turn places stresses on the transmission it's not really designed for... How does overall clutch engagement feel, is it decently smooth to engage/disengage, and do so somewhere near mid-point in pedal travel?

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Clutch engagement seems OK. I can get it to go into any other gear smoothly. It seemed better this morning. I'll do some more stop and go driving to see if it stays better.

 

[JRodgers]

I have been very similar symptoms in my truck. I only have 3000 miles on the new truck, so I am hoping it will get better. But, up to now it only seems to be happening more consistently after sitting at a stoplight. Whenever I go to shift into gear I have to wait a few seconds and either tap against the synchro to get it into gear, or just hold pressure against it for a few seconds to get into gear. I too have been wondering if this is normal. From looking at other posts on this subject on the list, it seems that it is pretty common with this transmission and I might just have to live with it for a while and hope it gets better. Some people seem to be reporting that a fluid change to a different lube reduced or eliminated the problem. If it does not get better in the next few thousand miles, I will probably consider doing this to see if it makes any improvement. But otherwise, I do not know what to do about it. Right now it just really bugs me that the transmission seems real tempermental sometimes. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Dane]

Jeff/Joe,

Mine was real tight till I changed the lube at 10K miles. It's gotten better and better. Now at 28. 5K it's real smoothh...



I saw the same marble/sheen in the first lube change. Like Gary said, I would not worry unless you find some big chunks in there.



Also, I found sometimes I was not making sure the clutch pedal was completly to the floor before shifting. Now that i'm in the habit, shifts are better.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The single largest problem related to 5600 shifting, seems related to going into 3rd gear, where varying resistance or a tendency to grind occurs. When my transmission was new, I found that a 1 or 2 second delay when shifting into 3rd eliminated any such problem, but then, mine didn't actually grind to begin with, just displayed a slight indication it was on the verge of grinding. Now, with a bit over 7000 miles, it shifts better all the time, and extra time between shifts is not required.



The design of the 5600 places 3rd gear, and the syncros for 3rd and I believe 4th gear on a separate shaft inside the transmission - don't hold me to this, it's been a while since I looked at the diagram - so it's understandable that the additional mass of rotating material on a separate shaft might require a bit of extra care in shifting. BUT, I'd be at least a bit cautious of selecting some other lube purely in hope or expectation of better shifting, unless you are absolutely certain you aren't merely trading one problem for another potential one that might not be immediately evident...



One thing's for sure, the 5600 is a heavy duty transmission, but NOT one for the drag races!

 

[Slightly Modified]

Just a question guys, how often are we supposed to change the fluid in the 5600? I have only had mine for a couple months, it has 30,000 miles on it now, I bought the truck used.

 

[Loren]

Two items:

1.

My transmission shifted very stiffly when it was new. It got much, much smoother after a few thousand miles. I don't think the smoother shifting was entirely because I was learning how to shift it, but that was probably part of it.



2.

Slightly,

The maintenance schedules do not require changing the transmission lubricant. Most of us on these forums, however, are a bit fanatical about our trucks and like to ensure that maintenance is well above the bare minimum. For this reason, TDR members do things like change fluids that are not, technically, required to be changed according to Dodge.



My six-speed has about 55,000 miles on it, and I will be doing the first oil change soon. I hope this will fix the difficulty I've been having getting it into first or second after sitting at a red light.



Loren

 

[klenger]

30,000 miles seems like a good time to change it to me. That's when a bunch of routine maintenance comes up, and it's easy to remember.

 

[rkressg]

Originally posted by Slightly Modified

Just a question guys, how often are we supposed to change the fluid in the 5600? I have only had mine for a couple months, it has 30,000 miles on it now, I bought the truck used.

I change mine every 30,000 miles. I only run amsoil series 3000 heavy duty diesel oil, 5w30 5 new quarts a year. Your mileage will change on the various driving styles. More power = more stress = less oil life.

D/C recomends that changing the fluid is not needed. They would prefer that you burn up the transmission and buy a new one.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Slightly Modified

Just a question guys, how often are we supposed to change the fluid in the 5600? I have only had mine for a couple months, it has 30,000 miles on it now, I bought the truck used.

I think that would depend on how it was used and how you are using it? If it is a daily driver with limited light towing and hauling I would think 50K would be great. If you work it hard then every 30K would be OK. I would use the OEM lube since no one has produced a replacement lube that duplicates the required lube spec's. Lubes are not like horse shoes and hand grenades, close does not count for much :-{}

 

[Dane]

There is no such thing as "lubed for life" oil. The normal wear metal needs to be removed and the additive package refreshed or it will accelerate wear. What the "lubed for life" engineers don't tell you is the "lifetime" they are talking about is shorter if you don't change it every 30K. Any more than 30K is pushing your luck, 15K if you tow alot. If you use a good oil and change it often the lifetime of your transmission may be as long as the mighty Cummins.



imo, the first oil change is most critical because it removes the break-in metal. I change ALL fluids in a new truck at 5-10K then every 30K

 

[dmann]

I have the same reluctance to go into gear espesially 3rd in my trans. Slow shifting helps a lot I find when I am in a hurry I always get that almost grinding feel. The truck has 15k miles and lube has been changed three times always looks good. I did find that my floor mats were interfearing with clutch travel. They are the stiff ones from Genos with the diamond plate design. In cold weather I noticed that the mat was flexing when I depressed the clutch. I cut away the top three inches where it was hitting the pedal arm and I cut a slit down to the spot where the arm at the back of the pedal was hitting. Shifting is much better but I still have to take it slow and easy.