• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

synthetic atf in a t-5?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jozey
  • Start date Start date Mar 6, 2006

Jozey

New Member
Nov 11, 2003
127
0
0
Tucson,AZ
Mar 6, 2006
#1
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #1
like the title says.i've heard yes and no.what you guys think and if yes what are you running?
 
S

Sicarius428

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
2,085
5
49
Mar 6, 2006
#2
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #2
Redline D4.
Kevin
 
I

IntenseBlue

Member
Jul 10, 2005
946
0
16
Mar 6, 2006
#3
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #3
The 85-up model V8 transmissions, designated World Class, require ATF. Pre-85 and 4cylinder use gear oil.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Mar 6, 2006
#4
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #4
I also run D4. I dont know why people say not to run synthetic. When they do, I ask why and I dont seem to get an answer.
 
I

IntenseBlue

Member
Jul 10, 2005
946
0
16
Mar 6, 2006
#5
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #5
I think I misunderstood the question. I'd go synthetic.
 

PuterAmI

Member
Mar 29, 2003
513
0
16
Madison, Alabama
Mar 6, 2006
#6
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #6
IntenseBlue said:
Pre-85 and 4cylinder use gear oil.
Click to expand...
No.
The 83/84 Non-WorldClass T5 also used ATF according to the owner's manuals.

The below webpage is wrong in this regard.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com//Detailed/349.shtml
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
Mar 6, 2006
#7
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #7
After I switched mine to synthetic, it started making a slight ticking noise and my 5th gear synchro started grinding. Then again, I don't know if the tranny fluid had ever been changed in 70,000 miles. If its been taken care of, I say go for it. No doubt synthetic is better.
 

Jozey

New Member
Nov 11, 2003
127
0
0
Tucson,AZ
Mar 6, 2006
#8
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #8
thanks for the info guys.geuss i'll give it a try.
 

n8rsk8r

New Member
Dec 23, 2004
0
0
0
TwiLight zOne!!
Mar 6, 2006
#9
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #9
Mobile 1 full syn. baby!
 

timewarped1972

Member
Jun 17, 2004
642
0
16
mesa, az
Mar 6, 2006
#10
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #10
HISSIN50 said:
I also run D4. I dont know why people say not to run synthetic. When they do, I ask why and I dont seem to get an answer.
Click to expand...


in all the stuff on the web i have read, i read one thing pertaining to why you are not supposed to use synthetic in a t-5.

this article said that the type of material used on the blocker rings or those discs in the tranny that eventually wear ( has something to do with the part that slows the gear down for the syncro) are not designed for synthetic and that synthetic can make them slip causing pre mature syncro wear........

that is what i READ, i have no clue if it's true or not, but that was the reasoning behind it.......

as for the original question, i'm running regular dex3 in mine...
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,249
17,934
224
Massachusetts
Mar 6, 2006
#11
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #11
HISSIN50 said:
I also run D4. I dont know why people say not to run synthetic. When they do, I ask why and I dont seem to get an answer.
Click to expand...


Because the crappy T-3650 will clunk into gear if you DON'T run synthetic.

I run Royal Purple synthetic in my T-3650, because i have to.
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Mar 6, 2006
#12
  • Mar 6, 2006
  • #12
Amsoil ATF in mine....3.5 years/20k miles
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Mar 7, 2006
#13
  • Mar 7, 2006
  • #13
Mike, I actually was commenting how I have read the same argument that TW actually posted. A lot of old timers still think like that, but it seems to me that the synthetics are often designed to be run with manual trannies and that more than a few trans vendors recommend the use of a synthetic.

We are used to thinking of synthetic motor oil being 'slippery' but I dont feel that 'slickness' is innate or inherant to a synthetic trans fluid necessarily.

MHO.
 

DmnStr8

Member
Apr 16, 2005
0
0
16
NH
Mar 7, 2006
#14
  • Mar 7, 2006
  • #14
My battle worn T5 shifts much smoother now that I put mobile one ATF in it.

Could have been just the fresh ATF but it doesn't seemed to have hurt it. In fact my shifts are mush smoother and require much less effort.
 

timewarped1972

Member
Jun 17, 2004
642
0
16
mesa, az
Mar 7, 2006
#15
  • Mar 7, 2006
  • #15
it does get confusing, i suppose one has to look at who's running what and the milage they get out of something and come up with their own answer......ofcourse thats hard to do because everyones tranny is subject to a different enviroment and use.

i had run across the article about the synthetic in a t-5 while i was researching the difference between all the different atf's out there.

when i put the t-5z in, i had 1 qt of dex3, and 2 of mercon5, thats what i put in it. after i drove it around the block and made sure everything was ok i started thinking about it, started reading about the different atf's, the "ocd" kicked in and i found myself at autozone buying 3 qt's of dex 3........lol.....so i guess mine got a pre break in flush

maybe by my next oil change i'll have figured out what i want to run in it, synthetic or regular dex3. then if one decides on synthetic there's which brand or type as they all have claims of their own.

i would immagine if synthetic was bad for a t-5 there would be a bunch of real busy tranny shops all of a sudden. the info that said not to use it said it was only the t-5 tranny's that it was not good for, again, mention of the type of friction material used.

then again, 500 years ago they thought the earth was flat, and some people still swear putting a car battery on concrete will make it discharge fast........
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Mar 7, 2006
#16
  • Mar 7, 2006
  • #16
Not sure where any confusion about synth vs. non-synth ATF showed up. The synthetic lubricants adhere to all the same specs (usually exceed them) that the non-synths do. They are completely interchangable.

The confusion sometimes seems to be whether to run ATF vs. TRADITIONAL gear/rear end lube. And as someone posted earlier, all WC t-5's were designed to use ATF --- NOT traditional 75w-90 gear lube.

Synth vs. non-synth ATF in your WC t-5? Toss a coin...
 
S

Sicarius428

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
2,085
5
49
Mar 7, 2006
#17
  • Mar 7, 2006
  • #17
Hanlon motorsports(huge tranny rebuilder and parts supplier) suggested using D4 in the T5 so who am I to argue. hehe.
Kevin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Forced Induction On3 Turbo Kit- Parts list NEEDED - 302 Stock Motor
  • Hirothecool1
  • Feb 27, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Mar 7, 2026
slow84lx
S
K
Digital Tuning Going heads/cam/intake. Do I need a tune?
  • karhoot
  • May 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
41
Views
555
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 14, 2026
karhoot
K
J
T-5 trans in a Fiat
  • Jim Shipsky
  • Oct 18, 2025
  • Other Auto Tech
Replies
1
Views
178
Other Auto Tech Oct 18, 2025
Mustang5L5
C
Drivetrain T-5 transmission issue
  • Ch3No2
  • Jul 11, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
373
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 18, 2025
2000xp8
Oil choice for after break in period.
  • Sask84gt
  • Feb 28, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
26
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 14, 2026
Praetorious
P
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?