T-5 fluid?

[88 Fox GT]

What type of fluid do the T-5s use? I noticed when I took it out of the donor car, it leaked some (of course) and it was red like ATF. Do they use a special synthetic oil or what?

 

[5spd GT]

They use the ATF fluid...it is red in color...like you said...

I know the guys at Mr. Quik Lube didn't believe me when I told them to put in ATF fluid and then they looked in their "book" and seen that they use ATF...

 

[90mustangGT]

They use the ATF fluid...it is red in color...like you said...

I know the guys at Mr. Quik Lube didn't believe me when I told them to put in ATF fluid and then they looked in their "book" and seen that they use ATF...

You let a quick lube so much as look at your car???

I used M1 synthetic ATF in my old T-5. It had regular ATF in it before which was pretty much black ofter 100K miles, I put M1 5W30 synthetic on advise of someone, put synthetic ATF and it shifted and felt better, then I blew the tranny, using syncromech on the Tremec.

 

[HISSIN50]

Redline D4 for me.

 

[1986LX2002]

GM syncromesh, I have to use it in my Tremec. Plays very well with T5's though too.

 

[88 Fox GT]

Alright, thanks guys.

I haven't looked at it yet today, but where is the filler hole for the fluid?

 

[5spd GT]

Alright, thanks guys.

I haven't looked at it yet today, but where is the filler hole for the fluid?

I believe it is right on the transmission (looking towards the front of the engine)...

 

[5spd GT]

You let a quick lube so much as look at your car???

Yep...and I was having them do the oil while I getting my transmission fluid changed...(but I bought my own oil...like usual)...and they didn't know there was a 2nd drain plug (the one by the balancer)...so I had to inform them of that to...they were like "glad you told us that"...I said "yep"...and got it done and was out of there...haven't been back since...

 

[v8only]

I can't stand changing my own oil either. I go to the cheapest oil change place I can, and watch them like a hawk. After doing tranny and engine swaps, oil changes are so mundane and boring. I can't stand jacking up the car to just do the oil.

filler plugs are on pass side. lower one to drain, upper to fill. However, it's easiest to remove the upper plug, and remove the shifter, and pour the fluid in through the top of the trans where the shifter bolts up. When it comes out the filler hole (less than 3 quarts) you're full

 

[88 Fox GT]

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[HISSIN50]

also, if not mentioned, i would remove the fill plug first - if you cant get it out and drain the existing fluid, that leaves ya up a little creek.

good luck.

 

[PNY PWR]

I got Mobil1 synthetic ATF in mine.

 

[igotyofire]

should i run GM syncromesh in mine? i cant decide , tranny is out of car and gotta make a decission

 

[leakyfaucet]

I run GM syncromesh and it works great! Although you can buy pennzoil syncromesh which is the exact same thing and it costs less than half as much. Look for it at an autozone type store.

 

[83GT289]

Is this the same for older t-5's ? i need to change the fluid in mine but i'd heard that the older ones used gear oil, and later models used ATF. Anyone know if the 83 models used ATF in the manual tranny?

J.

 

[igotyofire]

i just read that gm snycromesh was for trannies with bronze syncro's and that T5's were designed to use atf, any truth to this?

 

[jpctln]

What do you guys think of DXIII Maxlife synthetic? That's what I use.

Also, when you're rethreading the fill plug, don't pull a "me" and crack the tranny casing by tightening the plug too much.

 

[maverick0716]

i just read that gm snycromesh was for trannies with bronze syncro's and that T5's were designed to use atf, any truth to this?

Yes, you are correct. GM Synchromesh is supposed to be used in Tremec transmissions (TKO, 3550, etc.) T5 transmissions take ATF. I personally use Redline D4 in mine.

 

[HISSIN50]

over on the other forum, there are a bunch of guys running synchromesh in their T5's. i would NOT do this myself, but to each his/her own.

older T5's (as well as some Bronco, Camaro, etc) used gear oil, not ATF. the newer T5's have different synchros (fiber, etc, not steel) and needle bearings.

 

[83GT289]

so what year was this change?