T-5 fluid, what brand?

[95BlueStallion]

I did a search, but all I could find was what type of fluid to use in my t-5 tranny. I just put in a new clutch and refilled my tranny with some royal purple synthetic tranny fluid. It said it was intended for use in manual trannies that call for auto tranny fluid. Isnt Dextron Merc III auto fluid? Thats what Ive found that our manuals use, but my car is shifting like crap, even to the point of creating a second and third gear grind that it never had before. Also the tranny is whining a little, which it never did before. I have tried adjusting my clutch with the FWA I put in and the adjustable quadrant, and I know it is disenganging fully... Does anyone know of a good fluid to try replacing the royal purple with to see if my shift quality improves and whining goes away? Thanks in advance, and sorry if this has been discussed before and I cant find the old thread!

 

[Boss91GT-SC]

I have royal purple synthetic atf in my t5, it runs great. Mine was whining with the stock fluid and went away with the purple.I'm sure you checked but is the level correct?

 

[95BlueStallion]

I filled it until it started coming out the fill hole... It took just less than 3 quarts of the royal purple I had bought. Maybe my syncros just suck, and I notice it more with the short throw shifter I put on... That doesnt explain the whine though. Its not loud, but I never noticed it before.

 

[mojopony]

I put Amsoil ATF in my T5 and shifting got worse. The 1-2 shift has never been great, but now in cold weather I have to double clutch the 1-2 shift or it grinds like crazy. Once the engine warms up to operating temperature it gets better, but I've had a few sleepy-headed winter mornings where I forgot to double clutch it and CRUNCH, usually followed with an oh $h*t!

 

[Boss91GT-SC]

Mine took less than three but whined since I bought it (new).

 

[95BlueStallion]

Yeah, my 1-2 is horrible now as well, which sucks when Im tryin to leave local high schoolers behind when they run their damn mouths in their honda and acuras! Mine also improves slightly once up to temperature, but its not great by any means... The whine isnt loud enough to worry about, but I just want to be able to shift faster! If youre not first, youre last, ya know like the movie says! I might just have to buckle down and save money for a new tranny that doesnt have syncros from 1995...

 

[HISSIN50]

What you did sounds good to me. 2.7 quarts is the wet-change spec.

Can you drain the liquid gold into a really clean container and toss some cheapo Mercon fluid into the trans? Then see if it shifts nicely again. That's what I'd do. Fluid is expensive but not nearly so compared to trans parts/labor.

FWIW, I use Redline D4 synthetic.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

I have always just used ATF conventional.....Valvoline, whatever is the cheapest named brand. I have always had good luck.

 

[95BlueStallion]

I'll try draining the purple and replacing with cheapo Merc. Maybe my tranny is like my co-worker and has super duper low standards... If that doesnt work, I'll probably refill it with the purple just cause I have to get more than a week's use outta the $40 spent on the stuff!