Man 5 spd shift feel Update #1
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Man 5 spd shift feel Update #1
I have been experimenting with my very own POS 5 speed in order improve the shift feel.
My truck weighs 5500 lbs and it has 33 inch MT’s. The motor is putting out an estimated 285 HP and 350 ftlbs of torque. See sig. Let it also be known that I am very hard on my tranny.
The damage done so far to my tranny is; broken shift pins and failing 2nd gear syncro. I have also broken 3 differentials ( 8.8 LSD). I have replaced the rear axle with a 9.75 LSD.
I have done the synthetic thin by switching to synthetic ATF. I have tried Redline, Amsoil and Mobil1 Synthetic ATF. All of them helped a bit. I did not try friction modifier as it was tried by the Dealer in my 97 to no avail.
The latest cure was to drain the ATF and use Redline MTL. It is a 75W80 GL-4 synthetic gear lube. It has been in the tranny for over a month now and it has dramatically improved the shift feel. The dreaded won’t shift into 1st has gone. It did not cure the grind when power shifting into 2nd but then I did not expect it to. The syncro must be replaced.
WARNING:
I am not sure of the effects this oil will have on the seals but I have to tear the tranny down some day to fix the 2nd gear syncro anyway. I also can not predict the effect on the bearings or bushings at this time so don’t rely on me to predict it. I also do not know what effect this will have on my MPG but I don’t really care.
NOISE:
The tranny was noisier with this oil but I have grown used to it.
I will be flushing the tranny this fall to see if any particles or pieces are loose inside and post the results.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
My truck weighs 5500 lbs and it has 33 inch MT’s. The motor is putting out an estimated 285 HP and 350 ftlbs of torque. See sig. Let it also be known that I am very hard on my tranny.
The damage done so far to my tranny is; broken shift pins and failing 2nd gear syncro. I have also broken 3 differentials ( 8.8 LSD). I have replaced the rear axle with a 9.75 LSD.
I have done the synthetic thin by switching to synthetic ATF. I have tried Redline, Amsoil and Mobil1 Synthetic ATF. All of them helped a bit. I did not try friction modifier as it was tried by the Dealer in my 97 to no avail.
The latest cure was to drain the ATF and use Redline MTL. It is a 75W80 GL-4 synthetic gear lube. It has been in the tranny for over a month now and it has dramatically improved the shift feel. The dreaded won’t shift into 1st has gone. It did not cure the grind when power shifting into 2nd but then I did not expect it to. The syncro must be replaced.
WARNING:
I am not sure of the effects this oil will have on the seals but I have to tear the tranny down some day to fix the 2nd gear syncro anyway. I also can not predict the effect on the bearings or bushings at this time so don’t rely on me to predict it. I also do not know what effect this will have on my MPG but I don’t really care.
NOISE:
The tranny was noisier with this oil but I have grown used to it.
I will be flushing the tranny this fall to see if any particles or pieces are loose inside and post the results.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: New Brunswick, Canada
That makes sense to keep the number of variables as low as possible. The reason I asked was the gear lube should (I've been wrong before
) be thicker than Atf. I would assume this would cause a lot more pressure on the internals, and probably cause failure in the long term, even if the tranny works better in the short term. Of course this could be why you did it and why you said it is working better. 
Anyways I'm no tranny expert by any means and I find the topic interesting.
Peter
) be thicker than Atf. I would assume this would cause a lot more pressure on the internals, and probably cause failure in the long term, even if the tranny works better in the short term. Of course this could be why you did it and why you said it is working better. Anyways I'm no tranny expert by any means and I find the topic interesting. Peter
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Peter,
From the Redline site; "Red Line MTL is classified as a 70W80 gear lubricant satisfying the API Service requirements of GL-3 and GL-4. MTL also satisfies motor oil viscosities SAE 5W/10W/30, and the viscosity requirements for ATFs." I am confidant, or at least hopefull, that it will not create excess pressure. Besides seals in a manual tranny don't blow they wear out. Check out the Redline site; http://www.redlineoil.com/products.htm
and click on the MTL. There is some interesting reading on the subject. This what convinced me to try the MTL in the first place. Time will tell.
JMC
From the Redline site; "Red Line MTL is classified as a 70W80 gear lubricant satisfying the API Service requirements of GL-3 and GL-4. MTL also satisfies motor oil viscosities SAE 5W/10W/30, and the viscosity requirements for ATFs." I am confidant, or at least hopefull, that it will not create excess pressure. Besides seals in a manual tranny don't blow they wear out. Check out the Redline site; http://www.redlineoil.com/products.htm
and click on the MTL. There is some interesting reading on the subject. This what convinced me to try the MTL in the first place. Time will tell.
JMC
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
Most manual transmissions have a vent, pressure should not be an issue.
The heavier the lube is the better it clings to the gears and syncro's. Of course to heavy will bring on harder shifting.
Good luck with the experiment.
Rob
The heavier the lube is the better it clings to the gears and syncro's. Of course to heavy will bring on harder shifting.
Good luck with the experiment.
Rob
Last edited by fieldthis; Jul 10, 2003 at 09:20 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: st. paul, MN
To JMC
JMC, If I read the Red Line site correctly, it seems that it is recommending their D4 ATF product for the F150 manual trans. The owners manual specifies Mercon. Is there a reason you didn't use this product? The D4 ATF I mean . . .
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Big Bang
Something let go in the tranny. I was driving down the highway and I heard a big bang. Now the input shaft of the tranny has some stripped gears. My local tranny shop assures me it is not because of the oil. I will drive it till it quits and replace it with a remanufactured unit. The sad thing about it is that it still shifts fine. Better than when I had straight ATF in it.
JMC
JMC
Thread Starter
|
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
WLF,
Redline MTL. The same stuff that is in this one for the test. It wasn't the oil that broke it, it was the abuse I put it through. When I Drive aroundtown with Neal the HP freak on Thursday Friday & Saturday nights I can put a hundred miles of city driving on the truck. Of that I might chirp 2nd 25-30 times. Depends on the night. I just love driving next to a Jeep and showing him how to chirp 33 inch mudders.
JMC
Redline MTL. The same stuff that is in this one for the test. It wasn't the oil that broke it, it was the abuse I put it through. When I Drive aroundtown with Neal the HP freak on Thursday Friday & Saturday nights I can put a hundred miles of city driving on the truck. Of that I might chirp 2nd 25-30 times. Depends on the night. I just love driving next to a Jeep and showing him how to chirp 33 inch mudders.
JMC